Kristin Carpenter, Ben DeJarnette named scholar-athletes of year

Kristin Carpenter of Hanover High School and Ben DeJarnette of Atlee High School are the 2009 Times-Dispatch/Sports Backers Scholar-Athletes of the Year. They were chosen from 10 girls and 10 boys finalists and will receive $7,500 scholarships.

Carpenter was a volleyball standout. DeJarnette starred in cross country and distance races in indoor and outdoor track.

The runners-up were Paige Johnston of Midlothian and Will Bates of Thomas Dale. Each receives a $4,000 scholarship. The other 16 finalists were awarded $2,000 scholarships.

Also recognized at the annual banquet held at the Jefferson Hotel were the Williams Mullen teams of the year: the Mills Godwin girls tennis team and the Collegiate boys swimming squad. Mills Godwin won its third consecutive state title and sixth in eight years. Collegiate won its third straight VIS state crown. Each team received $1,000.

The team runners-up and recipients of $500 were Midlothian girls cross country and James River golf.

The CJW Sports Medicine Comeback Players of the Year were Chelsea Derr of Manchester and Chris Harper of Douglas Freeman. Each received $1,000 scholarships, and their schools received $500. -- Arthur Utley