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The 26th annual Polk County All Sports Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, at the RP Funding Center honored 40 high school students as Ledger Prep Athletes and 31 high school coaches of the year, including 22 from Lakeland schools.
George Jenkins Senior High was named large school of the year, and McKeel Academy was named small school of the year.
Florida Southern College’s men’s golf and women’s lacrosse teams were named collegiate teams of the year, Victory Christian Academy women’s soccer team earned female prep team of the year, and Lake Gibson High School’s men’s wrestling team was named male prep team of the year.
2026 Hall of Fame Inductees
Bob Adams
Bob Adams moved to Lakeland in 1966 after graduating from the University of Florida in 1961, earning his MBA from the University of North Carolina in 1962, and three years in the U.S. Army.
He went to work for Florida Title and Jimmie Sikes, before leaving to found Sun State Homes, which eventually grew into one of the largest home building companies in the nation. Adams and his son Joel Adams formed Highland Homes in 1996, which sold to Berkshire Hathaway in 2019.
Inspired by mentors Sikes and George Jenkins, Adams has always believed in giving back to the community that “has been good to me.” He served on the board of trustees at Florida Southern College (FSC), annouced FSC basketball games on the radio, and financially supported both the college and the YMCA, where Adams played basketball for years. In November, 2025, the Bob Adams Family Community YMCA, including the George Jenkins Fieldhouse, opened to the public — Adams said seeing his name on the building next to that of one of his longtime mentors is a great honor.
Ken Snell
Ken Snell was born in Michigan and began lifting in high school in Temple Hills, Md. He has called Lakeland home since his family moved to the area in 1977 when his father retired from the U.S. Air Force.
Snell continued lifting at the YMCA in Lakeland until moving to All American Gym, founded by Louis Baltz in downtown Lakeland in May 1979. The gym has since moved to east Lakeland, and Snell has taken over operations.
In the course of his career, Snell has competed in more than 200 meets. One of his proudest achievements was deadlifting 465 pounds when weighing only 113 pounds — more than four times his body weight. Snell has worked with athletes around the Tampa Bay area, from high school to the Buccaneers. Today, he continues to train the next generation of athletes.
Pam Lancaster
Since moving to Lakeland to teach science and P.E. at Lakeland Christian School, Pam Lancaster has worked at Lakeland High School, George Jenkins High School, Auburndale Senior High School, and Tenoroc High School.
During her time as athletic director and 11 years as head softball coach at Auburndale Senior High, Lancaster led the team to the playoffs six times, won two district titles, one region title, and a Class 5A State Championship Title in 2006.
Lancaster left Auburndale to be part of the team that opened Tenoroc High School and served as the school’s first athletic director. After seven years, she returned to Auburndale, where she continues to serve as athletic director.
Rod Shafer
Rod Shafer, who retired from coaching after 43 years in 2018, ranks second in career wins in Polk County high school history.
Shafer’s coaching career began at Taylor University in Indiana. He moved to Florida in 1991 to head Lake Wales High School’s football program, during which the team went on an 11-year run with 111 wins and only 35 losses, eight district championships, four regional championships, and two years as state runner-up.
From 2002 to 2005, Shafer coached at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fl. He returned to Lake Wales High School in 2006, followed by several years as head coach at Warner University in Lake Wales, and one season at Frostproof High School. With more than four decades in football, Shafer tallied 276 wins at the high school and college levels.
Fred Ridley
Today, Fred Ridley is known as the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters Tournament, one of professional golf’s most prestigious competitions — but his roots are in Lakeland.
Ridley was born to Ann and Claude Ridley, who met when they were both working at Lakeland High School. His mother would eventually go on to become principal at Lake Alfred Elementary School, and his father served as assistant superintendent of schools for Polk County.
Ridley attended Winter Haven High School, where he played on the golf team, then went on to the University of Florida on a partial golf scholarship. After his first year of law school at Stetson University College of Law, Ridley qualified for the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship and won the tournament in 1975.
In 1976, Ridley competed in the Masters Tournament, won the Monroe Invitational, competed in the British Open, and was a member of the Eisenhower Trophy team. He competed in the Masters, British Amateur, and the Walker Cup in 1977, and the Masters again in 1978. He remains the last U.S. Amateur champion to have never turned professional.
