Positive Athlete Names “Most Positive” Athletes in Virginia for the 2026 School Year
Richmond, VA (May 11, 2026) – For the second consecutive year, the Positive Athlete organization is recognizing local athletes from all across Virginia as high-character kids that have been nominated and confirmed by their schools as the most representative of “How Positive Athletes O.P.E.R.A.T.E.:”
Optimistic
Puts Team First
Encouraging
Respectful
Admits Imperfections
True Heart for Others
Embraces Service
This year, Positive Athlete is naming 32 different individuals as the “Most Positive” in their sport categories across the state, including 30 high school student-athletes and two coaches. Hayfield Secondary School has also been named the State’s Positive Athlete Athletic Department of the Year after an impressive number of high-quality nominations throughout the year and engagement
Over 1,200 nominations from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers, and parents were submitted for the Positive Athlete program state-wide, representing over 220 public and private high schools. Founder and CEO Scott Pederson created Positive Athlete in the early 2010’s as a movement for more positivity in youth sports and to create a culture change across high schools. In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show the above characteristics in order to be nominated.
Here is a list of the 2025-2026 State Award Winners:
NAME HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY
Ava Rassool Frank W. Cox High School Girls Soccer
Brody Thomas Holston High School Boys Golf
Cooper Miskelly Heritage High School Baseball
David Owen Dean Virginia High School Boys Soccer
E’lisha Harris Hopewell High School Girls Wrestling
Gianna Strattman-Lassiter Mechanicsville High School Gymnastics
Helen Sackett EC Glass High School Girls Tennis
Jacob McBride Independence High School Boys Crew/Rowing
Jana Hayajneh Harrisonburg High School Girls Basketball
Jeremiah Davis Loudoun County High School Football
Jordan Rhodes Forest Park High School Girls Track & Field
Josephine Sanchez Hayfield Secondary School Girls Golf
Joshua Guerrant Union High School Boys Wrestling
Juliana Hoppe Atlee High School Girls Lacrosse
Kimani Grady Denbigh High School Girls Volleyball
Kimi Lin Chantilly High School Flag Football
LaToya Harrison Petersburg High School Female Coach
Logan Frole James River High School Boys Volleyball
Logan Wright Hermitage High School Boys Cross Country
Maddie Royster Richmond Christian School Girls Cross Country
Madison Mellott Landstown High School Field Hockey
Marcus Lewis Varina High School Male Coach
Moonerah Lao Alexandria City High School Rugby
Piper Chamlis Christiansburg High School Softball
Ravin Singh Chantilly High School Fencing
Sophie Pace Fluvanna County High School Girls Swim & Dive
Thomas Hungarland Galileo Magnet High School Boys Track & Field
Trey Fitch The Fairfax Christian School Boys Basketball
Trip Crone Christchurch School Boys Lacrosse
Tyanna Hodges Oscar Smith High School Cheerleading
Vivian Foutz Western Albemarle High School Girls Crew/Rowing
Weston Fulham Robinson Secondary School Boys Swim & Dive
Xander Kakosso Mountain View High School Boys Tennis
All of these sport category award winners will be recognized at the 2026 Virginia Positive Athlete Awards on the evening of Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center. That night, all state winners and recipients of corporately sponsored scholarships will be recognized.
About Positive Athlete
Positive Athlete, INC. is now a national organization that seeks to promote the benefits of positivity to young athletes around the country through awards, scholarships and special opportunities all around the country. Since 2013, Positive Athlete has awarded thousands of Positive Athlete awards around the country, in which over $700,000 in scholarships have been awarded.
CONTACT: Mike Donovan 757-935-8759 mdonovan@positiveathlete.org
