Coaches offered remarks and individual awards Friday night at a carry-in banquet that honored the accomplishment of Gallatin R-5 athletes
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Coaches offered remarks and individual awards Friday night at a carry-in banquet that honored the accomplishment of Gallatin R-5 athletes during the recently completed fall sports seasons.
Girls softball coach Jeremy Hobbs noted that the Lady Bulldogs battled through adversity to finish 15-5 overall and 5-3 in Grand River Conference play. As barometers of Gallatin’s success, two GHS players batted over .300 (Lacey Dixon, Kirsten Bowe) and four more hit at least .400 (Courtney Ray, Trisha Sprague, Maggie Strange, Alyssa Strein).
Strein, who flirted with a .500 average near the end of the season, was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Dixon, who fielded all chances from the mound without an error, received the Defensive Player of the Year award. The Athlete’s Heart award, signifying commitment and leadership on the field, went to Trisha Sprague.
Katie Jarboe joined managers Katie Patton, Michelle Turley and Whitney Ray as winner’s of “Pork Chop” awards.
First-year players Courtney Ray and Maggie Strange shared the Rookie of the Year award. Sprague and Jarboe were recognized as four-year letterwinners.
Coach Chris Elbert listed the accomplishments from Gallatin’s best ever girls golf season. The Lady Bulldogs combined for a all-time best meet scoring average of 181. Their season-best single meet total of 171 set a new GHS record.
The Lady Bulldogs finished a perfect 9-0 in meet action, and over the course of the season won varsity tournaments at Gallatin and Plattsburg, and junior varsity conference. The Lady Bulldog varsity group produced its fourth straight GRC title, finished second and district and seventh at state. For the first time in school history, all five varsity golfers qualified for the state tournament.
This year’s junior varsity group included Sarah Cornett, Shalyn Lollar, Casey Sweatman, Alex Burge (5th @ JV conference), Kelly Critten (1st @ JV) and Sydney Elbert (3rd @ JV).
Second-year letterwinner Danielle Critten finished meet medalist once, runnerup once, seventh at conference and fourth at district.
The senior group of Maria Burge, Taylor Henderson and Whitney Boyd finished four years of competition having won 35 of 38 meets. Burge, a three-year letterwinner, was meet medalist four times and runnerup four times. She finished third at conference and fifth at district to earn her third trip to state.
Taylor, a four-year letterwinner, was meet runnerup twice, finished second in conference and tenth at district. Also a four-year letterwinner, Boyd took five medalist honors, two runnerup awards, captured the 2005 conference individual title and placed eighth in the district tournament to earn her fourth trip to state.
Boyd and Burge were named the team’s Co-Most Valuable Players.
Gallatin’s varsity football team finished 3-3 in the GRC but made it all the way to the Class 1 quarterfinal round for the first time since 1997. Coach Mark Cole described his team’s battle with injuries, and challenged underclassmen to make the 2006 season even better.
Cole handed out a number of special awards voted on by team members. Nic Burrell received the Offensive Player of the Year and overall MVP awards. Clayton Baker won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Big Man of the Year award went to tackle Daniel Horvatin. The Hustle and Desire award went to lineman Zach Gutzmer. Tyler Toney was named Newcomer of the Year.
Horvatin and Baker were recognized as four-year letterwinners. Coach Cole announced that Burrell and Horvatin have been named to both KMZU and KAAN Dream Teams. Andrew Adkison was also a KAAN all-star.
Team managers and statisticians were also recognized during the awards segment of the banquet. Softball managers included Katie Patton, Whitney Ray and Michelle Turley. Football statisticians were Kinsey Batson, Jennifer Guffey, Trisha Sprague and Alyssa Strein.
Football cheerleaders recognized were captains and four-year letterwinners Whitney Boyd and Kara Kloepping, four-year letterwinner Taylor Henderson, Kate Jarboe, Emily Michener, Danielle Critten, Lacey Dixon, Katy Black, Kirsten Bowe and Tye Humphrey. Jessica Fifer served as football mascot this season.