Barnett, Geers named sports hall of fame student athletes of the year

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame has announced its 2013-14 Male and Female Student-Athletes  of the Year.

Mason County Central’s Chase Barnett was named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year and Mason County Central’s Madison Geers was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

“The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame is honored to recognize not only this year’s outstanding scholar-athletes, but these two outstanding people,” said Mason County Sports Hall of Fame President Vic Burwell. “Both of these athletes are well-rounded representatives and we’re proud to recognize them as the Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year.”

Barnett ran four years each of cross country and track and field while playing a single year of boys basketball during his career at Central.

He was a four-time All-State honoree in cross country and a multiple time All-Stater in the 800-, 1,600-meter runs and the 3,200-meter relay. He won state titles in the 3,200-meter relay once, the 800 once and the 1,600 twice. Twice, Barnett aided Mason County Central to state runners-up titles in track.

Barnett earned a 3.87 grade point average while volunteering and being active with the Mason County Reformed Church’s youth group, the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Barnett is attending the University of Michigan in the fall where he will run for the Wolverines.

Geers was a four-year varsity letterwinner in basketball and softball while a three-year letterwinner in the volleyball. She leaves Central as the all-time leading scorer in basketball and won Associated Press All-State honors in the basketball.

She won all-West Michigan Conference honors in basketballl all four years, twice in volleyball and in softball twice.

Geers earned a 3.89 grade point average while being active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, SADD, the student council, 4-H, with her church’s youth group and Relay for Life.

Geers is attending Hope College in the fall and will play basketball for the Flying Dutch.