Winner from Jesuit High School; Honorable Mentions from Gaither and Sumner
Hillsborough County, Fla. (June 3, 2026) - The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners recognized three outstanding student-athletes with the 20th annual Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award and two Honorable Mentions during today's meeting.
The Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award honors a high school baseball player or team in Hillsborough County who displays outstanding athletic, scholastic, and community achievements.
The 2026 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award winner is Wilson Andersen of Jesuit High School. Andersen, a pitcher and infielder, was a valuable member of Jesuit teams that earned four straight trips to the State Final Four, winning state 4A championships in 2024 and this season. In the 2026 championship game against Orlando Bishop Moore, he gave up just one hit and struck out 12 in 6 and 1/3 innings in a 9-0 Tigers' victory. For the season, Andersen was 11-2, with a 1.62 ERA and 111 strikeouts in only 69 innings. He also hit .430 with 40 hits, 36 RBIs, 20 runs scored, 11 doubles, four triples, and four homers. Andersen, the team captain the last two seasons, graduated with honors, and volunteered more than 200 hours of community service. He plans to attend Mississippi State University.
Honorable Mentions went to Mathew Altman of Gaither High School and Winston Pennant of Sumner.
Altman went 13 and 0 on the mound for the Cowboys this past season, with an earned run average of 0.44 and 83 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched. According to MaxPreps, Altman's 13-0 record ranked No. 1 among high schools both in Florida and the nation. Altman also has volunteered at his church for three years, at Metropolitan Ministries for more than four years, and with Buddy Baseball. He was a member of the Gaither Honor Roll and dually enrolled at Hillsborough College. He plans to attend Florida A&M.
A four-year letterman, Pennant was an outfielder who served as a team captain the past two seasons. He is the Stingrays' all-time career home run leader with 13, and single-season record-holder with six. In 2026, Pennant hit .400, with 30 hits, 23 runs batted in, 22 runs scored, five home runs, and 10 stolen bases. He graduated with a 4.2 GPA, and served the community by participating in campus cleanups, mentoring younger athletes, and assisting in programs that help families. He plans to attend Ole Miss.
About the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award
The Board of County Commissioners established the award in 2005 in honor of first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame member Wade Boggs. A resident of the Tampa Bay area since he was a child, Boggs was a 12-time All Star who ended his 18-year Major League Baseball career as a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who retired his number 12 in 2000. The Boston Red Sox also honored Boggs when they retired his number 26 in 2016. His career statistics include 3,010 hits, 1,513 runs, 578 doubles, 61 triples, 118 home runs, 1,014 runs batted in, and a batting average of .328. He reached base safely in 80% of his 2,432 career games. For more information, visit the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award page.
Link: Photos from today's Wade Boggs Achievement Award ceremony