By John R. Schirmer
News-Leader staff
Scrappers and Scrapperettes were honored May 24 at the Spring Sports Banquet in the new dining hall at Nashville High School.
Athletic Director James “Bunch” Nichols presented the Scrapper Award to WInland Ogden and the Scrapperette Award to Maddison Horton. The awards recognize the top senior athletes at NHS.
Ogden played football and basketball and ran track for the Scrappers. Horton played basketball and softball for the Scrapperettes.
Former Scrapper Todd Cooley, now head football coach at Delta State University, presented the first Don Cooley Award to senior Winland Ogden. The award is named in memory of Cooley’s father Don, who coached at Nashville Junior High and other schools around the state.
Coaches introduced their players and presented awards for their performance during the season.
Recipients include the following:
Cheerleading – Coach Susan Renfrow presented awards to seniors Alexus White, Kaden Peebles, Brittany Backus and Sadie Prejean. “These seniors helped make this one of the best years I’ve ever had,” Renfrow said. The cheerleaders were eight points short of winning a state championship, Renfrow said.
Golf – Coach Aaron Worthen presented the Most Improved Golfer Award to Preston Pope. Jordan Conant and Colin Parnell were named All-District. Parnell was named the Outstanding Male Golfer. Sadie Prejean was the Outstanding Female Golfer. She was named All-State.
Girls Basketball – Coach Laura Kidd presented the awards, including Horton, honorable mention All-District 7-4A, Kee Kee Richardson, second team All-District; Kendall Kirchhoff, Most Improved and second team All-District; Madi Miller, Newcomer of the Year; Jessica Bradford, Sixth Man Player of the Year; Kaylea Carver, first team All-District, Defensive Player of the Year, Hustle Award; Asia Munn, first team All-District; All-State, Rebounding, Skills Award, third team Texarkana Gazette All-Area; Lilly Kidd, first team All-District; All-State; All State-Tournament, Assist Leader, Free Throw Award, Offensive Player of the Year, Miss Scrapperette Basketball; Texarkana Gazette first team All-Area; managers Aaysha Hollins, Tyundra Stewart and Chloe Scoggins.
Boys Basketball – Coach Damon Williams presented tha awards, including C.J. Spencer, Outstanding Defensive Player; Darius Hopkins, Assist Leader; Winland Ogden, Hustle Award; Jhalon Findley, Free Throws; Trey Hughes, Rebounds; Dominick Kight, Most Improved; Hopkins, All-District, All-State, All-State Tournament; Ali Reeder, Glen Hartness, Lindsey Bennett, managers. Worthen recognized Williams for his 800th career victory, which came Dec. 28 in the Junction City tournament.
Girls Track – Coach Laura Kidd made the presentations, including Brookelyen Cox, Sprinter Award; Jessica Bradford, Distance Runner Award; Outstanding Jumper and Thrower, Cox; Hurdles, Asia Munn; managers Aaysha Hollins, Tyundra Stewart and Chloe Scoggins.
Boys Track – Coach Rick Baker presented the awards, including Jacoree Walker, Jumper; Kirby Adcock, Thrower; Ignacio Perez, Distance Runner; Caleb Clark, Sprinter; Trace Beene, Outstanding Performance, All-State; Devion Crutchfield, Leadership; Jordan Williams, Joe Lee Goodrum Award.
Baseball – Coach Kyle Slayton presented the awards, including Dalton Smead and Trace Beene, honorable mention All-District; Austin Bowman and Tyler Hanson, second team All-District; Chris Willard, Zach Jamison and Preston Pope, first team All-District; Newcomer of the Year, Bowman; Jordan Williams, Most Improved; Willard, Offensive Player of the Year; Beene, Defensive Player of the Year; Hanson, Pitcher of the Year; Jamison, Team Player; Pope, Most Valuable Player; Williams, Brad Byers Memorial Scholarship. Players presented a framed team picture to Slayton in recognition of his 400th career victory.
Softball – Awards were presented by Coach Chad Hutson, including Hannah White, Most Improved; Julianne Futrell, Newcomer of the Year; Kendall Kirchhoff, Defensive Player of the Year; Madi Miller, Offensive Player of the Year; Brittany Hilliard, Anna Kesterson, Miller, Outstanding Pitchers; Brookelyen Cox, Bailey Dougan, Maddison Horton, Hilliard, White, Alyssa Harrison, Kesterson, All-District 7-4A; Miller, All-State Tournament; Kaylea Carver, All-State, Most Valuable Player; Olivia Herzog, Dirtbag Award; Lindsey Bennett, Horton, Peekaboo Garland, Senior Awards; Garland, Horton, Debra McMaster Foundation Scholarships; Coach Jerry Baker, Team Ball.
Girls Tennis – Coach Aaron Worthen presented the awards, including Klaire Howard, Outstanding Singles; Kaycee Patrick, Most Improved; Brittany Backus, Alexus White, Olivia Herzog, Leslie Lingo, McKenzie Morphew, All-District; Backus, White, Herzog, Lingo; All-State.
Boys Tennis – Worthen presented the awards, including Caleb Newton, Most Improved; Zach Backus and Glen Hartness, Outstanding Doubles, All-District; All-State.
