At the end of each season, TCPalm selects All-Area teams recognizing the top athletes in each sport. Area coaches nominated players from their own teams and from other schools and along with research going through the data for games, meets, matches and tournaments throughout the regular season and postseason, TCPalm makes its selections of the All-Area teams.
Athlete of the Year
Mitchell Ledford, Sebastian River
Year: Senior
Highlights: Ledford, a North Carolina State signee, capped his high school career with a repeat of his gold medal swim in the 100 butterfly at the FHSAA 3A Championships and added a third career gold medal with a triumph in the 100 backstroke. Ledford also led the Shark 200 medley relay team to a bronze medal and the 400 freestyle relay to a sixth place finish helping Sebastian River finish seventh in 3A as a team.
First Team
Ayden Cason, Jensen Beach
Year: Senior
Highlights: In his final high school season, Cason had an impressive run at the FHSAA 2A Championships earning a bronze medal in the 100 freestyle and took fourth in the 200 freestyle. Cason also helped the Falcon 200 freestyle relay win a bronze medal and the 400 freestyle relay took fourth.
Aiden Gaines, Fort Pierce Central
Year: Junior
Highlights: Gaines made huge strides on the diving platform this season, winning a district title, finished third at regionals and earned a sixth place finish at the FHSAA 4A Championships for his first state medal.
Kaleb Cason, Jensen Beach
Year: Freshman
Highlights: Cason had a strong first year in the pool for the Falcons, helping the 200 freestyle relay team earn a bronze medal and helped the 400 freestyle relay team take fifth. Cason also earned individual medals placing seventh in the 200 individual medley and was eighth in the 500 freestyle at the FHSAA 2A Championships.
Nicholas McAfee, Jensen Beach
Year: Senior
Highlights: McAfee helped the 200 freestyle relay team win a bronze medal and the 400 freestyle relay team to a fifth place finish. McAfee took 17th in the 100 backstroke and 19th in the 200 freestyle at the FHSAA 2A Championships.
Evan Pelletier, Martin County
Year: Junior
Highlights: Pelletier was a district champion in the 100 freestyle, a runner-up in the 50 freestyle and at the FHSAA 4A Championships finished 18th in each race and also helped the 200 medley relay finish 18th for the Tigers.
Dillon Spooner, Lincoln Park Academy
Year: Freshman
Highlights: Spooner was a district champion in both the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, was a regional runner-up in the 500 freestyle and finished 19th at the FHSAA 1A Championships.
Nash Fuller, Sebastian River
Year: Senior
Highlights: Fuller helped the Shark 200 medley relay team earn a bronze medal and helped the 400 freestyle relay team take seventh at the FHSAA 3A Championships. Fuller also added a 17th place finish in the 100 breaststroke.
Alden Thompson, Jensen Beach
Year: Senior
Highlights: Thompson helped the Falcon 200 freestyle relay team win a bronze medal and the 400 freestyle relay team to a fifth place finish and individually he added a 23rd place finish in the 50 freestyle at the FHSAA 2A Championships.
Daniel Shipman, Martin County
Year: Junior
Highlights: Shipman was a district champion in 100 breaststroke and took 20th in the 100 breaststroke and also helped the 200 medley relay team take 18th at the FHSAA 4A Championships for the Tigers.
Henry Hazell, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Highlights: Hazell was a district runner-up in both the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly and finished 21st in the 100 backstroke at the 4A FHSAA Championships.
Honorable Mention
Colin Stumbo, Somerset College Prep freshman
Jace Domster, Sebastian River sophomore
Lincoln Salazar, Martin County sophomore
Andre Mendoza, Martin County senior
Louis St. Petery, Sebastian River freshman
Lee St. Petery, Sebastian River freshman
Collin Reed, John Carroll Catholic freshman
Noah DiBernardo, Lincoln Park Academy senior
Brody Metzger, South Fork sophomore
Jehezkiel Rucker, South Fork senior
Finnegan May, South Fork freshman
Connor Aranguren Barral, Jensen Beach senior
Coach of the Year
Scott Barlow, Sebastian River
Highlights: Leading a small group at state for the Sharks, Barlow led the team to an eighth place finish at the FHSAA 3A Championships after the team won the District 10-3A Championship.