Miranda Pederson/Daily NewsAllen County-Scottsville senior pitcher Kelsi Pardue is interviewed by members of the media Friday at Total Fitness Connection.

Total Fitness Connection confirmed what many area prep sports fans already believed this past season: George Fant and Kelsi Pardue were two of the best around.

They were honored Friday by the gym as male and female athletes of the year.

“It’s a great honor,” Fant said. “It’s a really great honor, just to work so hard and get athlete of the year – just kind of feels good to be appreciated for what you worked so hard to get.”

Fant, now at Western Kentucky, helped Warren Central win its second straight Region 4 boys’ basketball title while averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Dragons.

Pardue, a rising senior, guided the Allen County-Scottsville softball team to its first state championship. She was named all-state and player of the year.

“It’s a huge honor and I’m happy that I can represent the female athletes,” Pardue said of the award from TFC. “(The 2011 season) definitely goes through my mind a lot. We’ve had time to think about it. It’s definitely sunk in and it never gets old.”

The two were each presented with a plaque from TFC’s Todd Stinson. They’ll also have their pictures posted on a billboard on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green.

“It’s going to be a little embarrassing,” Pardue said. “I don’t know if I’m going to like the big billboard, but it is exciting though, just to know that I’ve won the award. I’m really glad.”

The award for Fant was more icing on the cake that is his storied career at WCHS. But as good as it was, he says it doesn’t quite compare to that of some of his new teammates at WKU.

“High school was pretty fun,” he said. “I won two regional titles. But I can’t really say too much (at WKU). Derrick Gordon was on the No. 2 team in the nation. Then Findlay Prep with Kevin (Kaspar), he’s like, ‘Yeah, we would’ve murdered y’all.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, we played hard though.’ ”