Dodgen and Slatten recognized by City of Sparta

Successful sports careers are highlight during presentations

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 City of Sparta, through Mayor Jeff Young, issued proclamations honoring the sports careers of White County High School’s Grant Slatten and Gracie Dodgen, the all-time leading scorers for the school’s basketball teams.

At the meeting of the mayor and aldermen, on May 6, Young read the following proclamations to the audience:

Whereas, Grant Slatten was an outstanding basketball player for the White County High School Warrior; and

Whereas, he averaged 36.7 pints per game, 4 assists per game, 5 rebound per game and 2.4 steals per game; and

Whereas, he was selected as one of the three finalists for Mr. Basketball for the state of Tennessee in 2021; and

Whereas, he is the all-time leading scorer for WCHS; and

Whereas, he holds the record of most individual points scored in a game, and

Whereas, he will be representing the City of Sparta and White County when he continues his career at the University of Mississippi;

Now Therefore, I, Jeff Young, by authority of the power vested in me as Mayr of the City of Sparta, Tennessee, by this proclamation do hereby honor the career of Grant Slatten on the occasion of his graduation from White County High School.

And

Whereas, Gracie Dodgen was an outstanding basketball player for the white County High School Warriorettes; and

Whereas, she set the state record for three-point shots made in a single game (15); and

Whereas, she is the all-time leading scorer at WCHS at 2,068; and

Whereas she is the all-time leader in 2-point shots made at 414; and

Whereas, she will be represent the City of Sparta and White County when she continues her career at Middle Tennessee State University,

Now, Therefore, I, Jeff Young, by authority of the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of Sparta, Tennessee, by this proclamation do hereby honor the career of Gracie Dodgen on the occasion of her graduation from White County High School.

In addition to the mayor’s proclamations, which were printed and presented to both Slatten and Dodgen, alderman Jerry Lowery, who is also a teacher at White County High School and has had the opportunity to see school’s basketball stars on a daily basis and watch their progress in the classroom as well as on the courts over the past four years, addressed the audience to praise the pair.

“It’s been a joy to watch these two develop and to see them excel at White County High School on the basketball court has been a joy,” Lowery said. “I’m going to read some of their accomplishments.

“Gracie is a four-year starter for the Warriorettes and is an MTSU commit,” Lowery said.

He then listed the accomplishments mentioned in the proclamation, along with a few others: Four time all district 6AAA player, two-time region player, two-time all-state player, 2021 All Star Game player, 2021 McDonald’s All American nominee, Sonic Shoot-Out all-tournament team four years in a row and MVP one year, Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic MVP, and Marlin Classic All-Tournament Team.

“The list goes on and on and on – all the records and things that Gracie has accomplished,” Lowery said.

Lowery then address Slatten’s career.

“Grant also gives his all on the court,” Lowery said.

He listed Slatten’s accomplishments, saying it may be hard to ever break all the records he has set. In addition to the accomplishments listed in his proclamation, Slatten was recognized for receiving Sonic Shoot-Out all tournament award, District 6AAA All Tournament and Region 3AAA all Tournament in his freshman year. He added more all tournament teams his sophomore year and was named the District Player of the Year his sophomore, junior, and senior years as well as district all-tournament team, AAU sophomore of the year, and AAU all state third team. Lowery went on to read a lengthy list of tournament awards that Slatten received over his final three years of high school basketball.

“Both Gracie and Grant are class acts on the court - they give it their all,” Lowery said.

Lowery continued by announcing that Dodgen and Slatten both have 4.0 GPAs and are members of the Beta Club, with Dodgen being in the top 10 percent of her class and Slatten being a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars, showing that their commitment to excellence goes beyond the basketball court and carries into the classroom.

Lowery concluded, “Not only are they great basketball players, they are great students, and they’re a fine young man and a fine young woman, and it’s an honor to have them here.”      

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