Ridley went on to have a successful career as a commercial real estate lawyer, but he never completely gave up golf, twice serving as captain of the U.S. Walker Cup team and being elected president of the U.S. Golf Association in 2004.
In 2017, when he was appointed chairman at Augusta, Ridley became the first person who had played in the Masters Tournament to hold the position.
2026 Polk County All Sports Awards Winners
- Charles Richardson Commissioner’s Award for Perseverance: Angel Ramos Rosado, Davenport High School
- Bernie Little Sports Executive of the Year: Cody McGhee, Director of Parks and Recreation at City of Auburndale
- Professional Athlete of the Year: Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers, graduate of Haines City High School
- Male Amateur Athlete of the Year: Andrew Morrison, Victory Christian Academy
- Female Athlete of the Year: Serenity Hardy, Winter Haven Senior High
- Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana Hoosiers, graduate of Lakeland High School
- Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year: Charlie Laye, Florida Southern College
- Male Collegiate Team of the Year: Florida Southern College Men’s Golf
- Female Collegiate Teams of the Year: Florida Southern College Women’s Lacrosse and Warner University Women’s Flag Football
- Female Prep Team of the Year: Victory Christian Academy Women’s Soccer
- Male Prep Team of the Year: Lake Gibson High School Men’s Wrestling
2026 Ledger Prep Athletes
Football
- Large School Offensive Football Player of the Year: Wide Receiver Kaneilius Purdy, Lake Wales High School
- Small School Offensive Football Player of the Year: Quarterback Brody Brenneman, Lakeland Christian School
- Large School Defensive Football Player of the Year: Linebacker Zephaniah Rogers, George Jenkins High School
- Small School Defensive Football Player of the Year: Safety Omari Russell, Fort Meade High School
Volleyball
- Girls Volleyball Player of the Year: Middle Blocker Emily Drier, Winter Haven High School
- Boys Volleyball Player of the Year: Outside Hitter Jacob Aca, George Jenkins High School
- Beach Volleyball Player of the Year: Sophie Whitaker, Winter Haven High School
Cross Country
- Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year: Oliver Dempsey, Geneva Classical Academy
- Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year: Emma Wilkinson, Lakeland Christian School
Swimming
- Girls Swimmer of the Year: Bryce Palmer, McKeel Academy
- Boys Swimmer of the Year: Marcos Cabrera, Lake Wales High School
Golf
- Boys Co-Golfer of the Year: Grayson Abbott, George Jenkins High School
- Boys Co-Golfer of the Year: Jordan Castillo, Frostproof High School
- Girls Golfer of the Year: Hannah Castillo, Frostproof High School
Bowling
- Boys Bowler of the Year: Mason Griffin, Kathleen High School
- Girls Bowler of the Year: Caylee Mitchell, Bartow High School
Basketball
- Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Guard Toby Lane, Santa Fe Catholic High School
- Girls Basketball Co-Player of the Year: Guard Serenity Hardy, Winter Haven High School
- Girls Basketball Co-Player of the Year: Guard Quin-Nya Gray de Sanders, Winter Haven High School
Weightlifting
- Boys Weightlifter of the Year: Jayden Mondesir, Auburndale High School
- Girls Weightlifter of the Year: Divineya Smith, Haines City High School
Wrestling
- Co-Boys Wrestler of the Year: Raymond Shaw, George Jenkins High School
- Co-Boys Wrestler of the Year: Jeremiah Chavis, Lake Gibson High School
- Girls Wrestler of the Year: Jayla Sanders, Bartow High School
Soccer
- Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Center Back Micah Roloff, Lakeland Christian School
- Girls Soccer Player of the Year: Striker Abigail Lovelady, McKeel Academy
Cheerleading
- Cheerleader of the Year: Main Base Samara Weatherholtz, George Jenkins High School
Tennis
- Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Dylan Mitchell, George Jenkins High School
- Girls Tennis Player of the Year: McKenna Battilla, Auburndale High School
Track and Field
- Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year: DJ Dobie, Lakeland High School
- Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Olivia Celiscar, Winter Haven High School
Softball
- Softball Hitter of the Year: Centerfielder Keira Davis, Lake Wales High School
- Softball Pitcher of the Year: Ryleigh Knowlton, Bartow High School
Baseball
- Co-Baseball Player of the Year: Jameson McGuire, Santa Fe Catholic High School
