Top 15 Gibson County high school athletic performances for 2025-26 season

By Michael Odom | July 6, 2026 |

Milan’s Jaydon Peete (5) was named a Tennessee Titans Class 2A Mr. Football finalist last season as he led the Bulldogs to the state semifinals.

Over the month of June, we have looked back at the most memorable games, the top coaching performances and top teams from across Gibson County for the 2025-26 season.

In our final look back, we will look at the top 15 athletic performances in a season. Narrowing this down to 15 was extremely hard as multiple players in the fall, winter and spring played a high level.

But here are the top 15 athletic performances in a season:

1. Jaydon Peete (Milan football, Jr.) – Peete helped lead the Bulldogs to the Class 2A state semifinals after winning the Region 7-2A championship and was named a Tennessee Titans Class 2A Mr. Football finalist after winning the award in 2024. The UT Martin signee recorded 90 tackles with 16 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception, while he also rushed for 1,697 yards and 30 touchdowns on 187 carries.

2. Jaydon Reed (South Gibson football, Sr.) – Reed helped lead the Hornets to program history as the team reached the Class 4A state semifinals after winning the Region 7-4A title. During the season, rushed for 1,760 yards and 21 touchdowns on 191 carries.

3. Darion Taylor (Humboldt boys basketball, Jr.) – Taylor led the Vikings to a Class 1A state runner-up finish after winning the District 13-1A and Region 7-1A championships. During the season, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists to be named a Class 1A Mr. Basketball finalist.

4. Koen Thomas (South Gibson boys basketball, Sr.) – Thomas led the Hornets to the program’s first-ever appearance in the Class 3A state tournament after the team won the District 13-3A and Region 7-3A championships. He averaged 19 points, 2.3 steals and 4.0 assists.

5. James Carter (Milan baseball, Sr.) – Carter helped lead the Bulldogs to the Class 2A state championship, the program’s first in 22 years. He helped them win the Region 6-2A championship and finished the season with 13 wins on the mound, pitching 85.2 innings with 97 strikeouts, 10 runs against and a 0.82 ERA.

6. Tommy Baker (South Gibson baseball, Sr.) – Baker helped lead the Hornets to the No. 2 seed in the District 13-3A tournament and a third-place finish. The Middle Tennessee State University signee batted .489 with 12 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 26 stolen bases and 52 runs.

7. Marleigh Chicantek (South Gibson girls golf, Jr.) – Chicantek finished third in the Class A state tournament in her third season of reaching the state tournament. She averaged a 75 through four rounds of postseason play with a 73 in the District 15-A tournament.

8. Colin Pack (Gibson County boys gold, So.) – Pack finished tied for 17th in the Class A state tournament in his first state tournament appearance. He averaged a 76 through four rounds of postseason play with a 74 coming in the District 15-A and Region 8-A tournaments.

9. Cade Beaver (South Gibson football, Sr.) – Beaver helped lead the Hornets to the Region 7-4A championship and the Class 4A state semifinals, which was the best finish in program history. He recorded 133 tackles with 28 tackles for loss, eight sacks and one forced fumble.

10. Mason Taylor (West Carroll football, So.) – Taylor has transferred to Milan during the summer, but last year for the War Eagles, he dominated the offense. He rushed for 1,425 yards and 15 touchdowns on 167 carries. And he averaged 20.5 yards on kickoff returns.

11. Richard Addo (South Gibson boys soccer, Sr.) – Addo led the Hornets to program history as they reached the Class AA semifinals. Addo recorded 14 goals and seven assists, and he scored the game-winner against Lakeland Prep in the region semifinals and Signal Mountain the state quarterfinals.

12. Rylee Hood (South Gibson girls soccer, So.) – Hood helped lead the Lady Hornets back to the Class AAA quarterfinals for a seventh straight season. She scored 25 goals and added 11 assists.

13. Sania Reaves (Gibson County girls basketball, Sr.) – Reaves helped lead the Lady Pioneers to a third Class AA state quarterfinal appearance in her four-year high school career. She averaged 16 points and eight rebounds to go with 90 total steals and 13 total blocks.

14. Jamarcus Haynes (Peabody boys basketball, Sr.) – Haynes helped lead the Golden Tide back to the Class 2A state tournament after finishing as the District 14-2A and Region 7-2A runners-up. He averaged 16.1 points, 61. Rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals.

15. Jade Reed (South Gibson girls basketball, Jr.) – Reed led the Lady Hornets to the Class 3A sectionals, and the team beat eventual state champion Dyersburg three times. She averaged 11.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals.

Michael Odom is the sports editor for the Mirror-Exchange, Weakley County Press, Brownsville States-Graphic and Fayette Falcon. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @GCSportsWriter. Reach him by email at michaelodom@milanmirrorexchange.com.