Dollar, Gill named Athletes of the Week

The colder weather hit hard this past week and it was felt in and around the fall sports still happening around the area. But the lower temperatures didn’t deter teams around the county as they continued to show out in various sports events.

Graham and Newcastle both have teams either already in the postseason or trending in that direction. This week, The Graham Leader selected Mattie Dollar, of Newcastle’s cross country team, and Jace Gill, of the Graham football team, as athletes of the week for their performances during recent competitions and throughout the season.

Mattie Dollar, Newcastle cross country

By the time of this writing, Dollar’s last run was Monday, Oct. 23 at the regional event in which Newcastle’s runners participated. All Dollar did was dominate the competition and win first in her race to lock up a spot in the state meet for 1A which she will have run Friday, Nov. 3 by the time this article comes out.

Dollar has done nothing but excel all season long for the Newcastle cross country team. According to her head coach who’s also her father, Ryan Dollar, Mattie has placed in the top 15 of every meet she’s competed in this season.

While those feats in themselves are impressive, what makes it even more interesting is this is Mattie’s first season running cross country in high school. A junior this year, Mattie didn’t participate in cross country during her freshman or sophomore year of high school.

“It really makes it kind of extra special,” Coach Dollar said. “She didn't get to run the last couple of years, I kind of held her out just because she had some injuries from summer basketball and stuff. So this is her first year in high school to run cross country.”

Newcastle’s cross country team only has three girls on it: Mattie as a junior, a senior and a freshman. All three qualified for the regional meet where Mattie went on to win it all and advance to the state meet.

“She's one of those (with a) great attitude, is going to work her tail off, super competitive, doesn’t like to lose anything,” Coach Dollar said. “...But she gets out there and she works.”

Jace Gill, receiver/kicker, Graham football

Utility players in any sport are a true sight to see. Players that can play multiple positions and find success at whatever role they’re thrust into.

Though he’s only a sophomore, Gill has become that prized utility player for the Graham Steers football team.

Referred to sometimes as a Swiss army knife, Gill has played different receiver positions, backup quarterback, backup running back and kicker for the Steers at various times this season.

During this past week’s win over Greenwood, Gill primarily played as running back and kicker throughout the 44-26 win. He had two punts for 82 yards to average 41 yards per punt, but the main reason for his selection as athlete of the week was for what he did as a running back with the game still close.

Greenwood had just scored a touchdown with a little less than five minutes to go in the game to pull the score to 30-26 in Graham’s favor.

On the Steers’ next drive starting at their own 34-yard line, Gill carried the ball on four straight plays and picked up 47 yards on the ground to get Graham within scoring position, where they could extend the lead a few plays later.

Those hard runs were critical to the outcome of the game and Gill showed true grit while running behind a strong offensive line.

“Jace is a special talent…He has done a great job of learning multiple positions and making big plays for our team at all of them,” Graham offensive coordinator Kyle Wheeler said. “Jace is very fast and has the ability to make people miss. With him just being a sophomore, look for him to do some special things the next two years for the Steers.”