On Wednesday, April 28, Mike Cabellero became the first ever Windsor Forest student to win the prestigious Ashley Dearing Award, an honor given annually since 1954 to Savannah’s most versatile male athlete.
Savannah-Chatham County high school athletes need to play football, basketball and a spring sport in order to be eligible for the award.
Cabellero, who will be playing college football this fall at Webber International in Florida, was a star running back for the Knights football team as well as a standout in the backcourt for head coach Aaron Clark and the WF basketball team.
He played soccer his senior season in order to be eligible to win the award. It was his first season of high school soccer. Cabellero ran for 1,023 yards and six touchdowns as a senior helping to lead Windsor Forest and head coach Jeb Stewart to the state playoffs.
Area athletic directors as well as selected members of local media vote annually on the award. This year, Johnson’s Ted Hurst finished second and Calvary Day’s Dayyan O'Neal third.
Hurst was vying to become the first Johnson athlete to win the Ashley Dearing since 1996 (Terry Bryant) and O’Neal was hoping to be the first Calvary winner since Dom DeMasi won back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011.
ASHLEY DEARING AWARD WINNERS
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
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
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. The team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill is Dr. David Palmer. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!