Published: April 20, 2008 01:09 am         

GHS athletes earn awards at banquet

GREENVILLE — Greenville Independent School District’s new superintendent and athletic director both offered encouragement to the Greenville Lions and Lady Lions and their fans during Saturday night’s athletic booster club banquet put on by the GHS Athletic Booster Club.

“It’s always an honor to recognize our students who performed so well this year,” said Don Jefferies, the new superintendent. “Thank you for the support of our students because we’re going to go far.”

Jim Phillips, the newly-hired head football coach and athletic director for the Lions, thanked those responsible for bringing him to Greenville. Phillips said he’s enjoying meeting “a lot of good people” and said the door to his office “is always open.”

Phillips commented about the big turnout of parents and fans for the banquet.

“That’s the whole goal, to get people involved and win some games,” he said.

Alan Fields and Mitch Leathers, two representatives of the Commerce chapter of basketball officials, awarded GHS senior basketball player Gabrielle McCormick with the Ernie Wilson Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of a Greenville basketball official who suffered a fatal heart attack while calling a basketball game in 2003.

Mark and Melinda Byrd, parents of former GHS softball-volleyball player Marci Byrd, awarded softball player Samantha Sepeda and volleyball player LeAnna Phillips with two Marci Byrd Memorial Scholarships. Marci Byrd died in a traffic accident on Jan. 30, 2008.

Kelsea Vance, second at state in the 100-meter backstroke, was among the award winners for most valuable player. She was recognized in swimming.

Other MVPs included Alex Patterson and Logan Marcum in cross country, Rocio Medrano and Corey Bosworth in basketball, Amber Casselberry, Charles Vinson and Spenser Payne in powerlifting, Ethan Uselton, Skylar Pruner, Claire Deets and Katie Kimberlin in tennis, Jana Harrison, Kris Gibson, Jonathan Arellano and Denim Douglas in soccer, Olivia Ash, Carlos De la Guardia and Klint Kilgore in golf, Marci Webb in softball, Amber Casselberry and Kevin Heath in track and field, Katie Jones in volleyball and Brittney Kohn in cheerleading.

Linebacker Jamaine Hamilton claimed the defensive MVP award in football and the offensive MVP honor went to Jeremy Fowler.

Baseball coach Joe Juarez, whose team has one remaining game on Tuesday, will announce the baseball team’s awards at a later date.



Greenville High School Athletic Booster Club

2008 Awards Banquet

Saturday, Roy Q. Traylor Indoor Facility

Award recipients

Swimming — Kelsea Vance, MVP.

Girls cross country — Maria Guerrero, T.A. “Cotton” Ford Award; Alex Patterson, MVP.

Boys cross country — Hugo Almanza, T.A. “Cotton” Ford Award; Logan Marcum, MVP.

Football — Jamaine Hamilton, outstanding linebacker, defensive MVP; Alton Dennis, outstanding receiver; Jeremy Fowler, offensive back award, offensive MVP; Andrew Tarrant, special teams; Bryan Bellotte, defensive back; Spenser Payne, scholastic award; BennieLee Shelby, outstanding offensive lineman, outstanding defensive lineman.

Varsity cheerleaders — Brittney Kohn, best cheerleader.

Girls basketball — Amanda Weyrick, assist leader; Michelle McClure, spirit award; Brittany Gray, outstanding defender; Shanekqua Griggs, most improved; Rocio Medrano, MVP.

Boys basketball — Anthony Yost, sixth man award; Jarel Nelson, assist leader; Corey Bosworth, MVP; Aaron Johnson, hustle award.

Girls powerlifting — Amber Casselberry, outstanding lifter.

Boys powerlifting — Charles Vinson, outstanding lifter; Spenser Payne, outstanding lifter.

Girls tennis — Claire Deets, fall MVP; Katie Kimberlin, spring MVP.

Boys tennis — Ethan Uselton, fall MVP; Skylar Pruner, spring MVP.

Girls soccer — Jana Harrison, MVP; Sydney Phillips, offensive player of year; Katie Jones, defensive player of year; Guadelupe Alvarez, team spirit; Julia Hernandez, 110 percent award; Brenda Hernandez, 110 percent award; Sandra Zaquez, top newcomer.

Boys soccer — Evan Snider, top newcomer; Kris Gibson, MVP; Jonathan Arellano, MVP; Ryan Wilhelm, offensive player of year; Denim Douglas, MVP; Raul Rodriguez, top newcomer; Matthew Mouer, defensive player of year.

Girls golf — Olivia Ash, MVP.

Boys golf — Carlos De la Guardia, MVP; Klint Kilgore, MVP.

Softball — Marci Webb, MVP; Kayla Mayes, rookie of the year; Danielle Cook, defensive player of year; Amber Leonard, offensive player of year; Amber Moore, Katherine Hobbs Award; Jocelyn Hawkins, most improved.

Girls track and field — Amber Casselberry, MVP.

Boys track and field — Kevin Heath, MVP.

Volleyball — Amber Casselberry, leadership award; Katie Jones, MVP; LeAnna Phillips, offensive player of year; Hannah Stuart, defensive player of year.

Marci Byrd Memorial Scholarship — Samantha Sepeda, LeAnna Phillips.

Ernie Wilson Memorial Scholarship — Gabrielle McCormick.

$1,000 booster club scholarships — Katie Jones, Logan Sharkey.

$650 booster club scholarships — Amber Casselberry, Carlos De la Guardia, Leslye Dingman, Christina Gibson, Lacey Hansell, Jana Harrison, Brittney Kohn, Contessa Lake, Gabrielle McCormick, Riley Nix, Andrew Tarrant, Marny Williams, Spenser Payne.