WHHS, PHA recognize top athletes, McCoy named Region Coach of the Year

Wade Hampton High School held its 2011 Fall Athletic Awards Banquet on Nov. 30. WHHS alumnus Tracy Boles was the guest speaker, and the following student athletes received the following awards:

Varsity football
Defensive Player of the Year - Cory Magwood
Offensive Player of the Year - Dondre Brown
Special Teams Player of the Year - Michael Hazel
Coaches' Award - Corinthian Williams
Rookie of the Year- Dylan Brown
Academic Award - Jesse Rooker
All Region - Cory Magwood, Michael Hazel

JV football
Most Outstanding Sophomore - Marcus Perry
Most Outstanding Freshman - Austin Terry
Academic Award - Brett Terry, Caleb Willis

Varsity cheering
Best All Around - Ty O'Banner
Most Valuable - Taylor Brown
Most Spirited - Marissa Pitman
Best Attitude - Alexis Smith
Academic Award - Samantha Benton

Girls Tennis
Most Valuable Player - Morgan Ball
Most Improved - Faith Rea
Coaches' Award - Hannah Ginn
Academic Award - Morgan Ball
All Region - Morgan Ball, Alicia McAlhaney

Boys cross country
Best Overall Runner - John Callis
Most Improved - Bisden Altman
Coaches' Award - Jacob Armstrong
Academic Award - Michael Burch
All Region - John Callis, Michael Burch

JV cheering
Best All Around - Crystal Williams
Most Valuable - Cassie Kemmerlin
Most Spirited - Megan Croft
Academic Award - Megan Croft

Varsity volleyball
Offensive Award - Taylor Cook, Kylie Godley
Defensive Award - Connie Kunze
Hustle Award - Jasmine Hill
Coaches' Award - Laura Purdy
Academic Award - Caitlin Ball
All Region - Jasmine Hill, Kylie Godley, Connie Kunze

JV volleyball
Offensive Award - Natalie Nix
Defensive Award - Ashley Wood
Coaches' Award - Mallory Crews
Academic Award - Natalie Nix

Trainers
Top Senior Fall Trainer - Courtney Threatt
Top Junior Fall Trainer - Desmond Williams

McCoy named Region II Coach of the Year, PHA honors top athletes

Even as he accepted the Region II Coach of the Year Award, proud Patrick Henry Academy head football coach Mike McCoy was bragging - not on himself but on his players.
The 2011 Patriots came just short of a SCISA state football championship, and McCoy and many of PHA's top athletes in all fall sports were recognized during the school's annual Fall Sports Banquet on Sunday.
"The fact that I made Region Coach of the Year only means that I was fortunate enough to coach the best team," McCoy said. "That award is truly a team award, because coaches coach the same every year. This year I was just blessed with a great bunch of guys that played hard."
In 8-Man Region II awards, PHA's C.J. Sheffield was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year. And this year's All Region team included (offense): Grant Youmans and Sheldon Swofford; and (defense) Kyle Johnson, Gibson Wall, and Jacob Barnes.
"I was proud of the kids on our team that made All-Region," McCoy said. "I felt like Gibson Wall should have been the Defensive Player of the Year, but I was outvoted. And Grant Youmans should have been Region Player of the Year, but all the other coaches are entitled to their opinion."
"I also felt like at least two of our players were left out," he added. "I feel like Cone Taylor and Paul Daniel DeLoach should have made the (All Region) team."

Other Fall Sports awards
Varsity football
Most Valuable Player - Gibson Wall
Best Offensive Player - Grant Youmans
Best Defensive Player - Paul Daniel DeLoach
Coaches' Award - Cody DeWitt

JV football
Best Offensive Player - Blair Moore
Best Defensive Player - T.J. Metzger
Coaches' Award - Brandon Prince

Varsity volleyball
Best Offensive Player - Tamatha Bowers
Best Defensive Player - Holli Beach
Coaches' Award - Anissa Manuel
Most Improved - Hollis Priester
All Region - Holli Beach, Tamatha Bowers

JV volleyball
Best Offensive Player - Caroline Fairey
Most Improved - Ashton O'Neal
Coaches' Award - Joye Peeples

Varsity cheering
Most Spirited - Beth Rowell
Best All Around - Holli Beach

JV cheering
Most Spirited - Grace Mixon
Best All Around - Sarah Sanders