Each year, the State Games of Mississippi nominates an outstanding male and female athlete from each individual sport.  These athletes are chosen for merit and sportsmanship.  This year the State Games are honoring athletes from 31 sports from the 2011 twentieth anniversary of the State Games of Mississippi.  From these 31 athletes, only two are chosen to receive the honor of “Athlete of the Year”.  The chosen “Athlete of the Year”, will visit the Capital in Jackson, where the Governor will bestow them with a recognition of their achievement and they will have the honor and fame of lighting the torch at next years Opening Ceremonies.  The 2011 male and female “Athlete of the Year” is Easton Curry and Kristi Voss. 

 Eleven year old, Grenada Mississippi resident Easton Curry has been practicing Martial Arts for almost four years and has been competing for three of them.  His father says that he "eats, sleeps and breathes martial arts".  Easton demonstrates the discipline and dedication that it takes to excel in his field at such a young age.  He currently holds 38 first rankings, 18 second place and 3 third place and has won 4 "Grand Championships" under the Southern Martial Arts Circuit.  In June, Easton competed in his first State Games and earned three Gold Medals in Martial Arts, blowing the judges away with his talent. 

The State Games  win and growing confidence in competition made Easton want to take competing to the next level by competing in the National State Games of America held in San Diego, CA.  One week before the Curry's were to leave on the cross country journey, tragedy struck.  Easton and his father were involved in a head-on car collision.  His father, Michael Curry, suffered a broken back and states that "God's hands were on them that day", because Easton miraculously suffered only burns on his hands, arms and legs from the airbag impact.  With his biggest fan unable to travel with him and his hands in bandages, little Easton decided to go through with the competition.  Easton and his mother made the trip together to San Diego.

While at the National State Games, Easton was honored to be the "spotlighted athlete" in the program for Martial Arts and he also carried the Mississippi banner in the "Parade of Athletes".  As for the competition, Easton Curry unbandaged his hands and competed with all of the might he had and earned the Gold Medal in Weapons, the Silver Medal in Kumate, and the Bronze Medal in Kata.  Easton Curry brandishes and extreme natural ability at such a young age and promises to have a bright future in Martial Arts and in life.  The State Games of Mississippi is proud to have Easton Curry as it's "Youth Athlete of the Year".

Determination, strength, stamina, endurance, and discipline; these are qualities that the State Games of Mississippi, "Female Athlete of the Year", Kristi Voss, demonstrates every day. 

Kristi has been an athlete all of her life, but it was while she was in college that she found running.  Kristi has won and placed in countless of marathons and even qualified for the Boston Marathon.  Her biggest race achievement was finishing a half, Iron Man competition, consisting of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike race and a 13 mile run.  Her goal is to complete a full one, which she is not far from doing.  She recently won the Gold Medal in the 2011 State Games of Mississippi 5K Road Race and plans on doing it again next year! 

Running is not the only thing that keeps Kristi busy, she is a proud mother of three boys, ages 8, 6, and 1.  Kristi finds time for her daily training early each morning while her family sleeps.  Training and fitness are very important to Kristi, it took her only 4 months after her son Jack was born to be back running in marathons, and winning too!

Kristi Voss is an excellent role model for a balanced and healthy lifestyle.  She is the perfect example of fitness and dedication that the State Games of Mississippi promotes!