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Meet the 2021 Gazette Male Athlete of the Year finalists
Marcus Morgan, Justin Recker, Trey Shearer, Jared Voss, Max White are the final 5
Jul. 4, 2021 7:00 am, Updated: Jul. 4, 2021 8:04 am
Here are the five male finalists for Gazette Athlete of the Year 2021. The winner will be announced next Sunday.
Marcus Morgan, Iowa City West
Gazette Athlete of the Year finalist Marcus Morgan of Iowa City West. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Holds numerous school records as a quarterback. Accounted for 25 touchdowns (17 passing) and 1,880 all-purpose yards as a senior, in just seven games. Completed 67 percent of his passes and averaged 44.2 yards per punt.
Injuries slowed his basketball career, and he scored 317 career points.
A 6-4 high jumper as a sophomore, qualifying for the Drake Relays and state meet.
Owned a 13-3 career pitching record heading into his senior baseball season.
Will play baseball at the University of Iowa.
Justin Recker, Monticello
Gazette Athlete of the Year finalist Justin Recker of Monticello. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Earned 14 varsity letters — four each in basketball and baseball, three apiece in football and golf.
A two-time all-district football performer, he was third in Class 2A in touchdown receptions.
A three-time all-stater in basketball, including first-team honors as a senior, he is the leading scorer in school history.
Two-time Elite all-conference in golf and an all-conference baseball player as a sophomore and junior.
Will play basketball at Kirkwood Community College.
Trey Shearer, Montezuma
Gazette Athlete of the Year finalist Trey Shearer of Montezuma. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
A dominant performer in basketball. Led the Braves to three state basketball tournaments, highlighted by a Class 1A state championship in March. They were fourth in 2019, third in 2020.
A four-year starter and a three-time first-team all-stater, he closed with 2,299 career points, 456 assists and 254 steals. Braves were 91-12 in his four years.
A four-year starter in football, earning 8-Player first-team honors as a senior. Caught 52 career touchdowns, compiled 1,636 receiving yards in his senior season, including 389 in one game.
A state track participant in 2018, turned his spring focus to golf as a senior.
Will play basketball at Truman State University.
Jared Voss, West Delaware
Gazette Athlete of the Year finalist Jared Voss of West Delaware. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A key member of five state-championship teams in wrestling, he placed fifth individually as a junior and senior and compiled a career record of 131-37.
Earned first-team all-state football honors after leading Class 3A in total touchdowns scored (38) while accumulating 2,576 all-purpose yards as a senior.
A first-team all-Wamac Conference East Division baseball player last year, he compiled a 1.54 ERA.
Participated in track and field as a freshman and sophomore.
Will wrestle at Coe College.
Max White, Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Gazette Athlete of the Year finalist Max White of Cedar Rapids Kennedy. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Four-sport athletes aren’t all that common at the big schools, but White was a good one.
Earned Class 4A first-team all-state football honors as a senior. He was top-five in the state in seven different categories. He accounted for 47 career touchdowns, fifth most in Metro history. Second-team all-state as a junior.
A starter on Kennedy’s basketball team and an all-conference baseball player as a junior.
He advanced to the state track and field meet in three relays, including a runner-up shuttle hurdle relay and also won a Drake Relays title.
Will play football at the University of Iowa.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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