‘Plenty of Reesons they’re number one’
No one will ever accuse Canon Allen or Avery Reeson for being the tallest in the group, unless they start coaching youth sports.
No, their success in life comes from something completely different. Wherever they go, others follow.
Their ability to not just lead but also make those around them better made them shoo-ins for the annual News-Register athletes of the year award.
Reeson was genuinely surprised by the recognition, which makes it all the more special and deserving. As she described, there were so many good girls athletes this year.
She’s right, for one. Second, the now former Hornet was as good, if not the top of that hive.
The moment I knew Reeson was going to win this award came during this year’s district track meet in Kenesaw.
Reeson had just raced her guts out in the mile run, collapsing at the finish line to finish third and just 0.04 seconds to second place.
That meant she was not an automatic qualifier for the state meet. For the fourth time in four years, she would have to wait and see if her time was good enough to get in as an additional qualifier.
Minutes later, having still not caught her breath in any capacity, Reeson was laying it on the line for her teammates in the 1600 relay, trying to help others qualify for the state meet.
Red in the face, legs screaming but one more lap left. The Hornets wouldn’t qualify for state in that event, but Reeson did make it in the mile and 3200 relay, earning an eighth place medal with her teammates and being the opening leg runner.
“That’s an example of Avery fighting through her own individual physical and mental pain to push her team to be successful,” Giltner coach Nancy Lockmon shared.
As far as the moment when Allen was going to earn this recognition, it was probably the first time he touched the ball as a freshman, right?
All kidding aside, one of my favorite Allen stories isn’t the game-winning touchdown, basket or five goals in one game.
It was a seemingly meaningless basketball game in mid-January. Aurora trailed Milford by eight at halftime.
Coach Kevin Asher went to the locker room quite frustrated and was preparing himself to have to get the team in line.
No need. Allen had already taken care of that.
“When one of your leaders, Canon Allen, comes in and says we didn’t play any defense, that’s where it starts,” Asher said after the Milford game. “That’s handing the reins over to a guy that’s been around it and done a great job leading this group.”
It was the same thing on the football field. Last year, the Huskies started the season 0-3. It wasn’t an accident they rattled off seven straight wins, adding a playoff berth and postseason win.
No. 1 makes everyone better.
Everyone around them knows they’re great leaders. But, what do Reeson and Allen believe makes them great leaders?
In her own words, Reeson is driven, motivated and competitive. Like Giltner coach Kurt Finkey candidly pointed out, it doesn’t matter if its against H&H or her little brother. Reeson wants to win.
“I want to show other people how much I care and want to win,” Reeson said. “In doing that, I want to help my teammates and I hope that it makes them want to play well. I also want to be very supportive of my teammates. I want them to trust me.”
As for Allen, he mentioned that whether he wanted it or not, he was handed a leadership title long before he got to high school and had to figure it out from there.
“I just carried that on my back as I grew up,” he said. I’ve always had the utmost confidence in myself. I think it’s a great honor my coaches believe in me and I like being the person they trust the most.”
But, one of my favorite processes of this entire thing is finding out what sort of superstitions these kids have and comparing them to my own. Obviously, I do whatever I can do to help these kids win, too.
One of these is absolutely hilarious and apologies to coach Kyle Peterson, but I think the statute of limitations has run out on this one.
“I always took a nap during quiet time, just dozed off quick,” Allen said, laughing. “During basketball we always showered before the game, something that goes back to Austin (Allen’s) grade and for soccer I had to eat Subway before the game.”
Reeson mentioned having quality time with her teammates before games, listening to music and getting in the right mindset.
But, the uniform matters.
“I definitely had my favorite pairs of socks and undershirt that I would wear, especially for track. I had to wear the same ones,” she said.
Been there, done that.
It’s going to be incredibly tough to not see either Allen or Reeson on their respective sidelines this year as they move on to bigger and better things.
Aurora fans have gotten so used to seeing an Allen out there that I may accidentally throw in the name once or twice just out of pure habit.
Reeson was everywhere all the time for the Hornets. She was impossible to miss on the floor despite being one of the shortest players.
Peterson called Allen the ultimate teammate, the most natural leader he’s been around in 25 years of coaching.
“He’s a heck of an athlete, right? But who he is off the field shows a lot more about him than his athletic ability,” Aurora soccer coach Michael Ksiazek said. “He was kind in the classroom, worked hard to be the best version of himself. I want people to realize how genuine of a person he is.”
Lockmon explained that not many kids take advantage of every opportunity provided to them quite like Reeson did. Her sucess there wasn’t determined by wins or losses, Lockmon said, but by her preparation and effort.
“We’ve had a lot of great kids come through Giltner but no matter what activity I went to, Avery was always taking the lead, even as a younger kid,” Finkey said. “She was just as active as a freshman as she was her senior year. She’s a natural go-getter and that won’t change about her.”
RICHARD RHODEN can be reached at sports@hamilton.net.