Seniors Nick Hall, Devyn Makin and Annie Whitfield were named Most Valuable Players for the Sweet Home track and field teams Wednesday, May 30, at the annual awards banquet.
It was the second year in a row for Hall and Makin, who both were leaders in the Huskies’ performances in this year’s district and state meet. The girls finished second in the district meet and the boys third.
Coach Billy Snow emphasized that Sweet Home lost a “big group” of seniors from last year’s team to graduation and this year was a question mark. He noted that another big group is leaving this year, among them three of the members of the girls 4×100 relay team that qualified four straight years for the state finals, winning two of those events.
“This has been a great, great group to work with,” he said of the “young” team that turned out this year. “They got after it and they got after it in practice.”
Several seniors also praised the efforts of the younger athletes, saying that the underclassmen inspired them to do better.
“They pushed me,” said triple-jumper Dakota Snow of two rookies in his event, Brycen Mitten and Joe Hefty.
Two other high school track rookies, Jakob Hiett and Jade Corliss, were named Newcomers of the Year. Hiett was the only freshman in the state 4A 1500 and 3000 fields, while Corliss made the state meet in the shot put by half an inch with a close second-place finish in the district meet, then followed that up with a 3-foot personal best to take third at state with a throw of 37-11.
“That amazes me and inspires me,” said Assistant Coach Krystal Streight, the school record holder in the event. “I told her she had to finish the year at 35 feet if she wanted to beat my record. My record’s totally out the door next year. I know it, but I’m totally happy about that.”
The Will to Win award, which goes to athletes “prepare themselves physically and mentally daily for success and go into competition knowing they will give whatever it takes to succeed, and always leave their best effort out on the field or track,” went to seniors Chris Carpenter, Scottie Stockman, Jessika Stewart and Whitfield.
Coaches noted Stockman’s “amazing” effort in the district 4×400, which got the Huskies to state, and Carpenter’ consistency and hard work in the sprints, from the 100 to the 400.
Stewart, who battled back twice from torn knee ligaments during the last three years, was “truly amazing,” Assistant Coach Jim Kistner said. “That’s why we give these awards.”
Whitfield was introduced by her brother, Nathan Whitfield, who said “when it comes to this award, I think of her (pointing to his sister).” He said Annie Whitfield’s effort at state, where her fifth javelin throw was 10 feet beyond her earlier attempts, was “unheard of – and then she beat it with her next throw.”
The Hustle Award, voted on by the team, which honors athletes who “get after it in practice as much as they would for a meet, always going 100 percent and doing what a coach or workout asks,” went to Trever Olson, Jake Johnson and Courtney Kent.
Olson, a wrestler who tried track for the first time this year as a junior, showed exceeding toughness in workouts and competition, Kistner said.
“After this year, I’m going to go to wrestling practice and start recruiting,” he said. “I love wrestlers. They’re tough as nails, that’s all I can say. They can handle the pain.”
Johnson, who finished fifth in the discus at state, practiced seemingly constantly, Streight said.