Athletes receive memorial awards
By Donnie A. Lucas
Several awards including six special memorial honors were presented to Albany High School athletes last week, although not during the traditional All-Sports Banquet that typically marks the end of the year for school athletics.
The honors were handed out to recipients when they returned to campus for the first time in over two months to turn in school uniforms and equipment.
The school year ended abruptly in mid-March when the district let out for spring break with the closure of all Texas schools due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Eleven seniors were named for the six memorial awards that go to both boy and girl recipients, along with the recognition of a number of MVP and special honors given to participants of individual sports.
Awards were given for football, volleyball, cross country, and basketball, which each ended prior to the closure. Spring sports including softball, baseball, tennis, golf, and track had just started when UIL events ended, resulting in no awards for those sports this year.
“After the UIL and TEA cancelled the remaining events, we were left with the decision to have to cancel this year’s athletic banquet,” athletic director Ryder Peacock said. “Coaches of fall and winter sports were able to recognize many of our student athletes for their accomplishments, but obviously we weren’t able to include the spring sports because they had barely started their seasons.”
He added that the senior memorial awards were still awarded to seniors.
“Those seniors were very deserving of these honors, and we were extremely pleased to be able to recognize those kids,” Peacock said.
Memorial Awards
The overall outstanding male and female athletes were recognized with honors given in memory of former students or fans in acknowledgment of special qualities, traits ,or abilities.
All the recipients this year were seniors.
The oldest of the memorial awards is the Jay Wood Memorial, given to the top overall male and female athletes.
Ben West was tapped for the award as the outstanding boy, while Jaleigh Morales was named the outstanding girl.
The Carl Gene Edgar “Lion Pride” Awards were given to Blaine Kayga and Aubrey Moon. The honor is reserved for seniors participating in varsity sports who have a love of competition and give full effort in each sport in which they participate.
Selected this year for the Kirk Holson “Rope Holder” Award were Brayden Sullivan and Alayna Koemel. The honor is given to students that “you would want holding the other end of a rope if you were hanging off a cliff.”
The Rob Shack “Fighting Heart” was presented this year to Tyler Beard and Aubrey Moon. The award is given to students who “keep on fighting and trying no matter what happens.”
The Ben Carlile “Hustler” Awards went to Gregori Mikeska and Taylor Scott. As the name suggests, the award is given to students who demonstrate the most hustle in their sport during the season.
Finally, the newest of the honors is the Junior Garcia “Leave No Doubt” Awards, given to the athletes who give all they have for their team or sport. This year, the recipients were B.J. Morris and Caitlyn Holson.
MVP and outstanding player awards for each sport were also announced by the coaching staff.
FOOTBALL
Outstanding Offense Line – Gerardo Rodriquez. Outstanding Defensive Line – Gregori Mikeska and Parker Henry. Outstanding Defensive Back – Blaine Kayga. Offensive MVP – Blaine Kayga and Ben West. Defensive MVP – B.J. Morris. Outstanding Skilled Player – Jaheim Newton. Football MVP – Tyler Beard.
VOLLEYBALL
Offensive MVP – Sarah Beth Cotter. Defensive MVP – Torie Fuentes. Volleyball MVP – Allison Hill. Outstanding Team Leader – Taylor Scott. Fighting Heart – Mady Connally. All Out – Blanton Belcher. Most Improved – Addie Beth Denton.
CROSS COUNTRY
MVP – Brylee Moore.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Offensive Player of the Year – Blaine Kayga. Defensive Player of the Year – B.J. Morris. Most Improved – Seth Hale. Lion Pride – Ryder Wilkins. Newcomer of the Year – Cole Chapman. 6th Man – Cade Neve. Basketball MVP Basketball – Ben West.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Offensive MVP – Torie Fuentes. Defensive MVP – Alli Hill. Newcomer of the Year – Brylee Moore. Black and Blue – Carley Green and Cydney Nelson. Most Improved – Sarah Beth Cotter. Leadership – Aubrey Moon. Basketball MVP – Jaleigh Morales.
CHEERLEADERS
Alayna Koemel, Addison Asher, Jaleigh Morales, Clara Holson, Caitlan Lee, Lizzie Chavez, Isabel Alvarez, Savannah Hobbs. Taylor Scott – mascot.
