Published: May 06, 2008 09:35 am            

AHS ALL-SPORTS BANQUET: Final curtain call

Hankins, Gamble named AHS Athletes of the Year at annual event

The curtain came down on another successful year for the Athens High School athletic program Monday night at the annual all-sports banquet at Cain Center.

A capacity crowd was on hand for the Athens Hornet Athletic Booster Club-sponsored event, which recognized all AHS athletes and coaches. Special awards were presented to the top athletes in each sport.

Seniors Staci Hankins and Kerry Gamble, both multi-sport performers, were multi-award winners, including the coveted Female and Male Athlete of the Year.

Hankins and Gamble weren’t the only seniors to receive special awards to cap the banquet, which was conducted at an organized and good pace. Holly Eckert received the Miss Lady Hornet Award and Kenzi Morton and Kathryn Schoonover were recipients of the Lady Hornet Heart Award.

Among the many highlights noted for the school’s athletic program during the 2007-08 school year were the football team making the playoffs for the first time since 1996 and sharing the District 14-AAA title, Odette Rivero claiming a state championship in powerlifting, Cody Robson taking fourth at the state swim meet and the freshman boys basketball team winning the district title with a perfect 10-0 record.

Here are the superlative award winners for each sport:

CHEERLEADERS

Varsity Leadership Award — Kenzi Morton

JV Leadership Award — Shelbie Johnson

CROSS COUNTRY

Outstanding Performer — Staci Hankins

VOLLEYBALL

Offensive Player of Year — Kathryn Schoonover

Defensive Player of Year — Holly Eckert

Most Valuable Player — Allison Sanders

TENNIS

Newcomer of Year — Jace Pursley

Most Improved Player — Kaleb Webb

Hornet Award — Kaitlin Andress, Alex Brittingham, Laura Moore, Blake Rogers

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Defensive Player of Year — Staci Hankins

Offensive Player of Year — Alex Furr

Most Valuable Player — Staci Hankins

BOYS BASKETBALL

Defensive Player of Year — Deliance Moore

Offensive Player of Year — Nick Monmouth, Courtney Whitehead

Mr. Hornet — Matt Hambrick

Most Valuable Player — Kerry Gamble

POWERLIFTING

Outstanding Male Lifter — Keylan Hunter

Outstanding Female Lifter — Odette Rivero

GIRLS TRACK

Thrower of Year — Asha Wilson

Runner of Year — Staci Hankins

BOYS TRACK

Thrower of Year — Nick Richardson

Jumper of Year — Randall Gamble

Newcomer of Year — Trey Neal

Tough Award — Tacameo Barker

Most Valuable Player — Taylor Jackson

SWIMMING

Female Diver of Year — Bryanna Bogowitz

Male Diver of Year — Jeremy Norsworth

Coaches Excellence Award — Mark Davis, Stephanie Sims

Heart Award — Emily Endres, Cade McCown

Most Valuable Player — Cody Robson, Tess Haynie

GIRLS SOCCER

Heart Award — Samantha Harris, Cynthia Carrillo

Defensive Player of Year — Karla Uribe

Offensive Player of Year — Celeste Martinez

Most Valuable Player — Carina Garcia

BOYS SOCCER

Defensive Player of Year — Moises Maldonado

Offensive Player of Year — Jesus Rodriguez

Newcomer of Year — Jesus Rodriguez

Most Valuable Player — Eduardo Gonzalez

GOLF

Female Most Valuable Player — Shaun Julian

Male Most Valuable Player — Lance Boyce

SOFTBALL

Defensive Player of Year — Kenzi Morton

Offensive Player of Year — Kalli Porter

Most Improved Player — Alicia McDowell

Most Valuable Player — Holly Eckert

BASEBALL

Hornet Award — Rex Laird, Jack Barkley

Defensive Player of Year — Hunter Choate

Offensive Player of Year — Luke Solomon

Most Valuable Player — Kyle Jones

FOOTBALL

Defensive Player of Year — Kerry Gamble

Defensive Lineman of Year — Michael Johnson

Offensive Player of Year — Negale Miller

Offensive Lineman of Year — Brennan Johnson

Special Teams Player of Year — Nick Gates

Kevin Loden Fighting Hornet Award — Cedric Kiser

Seth Howard Most Valuable Player — Kerry Gamble

        

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