The Ashley Dearing Award is among the most prestigious trophy that most multi-sport Savannah area high school athletes strive for. It is an annual award that prep athletes know about once they reach high school, and it's been around for a long time. 70 years at that! The 70th annual Ashley Dearing Award goes to Jake Merklinger, a junior at Calvary Day School.
All nominees must have participated in varsity football, basketball, and a spring sport during the academic year. Michael Grandy of Savannah Country Day and Zion Griffin of New Hampstead tied for second place in the voting.
Since he was a freshman at Calvary, Merklinger has participated in football, 
basketball, and lacrosse this spring season. In football, Jake, the quarterback for the Cavaliers, completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,987 yards and 32 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions. In addition, he rushed for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Merklinger averaged 9.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 thefts, and 1.3 rebounds per game from the small forward position on the basketball team. In lacrosse, he was a key midfielder (plays offense /defense) and scored 11 goals with nine assists.
Jake is the sixth Dearing award recipient from Calvary Day School's history of outstanding three-sport athletes. Merklinger is the first Calvary Day School athlete since Dominic DeMasi won back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011. Demarcus Dobbs won in 2006, Barry Kleinpeter in 1992, and Lee Lane was the first winner from Calvary in 1986.
He has received numerous awards throughout the state this year, and in football, he was named the Offensive Player of the Year by the Savannah Quarterback Club and the Macon Touchdown Club Player of the Year. He earned Georgia High School Association Region 3-AAA Player of the Year honors, Savannah Now All-Greater Savannah first-team and AJC Class 3A honorable all-state player. He was a GHSA Class 3A Region 3 basketball all-region second-team selection.
Merklinger has recently committed to playing football for the University of Tennessee.
DEARING AWARD WINNERS
2023 — Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day
2022 — Mike Cabellero, Windsor Forest
2021 — Trent Broadnax, Benedictine
2020 — Gavin Stewart, Benedictine
2019 — Winston Wright, Memorial Day
2018 — Javonte Middleton, Jenkins
2017 — Calvin Turner, New Hampstead
2016 — Demetris Robertson, Savannah Christian
2015 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine
2014 — Brad Stewart, Benedictine
2013 — Paris Baker, Jenkins
2012 — Johnathon Chamblee, Savannah Christian
2011 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day
2010 — Dom DeMasi, Calvary Day
2009 — Jesse Morrell, Bethesda
2008 — John Moesch, Savannah Country Day
2007 — Scott Reed, Groves
2006 — Demarcus Dobbs, Calvary Day
2005 — Kellen Stanley, Savannah Christian
2004 — Sage Glasper, Groves
2003 — Joey Boaen, Savannah Country Day
2002 — Ben Patrick, Jenkins
2001 — Lamar Owens Jr., Benedictine
2000 — Danny McNamara, Benedictine
1999 — Rashad Chisholm, Savannah High
1998 — Kris Edge, Savannah Christian
1997 — Tommy McNamara, Benedictine
1996 — Terry Bryant, Johnson
1995 — Ronnie Rockett, Jenkins
1994 — Majiid Lanier, Beach
1993 — Bill Sparks, Savannah Country Day
1992 — Barry Kleinpeter, Calvary
1991 — Marcel Cooper, Groves
1990 — Lloyd Rowland, Savannah Christian
1989 — Pee Wee Kelley, Savannah Christian
1988 — Keith Jones, Savannah High
1987 — Corey Ladson, Tompkins
1986 — Lee Lane, Calvary Day
1985 — Peter Brennan, Benedictine
1984 — Earl Mason, Groves
1983 — Paul Jurgensen, Benedictine
1982 — Robbie White, Savannah Christian
1981 — Greg Amick, Savannah Country Day
1980 — Larry Brobst, Savannah Christian
1979 — Lamar Owens, Tompkins
1978 — Randy Lanier, Benedictine
1977 — Mark Grainger, Savannah Christian
1976 — Rufus Kelly, Savannah High
1975 — Ricky McBride, Groves
1974 — Shan Saunders, Savannah Country Day
1973 — Jo Jo White, Richard Arnold
1972 — Gene Dotson, Benedictine
1971 — Lawrence Maner, Benedictine
1970 — Bobby Reagan, Savannah Country Day
1969 — David Sasser, Groves
1968 — Joby Wright, Johnson
1967 — Julian Smiley, Savannah High
1966 — Peter Schmidt, Savannah Country Day
1965 — Roger Grove, Groves
1964 — Danny Sims, Savannah High
1963 — Dewey Warren, Jenkins
1962 — Tommy Brennan, Benedictine
1961 — Larry Patterson, Benedictine
1960 — Terry Tyler, Savannah High
1959 — Ronnie Braddock, Benedictine
1958 — Jimmy Miller, Savannah High
1957 — Tom Brown, Benedictine
1956 — Carlos Mobley, Savannah High
1955 — Charlie Moore, Benedictine
1954 — Elmer Lott, Savannah High
PHOTO CREDIT: Calvary Day School Athletic Department and Jake Merklinger social media pages
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Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
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