Friends and family members of Gallatin R-5 athletes and coaches met Thursday night to celebrate the accomplishments of recently completed winter sports seasons,
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Friends and family members of Gallatin R-5 athletes and coaches met Thursday night to celebrate the accomplishments of recently completed winter sports seasons, including district championships in wrestling and girls basketball. Highlighting the evening were special awards handed out by GHS coaches.
R-5 athletic director Chris Elbert emceed the program and read a letter from Hamilton basketball referee Allen Gentry to the Missouri State High School Activities Association, the ruling body for Missouri high school sports. In the letter, Gentry complimented both Gallatin and Pattonsburg varsity teams on their decorum and sportsmanship shown during Dec. 18, 2001 games at PHS.
“Both the Pattonsburg and Gallatin school districts should be appreciative and proud of the way the players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans conducted themselves during both the girls’ and boys’ games. It was a pleasure working these games,” Gentry said. “Needless to say this is the type of report we look forward to receiving,” said George Blase, assistant executive director of MSHSAA, in a follow-up letter to GHS principal Mike Burrell. “It is obvious that you (Burrell) and your staff place much importance on good organization and are to be highly commended for the work being done at your schools,” he added.
The evening’s award presentations began with sponsors Christa Sullenger and Jennifer Chipman recognizing the hard work and efforts put forth by GHS cheerleaders Haleigh Tague, Emily Baldwin, Amanda Bohannon, Priscilla Ford, Katie Heldenbrand and Jessica Foster (mascot). Tague was named most improved on the squad and Heldenbrand received most valuable cheerleader.
The Bulldog varsity boys, under the direction of first-year coach Martin Sweatman and assisted by Brenda Davitt, finished 16-10 overall and 6-2 (3rd) in the Grand River Conference. The Bulldogs battled through injuries to key starters throughout the season before finishing strong, despite a tough, double overtime loss to Gilman City in the district semifinals.
Bulldogs receiving either a certificate of participation or letter were: Joe Davis, Aaron Everly, Kyle Hefley, Garett Houghton, Caleb Kirdendoll, Danny Clevenger, Patrick Dickinson, Brady Feigly, Colby Swanstone, Matt Swofford, Dustin Teel, Wilson Tolen, Duke Burge, Ryan Thompson, Will Jarboe, Adam Whitney, Scott Wilkinson, Jake Humphrey, Brice Garnett and Robert Heldenbrand.
Special boys basketball awards fell to: Kyle Hefley — rookie of the year; Duke Burge — most improved; Will Jarboe — hustle; Robert Heldenbrand — rebounding, co-most valuable player and 4- year letter winner; Jake Humphrey — free throw; Adam Whitney — defensive MVP; Brice Garnett — co-MVP.
The Lady Bulldogs reigned as 1A, District 27 champions for the second consecutive season and finished 19-9 overall and 6-2 (3rd) despite the early loss of starter Kamille Burrell to a knee injury. Coach Rick Lin handed out the letters to the following: Cassie Carder, Brittney Hixson, Kelsie Parker, Lindsey Robertson, Emily Gay, Katie Ward, Keira Story, Lindsey Love, Laura McCann, Jamie Lun sford, Brook Carder, Kamille Burrell, Kayli Burrell, Roxi Davitt and Erin Sweatman.
Specials awards for the girls went to: Emily Gay — rookie of the year; Katie Ward — most improved; Jamie Lunsford and Kelsie Parker — hustle; Roxi Davitt — rebounding and most valuable player; Kayli Burrell — defensive MVP; Erin Sweatman — coaches’ award and 4-year letter winner.
Supporting the girls and boys basketball programs this season were statisticians Kendra Kelly, Jamie Freeman, Stephanie Phelps, Samantha Bridgeman and Alli McLaughlin and videographer Jake Rutherford.
Barron Gann, District 8 Coach of the Year, capped the evening’s award ceremony by recognizing members of Gallatin’s first ever district championship wrestling squad. The Bulldogs finished 8-0 in dual meets, won the Gallatin Invitational, finished 3rd at the conference tournament, 3rd at Trenton, 3rd at South Harrison and 4th at Brookfield. This year’s Bulldog squad also set school records for sectional qualifiers (13) and state qualifiers (5).
Individual wrestlers recognized were: Chris Barnes, Kevin Black, Mathew Hostetler, Klint Kloepping, Tim McCann, Jonathan Parker, John Runde, John Steele, Adam Strein, Zach Vanderslice, Adam Boyd, Dustin Carter, Rusty Hendricks, Austin Walker, Ben Weldon, Tyler Nichols, Justin Baker, Cody Boehm, B. J. Jones, and tri-captains Andrew Parker, Blake Parker and Austin Story.
Special wrestling awards were given to: Tyler Nichols — most pins; Cody Boehm — most improved; Klint Kloepping — rookie of the year and sportsmanship; Blake Parker — coaches’ award; Nichols and Austin Story — co-most valuable players. Nichols was also recognized as team leader in takedowns and near falls and Justin Baker was recognized as the leader in escapes.
Coach Gann thanked statisticians Ashley Eaton, Allison Lockridge, Cori Nichols and Kathy Walker for their contributions.