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Crisp, Shively named Athletes of the Year By Harrison Keely, Editor See a photo gallery from the awards ceremony. Student athletes Jonathan Shively and Paige Crisp were named the 2008 Athletes of the Year at Hayesville High School Tuesday, May 28. The Athlete of the Year awards are voted on by Hayesville’s head coaches, said HHS Principal Matt Rogers at the school’s athletic awards ceremony.
Senior Trevor Staton received the most* sports awards, honored as the varsity football team’s offensive receiver award winner, the men’s basketball team lead rebounder award winner and collecting the Quarterback Club’s award for highest grade point average.
Like last year’s program, the 2008 ceremony lasted three hours.
“[It's] a fantastic thing that we have this many wonderful people to celebrate,” Rogers said.
Following a welcome from the principal, Fellowship of Christian Athletes member Chase Phillips gave the invocation for the ceremony prior to opening remarks from Clay County Schools Superintendent Scott Penland.
Penland thanked parents for being a part of HHS athletics and commended student athletes for their performance.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS
“All of you know how hard these athletes work on the field but they work just as hard in the classroom,” Rogers said.
Five teams achieved the distinction of being a scholar-athletic team. To reach that, teammates have to have an average of 3.1 or higher.
SENIOR AWARDS
To kick off the presentation of letters, certificates and awards, Rogers provided all 46 senior athletes with plaques commemorating their contributions to school athletics. Of those senior athletes, 82 percent received scholarship aid the week before at the academic awards night.
“I really appreciate… the work you have given to Hayesville High School,” Rogers said. “We will miss you.”
FOOTBALL
Football coach Neil Setzer took the stage to present awards to the varsity and junior varsity teams.
“[Clay County Schools] knows what athletics mean to people… They know the balance,” Setzer said. The varsity football team recognized 15 scholar athletes.
D.J. Anderson won the defensive line award, Shively won the outstanding offensive award, Tyler Denson won the offensive lineman award, Trevor Staton won the offensive receiver award and Tim Coker won the Outstanding Special Teams award.
The Delt Award, which goes to the hardest worker in the off season, was given to Donaven Byers. Finally the Golden Helmet Award, which is voted on by teammates, went to Shively.
The JV football team saw a poor showing at the ceremony with only four of the team’s 29 players in attendance when recognized.
Staton was awarded the Quarterback Club’s academic award for the highest GPA on the team.
CROSS COUNTRY
The cross country awards were presented by teacher Van Rivenbark, who honored the team’s coach, Buck Carney, who died in the spring.
“Coach Carney gave everything he had,” Rivenbark said. “He was a positive influence on this year’s team; for this we're very grateful... We're thankful for Coach Carney who made all of this happen.”
Those in the audience rose applauding, honoring their fallen coach, beloved friend and co-worker, until every one in the room had stood.
Looking back to the cross country teams, Rivenbark said, “they did a god job under difficult circumstances. They came through.”
Rivenbark said that the men’s team surprised their coach by the end of the season by finishing second in the region and seventh in the state. Rivenbark honored three scholar athletes and awarded the “Mud and Guts” award to Tyler Marcoux. Sean Henrikson was named the team’s “Most Valuable Runner.”
The women’s team went undefeated in the conference meet, Rivenbark said, and ranked first in the state for most of the season. He named seven scholar athletes.
The “Mud and Guts” award was presented to two seniors who “showed tremendous leadership to help their team get through difficult times,” Rivenbark said before honoring Ginger Buchanan and Alison Rivenbark. Heather Richbourg, who finished 11th in the state, was named “Runner of the Year.”
SOFTBALL
Softball Coach Becky Stewart said that her varsity team finished fifth in the Smoky Mountain Conference and that she was looking forward to “bigger and better things” next year.
Teammates Jessica Gonyea and Tiffany Wood tied for the Senior Award. The Most Improved award was given to Kayla Sprinkles and the Hustle Award went to Claire James. Gonyea also won the Coach’s Award.
VOLLEYBALL
Stewart also presented awards to the varsity volleyball team she coaches. She recognized four of her players as scholar athletes. She presented Crisp with the Defense Award and gave the Coach’s Award to Sarah Butler.
The JV volleyball team placed second in the SMC, Stewart said.
SOCCER
Coach Andy Ward honored seven teammates as scholar athletes.
CHEERLEADING
Coach Sandra Hollifield named twelve of her cheerleaders as scholar athletes. Kelsey Danto, who was not present, won the Most Improved award. The Best All Around award went to Kortne Walsh.
Cassidy Newell then took the microphone to honor the team’s coach.
“Our foundation is Mrs. Sandra Hollifield,” she said, presenting her with a gift. “We'd like to thank her for her dedication.”
