Gallatin R-5 sports boosters met Friday night at GHS to recognize the accomplishments of athletes and cheerleaders for the 2006-07 winter sports programs. Those attending enjoyed a carry-in meal prior to the recognition ceremony. R-5 athletic director Chris Elbert acted as emcee for the event.
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R-5 cheerleader sponsor Missy Chadwick introduced the 2006-07 basketball cheerleaders. "It was a great year, full of accomplishments and fun times," she said when recognizing Megan Chadwick, Lacy Curtis, Ashley Lawson, Shalyn Lollar, Kaddie Mott and senior captain Samantha Mott.
Girls basketball coach Rick Lin talked about the Lady Bulldogs’ recently completed 19-8 varsity season in which they finished 6-3 and third in the Grand River Conference. The jayvee squad finished 10-4 and won the consolation trophy in the Gilman City varsity tournament.
"We didn’t have a lot of experience when we started, but still we were very competitive," he said. "I felt like when we played someone, they had to play really well in order to beat us," he added, while expressing appreciation to a number of people, including assistant coach Cindy Boles.
Members of this year’s squad included: Ayrica Batson, Ashley Beck, Carly Boyd, Jamie Brinnen, Kelsha Bundy, Alexandra Burge, Savannah Butcher, Shelby Chadwick, Kelly Critten, Tye Humphrey, Ashley Owens, Courtney Ray, Dennelle Rhoades, Maggie Strange, Casey Sweatman, Wren Tolen and Jackie Wynne.
Players who received special recognition for accomplishments during the season, post season awards, and excellence in statistical categories were:
Owens — assists, steals and field goal %; Strange, Burge and Sweatman — field goal %; Tolen — steals, rebounds, All-Lawson Tournament, honorable mention all-conference and Most Improved; Ray — assists, steals, All-Gallatin Tournament, first team all-conference, MBCA all-district, MSSA all-district, KAAN, KWIK and KMZU all-star, and Offensive Player of the Year; Bundy — most rebounds and field goal %; Batson — team captain, assists, steals, rebounds, field goal %, honorable mention all-conference, MBCA academic all-state and Defensive Player of the Year.
Boys basketball coach Jeremy Hobbs introduced players from his 19-7 varsity and 7-7 junior varsity teams. The Bulldogs finished 8-1 (second) in the GRC under the added guidance of assistant coach Martin Sweatman. Hobbs expressed his pride and satisfaction that the boys came right out of football and won the Gallatin Invitational with only three practices under their belts.
Members of the Bulldog squad this year were: Ben Adams, Andrew Adkison, Colt Bohannon, Jon Brown, Nic Burrell, Jonathan Garlick, Kayle Hefley, Chase Hunt, Mitch King, Jason Moore, Robert Rhoades, Colton Selby, Derrick Sprague, Derrick Teel, Andy Ward and Brett Wilkinson.
Special awards and honors earned this season went to: Adams — Rookie of the Year, Adkison — leader in scoring (451), rebounding (237) and free throw % (70); all-Gallatin Tournament, first team all-conference and MSSA all-district; Bohannon — leading field goal % (52); Burrell — leader in assists (88) and steals (56), all-Gallatin Tournament, first team all-conference and MSSA all-district; Wilkinson — honorable mention all-conference and Gallatin Tournament MVP.
Burrell and Adkison were recognized as co-Most Valuable Players and four-year letter winners. Both eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark during the season. Adkison finished with 1,309 points and Burrell finished with 1,077.
Both varsity coaches expressed thanks to statisticians and managers Kari Youtsey, Laura Youtsey, Kelsey McLaughlin, Cheyenne Uthe and Cary Uthe for their hard work during the season.
R-5 head wrestling coach Phillip Limb praised the efforts of his charges, who won a Grand River Conference championship for the first time in school history with perhaps a record number of wrestlers participating.
"I kind of felt like this was a turning point for the program," he said.
Bulldog wrestlers finished 9-5 in duals, including a 9-0 mark against conference foes. They also grabbed a second place finish in the Albany dual tournament.
Members of the 2006-07 Bulldog wrestling squad were: Casey Alden, Matt Atkinson, Tyler Brackett, Logan Corwin, Kyle Croy, Dale Curtis, Derrick Feigly, Nathan Gann, James Hann, Jeremy Hann, Ryan Hicks, Andrew Hood, Chris Huffman, Bradley Jones, Billy Kerns, Joe Lagodny, Levi Michener, Jordon Phelps, Hunter Prentice, Trae Pyfrom, Riley Rains, Cody Selby, Jacob Smith, Tyler Toney and Terrill Wood.
Coach Limb recognized the following wrestlers for their season performance and post season awards:
Michener — a school record 37 wins with 21 pins and 48 takedowns, GRC champion, Class 1 third place medalist at 103 pounds, academic all-state, Iron Man Award and GHS Outstanding Wrestler; Selby — GRC champ, state qualifier, most near falls (48) and technical falls (3), Coach’s Award; Rains — four-year letterwinner; Wood — GRC champ and Rookie of the Year; Kerns — Sportsmanship Award; Corwin — GRC champ, state qualifier, outstanding wrestler at Albany Tournament, Most Improved Award.
Curtis, Hood and Wood tied for the team lead in escapes with 20 each.
Coach Limb also thanked assistant coach Barron Gann and managers Nicole Everman, Melissa Everman and Addie Gann for their contributions.