- Co-Baseball Player of the Year: Gavin Byrd, Lakeland Christian School
Lacrosse
- Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year: Midfielder Patrick Jean, Winter Haven High School
- Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year: Midfielder Anne Clark, Bartow High School
Flag Football
- Flag Football Player of the Year: Quarterback Zebrielle Canaday, Haines City High School
Scholar-Althletes
- Male Scholar-Althlete of the Year: Keaton Kohl, Lake Wales High School
- Female Scholar-Althlete of the Year: Ryleigh Turner, Auburndale High School
2026 Ledger Prep Coaches of the Year
Football
- Football Coach of the Year: Jason Smith, All Saints Academy
Volleyball
- Girls Indoor Volleyball Coach of the Year and Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year: Dylan Sechrest, Winter Haven High School
- Boys Volleyball Coach of the Year: Jena Ousley, George Jenkins High School
Cross Country
- Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year: Milton Lyons, Lakeland Christian School
- Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year: Kris Smith, Geneva Classical Academy
Swimming
- Girls Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year: Zoe Kader, All Saints Academy
- Boys Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year: Roy Wilshire, McKeel Academy
Golf
- Boys Golf Coach of the Year: Karen Bolin, Frostproof High School
- Girls Golf Coach of the Year: Jeremy Bohnenstiehl, McKeel Academy
Bowling
- Girls Bowling Coach of the Year: Anthony Cohen, Bartow High School
- Boys Bowling Coach of the Year: Matt Townley, George Jenkins High School
Basketball
- Boys Basketball Coach of the Year: Steve Fitzgerald, Victory Christian Academy
- Girls Basketball Coach of the Year: Antonia Bennett, Lakeland High School
Wrestling
- Boys Wrestling Coaches of the Year: Danny Walker, Lake Gibson High School
- Girls Wrestling Coach of the Year: Tony Cerullo, George Jenkins High School
Weightlifting
- Girls Weightlifting Coach of the Year: David Gotsch, Haines City High School
- Boys Weightlifting Coach of the Year: Tashawn Williams, Lake Wales High School
Soccer
- Boys Soccer Coach of the Year: Heather Romanosky, Lake Wales High School
- Girls Soccer Coach of the Year: Grace Kelly, Victory Christian Academy
Cheerleading
- Co-Cheerleading Coach of the Year: Amy McCoy, Lakeland Christian School
- Co-Cheerleading Coach of the Year: Kiley Viggiano-Ramseur, George Jenkins High School
Tennis
- Boys Tennis Coach of the Year: Benjamin Arnold, McKeel Academy
- Girls Tennis Coach of the Year: Valerie Kendrick, McKeel Academy
Track and Field
- Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year: Jamie Lemmond, Victory Christian Academy
- Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year: Curtis Williams, George Jenkins High School
Softball
- Softball Coach of the Year: Jimmy Applewhite, McKeel Academy
Baseball
- Baseball Coach of the Year: David Schafer, Winter Haven High School
Lacrosse
- Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Zach Brownlee, Lakeland High School
- Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Maddy Mills, Lakeland Christian School
Flag Football
- Flag Football Coach of the Year: Gloria Choquette, Auburndale High School
Polk County All Sports Awards Circle of Champions
Lacrosse
- Florida Southern College, 2026 NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse National Champions
Flag Football
- Warner University, 2026 NAIA Women’s Flag Football National Champions
Golf
- Florida Southern College, 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Champions
Wrestling
- Lake Gibson High School, FHSAA Class 2A IBT State and Duals Wrestling Champions
- Jeremiah Chavis, Lake Gibson High School, Class 2A State Champion, 215 pound division
- Jacob Reber, McKeel Academy, Class 1A State Champion, 150 pound division
- Raymond Shaw, George Jenkins High School, Class 3A State Champion, 190 pound division
Track and Field
- Tenoroc High School, FHSAA Class 2A State Champion, 4×1000 meter relay
- Andrew Morrison, Victory Christian Academy, FHSAA Class 1A State Champion, 110 meter hurdle
- Olivia Celiscar, Winter Haven High School, FHSAA Class 4A State Champion, shot put
- DJ Dobie, Lakeland High School, FHSAA Class 4A State Champion, 100 meter dash
- Mason Berry, Frostproof High School, FHSAA Class 4A State Champion, Para Track and Field 100 meter, 200 meter, 800 meter, and javelin throw
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