Gallatin R-5 athletes, cheerleaders, managers coaches and fans celebrated an unprecedented level of success from fall sports activities at last Friday night’s sports banquet at GHS.
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GHS athletes combined for a record of 42-6 during fall competition in golf, softball and football.
R-5 athletes finished one victory short of pulling off a trifecta of fall sports titles. The Lady Bulldog softball team finished 20-3 overall and won their second straight Grand River Conference title with a perfect 8-0 mark. The GHS girls golf team finished 14-1 in meets and captured its 11th conference title. The Bulldog football squad finished 8-2 and battled Princeton to the wire for a share of the GRC crown.
R-5 athletic director Chris Elbert served as emcee for Friday night’s event that featured a carry-in dinner.
Cheerleader sponsor Heather Cole kicked off the program by introducing the 2007 football cheerleading squad. Members were mascot Maggie Strange, Carly Boyd, Alex Burge, Shelby Chadwick, Kelly Critten, Sydney Elbert, Kaley Esbeck, Casey Sweatman, Hannah Huffman, Tye Humphrey, and Lacey Dixon, who was recognized as a four-year letterwinner.
Elbert introduced the R-5 girls golf team of Bailey Bozarth, Alex Burge, Sarah Cornett, Kelly Critten, Sydney Elbert, Kathryn Everly, Shalyn Lollar and Sarah Smith.
Varsity letters were given to Critten, who finished meet runnerup three times; Burge, a one-time medalist, runnerup and all-conference golfer; Elbert, all-conference; Cornett, a four-year golfer; Lollar, a three-year golfer; and Everly, who medaled eight times and was runnerup once, was all-conference, all-district and a three-time state qualifier.
Everly was named most valuable golfer and lowest average scorer.
First-year softball coach Casey Cole thanked assistant coach Denise Ray for her help in guiding the Lady Bulldogs to conference, district and sectional titles, and a state quarterfinal appearance.
Softball team members included: Jennifer Acree, Kirsten Bowe, Carly Boyd, Breanne Brammer, Savannah Butcher, Shelby Chadwick, Lacey Dixon, Nicole Everman, Tiffany Lewis, Kaddie Mott, Rebecca Mott, Danielle Ness, Ashley Owens, Courtney Ray, Maggie Strange, Dannette Teel and Wren Tolen.
Post-season awards were recognized for Chadwick, all-conference and all-district; Owens, all-conference, all-district and all-region; Ray, all-conference and all-district; Strange, all-conference, all-district, all-region and second team all-state; and Dixon( 4-year letter), all-conference, all-district, all-region and first team all-state.
Special award winners were: Boyd, most improved; Bowe, most inspirational; Rebecca Mott, rookie of the year; Ray, hustle award; and Dixon, offensive award and most valuable player. Owens, Chadwick, Ray, Strange and Dixon each received defensive awards, as well.
Head coach Mark Cole, along with assistants Doug Nichols and Daryl Hane, recognized accomplishments of the 2007 Bulldog football squad. Also helping with coaching duties this season were Brett Adkison, Phillip Limb and Dan McCann.
Members of this year’s squad included: Matt Atkinson, Brad Berten, Tyler Brackett, John Corwin, Brendon Cosgrove, Alex Critten, Kyle Croy, Brandon Curtis, Lee Deutschman, Derrick Feigly, Nathan Gann, Kale Hefley, Logan Henderson, Dahton Holloway, Andrew Hood, Chase Hunt, Bradley Jones, Dylan Leeper, Chris Little, Bo Malo, Myrick McLey, Justin Moody, Jason Moore, Brandon Ness, Keiten Newberry, Greg Parton, Jordan Phelps, Shadow Philips, Matt Pottorff, Hunter Prentice, Robert Rhoades, Harold Russell, Colton Selby, Jacob Smith, Landon Smith, Derrick Sprague, Anton Steele, Sterling Steele, Derrick Teel, Tyler Toney, Cody Walton, Terrill Wood and Jon Youd.
Players receiving all-GRC football honors were Stephen Wood, Andy Ward, Kevin Chadwick, Corey Lee, Jon Brown and Jacob Gienapp.
Special coaches’ awards were given to Gienapp, Teel, Jones and Atkinson. Award-winners picked by players included: Russell, newcomer of the year; Ward, offensive player of the year; Lee, defensive player of the year; Brown, big man lineman award; Chadwick, hustle award; and Wood, most valuable player.
Managers and statisticians were also recognized during the evening’s program. They were Zack Lollar, Garrett McNeely, Chad Ness and Riley Vanatta, football; Kailey Elbert, golf; Kirsten Bowe, Ashley Owens, Courtney Ray and Wren Tolen, football statisticians.