Newell said that Hollifield would be retiring at the end of the school year.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Coach Keith Thompson honored five of the women’s varsity basketball players as scholar athletes.
“We knew this would be a year with a lot of rebuilding and a lot of mistakes,” he told the crowd. “Hopefully we learned from our mistakes.”
Thompson commended teammates Kayla Shaheen, Kayla Mitchell and Sarah Keling for their leadership throughout the season.
The Coach’s Award was given to Kelli O’Conner and the David and Goliath award went to Mitchell. Thompson presented the team’s legendary faculty award to Keith Nuckolls.
Chad McClure presided over the JV women’s basketball team awards.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
“This year’s team was very exciting for me to coach,” men’s varsity basketball coach Michael Cottrell told those in attendance.
The team was crowned the 2007 SMC champion with a 11-1 season in the SMC and 22-6 overall.
“The reason this team was so exciting was that we changed styles,” Cottrell said. “It was worth it because it was very successful for us. [Our players] wanted to be champions, and it paid off for them.”
Chase Phillips won the award for the most outstanding offense. Shively won the defense award. Trevor Staton was named the lead rebounder and the coach’s award went to Derek Patton. The Jacket Award went to Ian McLamb.
Rivenbark presented the JV awards as coach Mark Cox was unable to attend. He said they had an outstanding season.
TRACK
“You kept your focus and for that I’m very proud of you,” track coach Jim Saltz told his team on stage.
In fact, four members of his team set the new school record for the 1600 meter relay. The new time is 3:30.96.
SWIMMING
Swim team coach Bill Pave lauded his team for being the number one student athletes in the school.
Pave said that his team set a goal to qualify for all three relays at the state championship and carried through. He said that in doing so, the team achieved a goal never attained by Hayesville High School in history.
“These ladies accomplished a lot both in the academic arena and the athletic arena,” he said. “I'm very proud of them.”
The most improved swimmer award went to Maggie Mills and the most outstanding swimmer award went to Sarah Butler.
GOLF
Coach Dee Walsh reported that his golf team lost the SMC by only two strokes but that golfer Parker Lewis qualified for state. He awarded Lewis the HHS Golfer of the Year award.
WRESTLING
Wrestling coach Neil Setzer said that his team finished one match away from being conference champions. Setzer named five scholar athletes and said he had three state qualifiers.
Setzer named Justin Guffy the most outstanding wrestler. Kevin McCreary won “Most Valuable Wrestler.”
BASEBALL
Baseball coach Jeff Vardo lauded his team.
“Speaking of priceless, what a season,” he said. “I can't remember a team in 31 years of coaching that never quit, never complained all season… We got a lot of bad luck along the way, but this team never quit.... No coach could ever ask his athletes for more than you gave this year.”
Vardo said all of the awards were selected by the players. He gave the Principle Award to Tyler Vaughn and the Coach’s Award to Chase Phillips.
“I can't remember a time when a student athlete was honored in such away by his teammates,” Vardo said, presenting the Hustler Award to Tim Coker. Vardo recognized Coker’s family as well.
* The award count excluded senior awards and participation awards and athlete of the year recipients.
Awards Graphic:
Smoky Mountain Conference Award Winners:
FOOTBALL
Honorable Mention: Justin Miller All Conference: Jordan Jones D.J. Anderson Brett Moody Tim Coker Trevor Staton Jonathan Shively
CROSS COUNTRY
Honorable Mention: Savannah Wallace Brittney Chastain Alison Rivenbark All Conference: Heather Richbourg All Region: Heather Richbourg
SOFTBALL
Honorable Mention: Paige Crisp Jessica Gonyea Courtney Sheldon All Conference: Claire James
VOLLEYBALL
All Conference: Kayla Shaheen
SOCCER
All Conference: Shaun Tant Ian McLamb
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Honorable Mention: Kelli O’Conner
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Honorable Mention: Tyler Long Trevor Staton All Conference: Jonathan Shively Ian McLamb MVP: Chase Phillips
TRACK All Conference: Trevor Staton All Region: Tyler Breedlove Rachel Bush Maggie Dills Sean Henrikson Jordan Jones Derek Patton Heather Richbourg Sam Rusty Courtney Sheldon Trevor Staton All State: Sean Henrikson Josh Holloway Jordan Jones Derek Patton Trevor Staton
SWIMMING
All State: Maggie Mills Laura Kathryn Kelley Meredith Butler Sarah Butler
GOLF
All Conference: Parker Lewis
BASEBALL
All Conference: Tyler Vaughn Chase Phillips
*SMC awards are voted on by other coaches.
Scholar-Athlete Team GPA Rankings:
5th: Volleyball - 3.122 4th: Soccer – 3.379 3rd: Men’s Basketball – 3.552 2nd: Cheerleading – 3.587 1st: Swimming – 3.618
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