Other than the football team, each of the other fall sports held their team desserts last week to honor their players, both with their team and conference awards. Listed below are the names of the players receiving those awards in each sport. Also, each head coach gave a one sentence description of the team’s seniors.
Water Polo
Special recognition was given to Rose Jones, a parent volunteer who sought community sponsors in order that the team, now a club sport, could even exist. The following businesses and individuals contributed to that cause: McCollum Logging, Triple T Studs, Melcher Logging, Les Schwab Tires, Sweet Home Veterinary Clinic, Napa Auto Parts, Morse Brothers, Road of Life Automotive, More Logs, Midway Sports Center, Terry Bentley Auto Repair, Steven Hanscam CPA, South Fork Trading, Workman and Steckly Funeral Chapel, Cedar Shack Drive-In, Grove’s Pharmacy, Sweet Home R.V. Center, Sweet Home Florist and Gifts, and Mr. and Mrs. Currey.
Conference Recognition
Each team is made up of six players in the field and one goalie.
2nd team: Sean Martin and Jeff Stratman
Honorable Mention: Amber Larsen and Liz Andersen, goalie.
Team Awards
Outstanding Defender: Girls–Amber Larsen, senior; Boys–Larry Coulter, sophomore
Hustle Award: Girls–Katie Jones, junior; Boys–Jeff Stratman, junior.
MVP: Girls–Liz Andersen, junior; Boys–Sean Martin, senior
Seniors
Coach Rene Kirkland’s comments:
Ashley Andersen: brought good experience which helped her become the team’s leader in steals.
Amber Larsen: In all Kirkland’s years of coaching, the athlete that most loved the sport.
John Corbin: learned more about life and team play as he did about the sport itself.
Sean Martin: the hardest worker Kirkland’s coached, which showed up in his skill level.
Boys Soccer
Conference Recognition
Each team is made up of ten players in the field and one goalie. On the first team, all 11 players
were from Marist and Junction City, two top programs in the state. They also had six of the 11
on the second team. That left only 5 players remaining for at least second team recognition.
2nd team: Heath Belknap, junior
Honorable Mention: Kellen Petersen, junior goalie
Team Awards/JV
MVP: Colton Cooley; Defense: Kirk Workman; Offense: Anthony Hoffman; Hustle: Travis Walker;
and Most Improved: Alex Moser.
Team Awards/Varsity
MVP: Heath Belknap, junior; Defense: Chad Workman, senior; Offense: Heath Belknap; Hustle: Mark Lewis, senior; Coach’s Award: Ben Schmidt, sophomore; and Most Improved: Alex Brown, sophomore.
Seniors
Coach Louis Dix’s comments:
Ian Lynn: Lefty brought needed speed to the striker position to improve team’s offense.
Marcello Ojeda: Kids liked to hang out with this exchange student from Ecuador, who brought a relaxed feel to the team with his sense of humor.
Sebastian Strickler: brought leadership and humor to the team, which made it enjoyable.
Jonathan Wilson: Will be missed because of his consistently strong defensive play.
Chad Workman: brought team leadership with his work ethic as co-captain which kept defense playing at the top of its game.
Girls Soccer
Conference Recognition
Each team is made up of ten players in the field and one goalie. The awards were unknown at press time.
Team Awards
MVP: Rachel Gaskey, senior; Hustle: Grace Wilson, freshman; Coach’s Award: Sarah Winslow, sophomore; and Most Improved: Mallory Carlson, senior.
Seniors
Coach Eric Markell’s comments:
Mallory Carlson: one of those athletic kids who catches on quickly; wished she had been out four years
Catherine Fletcher: improved a great deal, giving it all during practice without complaining.
Rachel Gaskey: will be hard to replace this well-respected quiet leader.
Kendra Greene: one of our better players who controlled the mid-field
Anne Helfrich: hard to replace the knowledge of our only 4 year player who had the whole package of skills.
Susie Sieg: improved a lot and gave 100% in games while always aggressive on the field.
Cross Country
Conference Recognition
Each team is made up of the top seven runners at the district meet.
1st team: John Lovik, senior; Megan Snow, senior
3rd team: Tyler Kistner, junior
Team Awards
Most Valuable: Girls–Megan Snow; Boys–John Lovik
Rookie of the Year: Girls–Katie Barr, freshman; Boys–Ryan Sipe, junior
Most Inspirational Runner: Aaron Lovik, senior
Most Improved Runner: Stephanie Kragness, senior
Will-to-Win Award: Tyler Kistner, junior
Seniors
Coach Billy Snow’s comments:
Aaron Lovik: Mr. Consistency, as solid a runner as I could ask for, who always gave 100% without complaining.
John Lovik: one of those rare top-level competitors who was a solid, smart, knowledgeable runner.
Stephanie Kragness: improved tremendously because of her hard work.
Megan Snow: a remarkable achievement in setting high goals and following through with the hard work to make it happen.
Volleyball
Conference Recognition
Each team is made up of the top six players.
1st team: Lisa Brocard, senior outside hitter
2nd team: Ashley Horn, senior defensive specialist; Nicki Emmert, junior setter.
Team Awards/JV and Freshmen
Freshman coach Kori Langley gave an award to each girl for some special quality. Listed below are the awards most like that of the JV program.
Most Valuable: JV–Holly Reynolds; Frosh–Michelle Cliver
Most Inspirational: JV–Sam Pierce; Frosh–Kambria Walker
Best Offense: JV–Ashlee Gorgita; Frosh–Sara Brocard (hitting),Julie Burcham (serving) and Tabby Trahan (setting)
Best Defense: JV–Holly Keesecker; Frosh–Alyssa Risen (blocking)
Most Improved: JV–Emma Meyers; Frosh–Leah Villarreal
Hustle Award: JV–Sara McCutcheon; Frosh–Mackenzie Marchbanks (consistency)
Team Awards/Varsity
Most Valuable: Lisa Brocard, senior
Most Inspirational: Chelsea Gagner, sophomore
Best Offense: Lisa Brocard, senior
Most Improved: Kari McGuyre, junior
Hustle Award: Alisha Basham, junior
Seniors
Coach Heide Nichol’s comments:
Lisa Brocard: an amazing offensive and defensive player who was always thinking of how to improve herself and her team while taking on the role of an encouraging leader.
Ashley Horn: incredibly hard-working, dedicated, and devoted to whatever she does and came to practice ready to give 100%.