The 2019 James O'Melia Jr. Athletic award was presented to three Rock Island High School athletes at the annual Rocky Senior Night on Thursday, May 23. The student athletes are selected for athleticism, leadership, honesty, sportsmanship, and character. The three honorees are Breanna Beal (basketball), Ashley Peters (softball) and Bryce Trask (baseball and football).
Breanna (Brea) Beal has had many accomplishments in basketball as a 4-year Varsity Letter winner, been named to the Western Big 6 All-Conference 1st Team for four years, named as a Dispatch-Argus All-Metro All-Star 1st Team for four years and Dispatch-Argus Player of the Year. Beal is a four-time QC Times Salute to Sports Finalist and the 2019 QC Times Salute to Sports Athlete of the Year. For three years in a row, she has been Gatorade Player of the Year, Illinois Miss Basketball and selected to the 1st Team All-State. In 2019 Beal was selected as a McDonald’s All-American. Beal is the All-Time Leading Scorer in School History (girls or boys), All-Time Leading Scorer in WB6 History (girls or boys), All Time Leading Rebounder RIHS. In her team history as a member of the Lady Rocks Basketball Team, she celebrated four Consecutive Western Big 6 Conference Titles, four Regional Championships, three Sweet 16 Appearances, and a first-ever Elite Appearance. Academic accolades include being a 2 Time Recipient RIHS Scholastic Pin.
Ashley Peters is a 4-year Varsity Letter winner in Softball and has been named to the Western Big 6 All-Conference 1st Team four years in a row, been named to the All-State 1st Team, the Dispatch-Argus All-Metro 1st Team (three years in a row). She has been named as a Dispatch-Argus Athlete of the Week Pacesetter 4 times and been named Dispatch-Argus Player of the Year for two years in a row. The Quad City Times also named her Co-Captain of the Year for two years in a row. As a Lady Rocks Softball Team member, she led the team to Conference Championships (3 times), Regional Champion, Sectional Champion, Super-Sectional Champion and State Champion (2018) (First in Program History for Sectional, Super-Sectional and State Championships). Academic honors include the Western Big Six All-Conference Academic Award, 2 Time Recipient of the IHSA Academic Award, 2 Time Recipient of RIHS Scholastic Pin and Honor Roll (8 semesters).
Bryce Trask is a Varsity Letter winner in Baseball and Football. In Baseball he is a 3-time Varsity Letter Winner; All-Western Big Six 1st Team All-Conference for two years in a row; Dispatch-Argus All-Metro 1st Team for two years in a row. In Football he was also named to the All-State 2nd Team; All-Western Big 6 two years in a row and the Dispatch-Argus All-Metro 1st Team two years in a row. Trask was selected as the 2018-19 Defensive MVP and chosen to play in the Shriner’s All-Star Game. He also served as Team Captain in Baseball and Football.
Trask has been recognized for academics by IHSA in Football and Baseball; Western Big Six All-Conference Academic Award in Football and Baseball; and a 2-time recipient of RIHS Scholastic Pin in Football and Baseball. He has been on the Honor Roll all 8 Semesters at Rocky, is a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar, a 2018-19 IHSA Coaches Association All-State Academic Team and a 3 Year Member of the National Honor Society.
The Rock Island-Milan Booster Club supported the James O'Melia Jr. Athletic recognition award with a $1,000 college scholarship to each athlete. Brea Beal plans to continue her basketball career at the University of South Carolina, Ashley Peters will play softball for Purdue University and Bryce Trask will play football for the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.
The James O'Melia Jr. Athletic award is given in memory of Rock Island High School graduate James O'Melia Jr. During his time as a student, James O'Melia Jr. was an outstanding multi-sport athlete. He graduated in 1966 and continued to be a dedicated supporter and an enthusiastic fan of Rocky athletics. However, Jim's life was cut short and he died in a drowning accident on May 27, 1981. The first award was presented in 1982, and there have been 70 athletes who have received the James O'Melia Jr. Athletic Award since that time.
Breanna (Brea) Beal has had many accomplishments in basketball as a 4-year Varsity Letter winner, been named to the Western Big 6 All-Conference 1st Team for four years, named as a Dispatch-Argus All-Metro All-Star 1st Team for four years and Dispatch-Argus Player of the Year. Beal is a four-time QC Times Salute to Sports Finalist and the 2019 QC Times Salute to Sports Athlete of the Year. For three years in a row, she has been Gatorade Player of the Year, Illinois Miss Basketball and selected to the 1st Team All-State. In 2019 Beal was selected as a McDonald’s All-American. Beal is the All-Time Leading Scorer in School History (girls or boys), All-Time Leading Scorer in WB6 History (girls or boys), All Time Leading Rebounder RIHS. In her team history as a member of the Lady Rocks Basketball Team, she celebrated four Consecutive Western Big 6 Conference Titles, four Regional Championships, three Sweet 16 Appearances, and a first-ever Elite Appearance. Academic accolades include being a 2 Time Recipient RIHS Scholastic Pin.
Ashley Peters is a 4-year Varsity Letter winner in Softball and has been named to the Western Big 6 All-Conference 1st Team four years in a row, been named to the All-State 1st Team, the Dispatch-Argus All-Metro 1st Team (three years in a row). She has been named as a Dispatch-Argus Athlete of the Week Pacesetter 4 times and been named Dispatch-Argus Player of the Year for two years in a row. The Quad City Times also named her Co-Captain of the Year for two years in a row. As a Lady Rocks Softball Team member, she led the team to Conference Championships (3 times), Regional Champion, Sectional Champion, Super-Sectional Champion and State Champion (2018) (First in Program History for Sectional, Super-Sectional and State Championships). Academic honors include the Western Big Six All-Conference Academic Award, 2 Time Recipient of the IHSA Academic Award, 2 Time Recipient of RIHS Scholastic Pin and Honor Roll (8 semesters).
Bryce Trask is a Varsity Letter winner in Baseball and Football. In Baseball he is a 3-time Varsity Letter Winner; All-Western Big Six 1st Team All-Conference for two years in a row; Dispatch-Argus All-Metro 1st Team for two years in a row. In Football he was also named to the All-State 2nd Team; All-Western Big 6 two years in a row and the Dispatch-Argus All-Metro 1st Team two years in a row. Trask was selected as the 2018-19 Defensive MVP and chosen to play in the Shriner’s All-Star Game. He also served as Team Captain in Baseball and Football.
Trask has been recognized for academics by IHSA in Football and Baseball; Western Big Six All-Conference Academic Award in Football and Baseball; and a 2-time recipient of RIHS Scholastic Pin in Football and Baseball. He has been on the Honor Roll all 8 Semesters at Rocky, is a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar, a 2018-19 IHSA Coaches Association All-State Academic Team and a 3 Year Member of the National Honor Society.
The Rock Island-Milan Booster Club supported the James O'Melia Jr. Athletic recognition award with a $1,000 college scholarship to each athlete. Brea Beal plans to continue her basketball career at the University of South Carolina, Ashley Peters will play softball for Purdue University and Bryce Trask will play football for the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.
The James O'Melia Jr. Athletic award is given in memory of Rock Island High School graduate James O'Melia Jr. During his time as a student, James O'Melia Jr. was an outstanding multi-sport athlete. He graduated in 1966 and continued to be a dedicated supporter and an enthusiastic fan of Rocky athletics. However, Jim's life was cut short and he died in a drowning accident on May 27, 1981. The first award was presented in 1982, and there have been 70 athletes who have received the James O'Melia Jr. Athletic Award since that time.