Local sports awards announced

On Tuesday night, Ekalaka Public Schools honored all local athletes from grades 5-12 for their 2016-2017 sports seasons at a program held in the CCHS Tuggle room.

CCHS Volleyball had nine returning letterwomen this year. They were Kimberlee Elmore, Kylee Kennedy, Jordan, King, Kennedy Tooke, Kyleigh Bonsell, Claire Callahan, Annette Lovec, Raeleigh Montgomery, and Tori Tooke. New letterwomen included Lauryn DeFrance, Whitney Kittelmann, Heather LaBree, Hannah LaBree, Rose Rychner, and Jaelee Strangford.

This year's captains were Elmore and Kennedy; Glen Frye and Casidy Newburn served as managers. Elmore, Kennedy, Frye, Tori Tooke, Kennedy Tooke, Kittelmann, Hannah LaBree, Heather LaBree, Rychner, and Strangford were members of Academic All-State. To receive this honor these student athletes maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA throughout the season.

Awards based off of stats were: Best Server, Callahan (214); Most Kills, Callahan (178); Most Assists, Kennedy (200); Most Digs, Tori Tooke and Kennedy (130); and Most Aces, Callahan (57).

Awards voted on by their peers included: Best All-Around Player, Kennedy; Best Team Player, Elmore; Best Team Spirit, Heather LaBree; and Most Improved, Rychner. Additionally, Kennedy and Callahan made the All-Conference team.

Junior high volleyball players receiving recognition were Kari Kittelmann, Tylee Loehding, Ella Rucker, Emily O'Connell, Katy Ivy, Amaya Rios, Kenzie Tooke, Heidi LaBree, Tyra O'Connor, Kendall Kittelmann, Brynn Loehding, and Jennie Schmid.

Returning lettermen for the CCHS football team this year were Tanner Fix, David Pierson, Cameron Wolenetz, Jacob Niehaus, and Caleb Fix. New lettermen were Marco Villegas Lugo, Luke Diede, Dylan King, Seth Frei, Ryan Newburn, Mick O'Connor, Wyatt Kittelmann, and Grafton Bonsell.

Tanner Fix, Caleb Fix, Wyatt Kittelmann, and Mick O'Connor were members of Academic All-State.

Team awards given were: Mr. Offense, Caleb Fix; Mr. Defense, Cameron Wolenetz; and Most Valuable Player, David Pierson.

Junior high football players also received recognition for their season on Tuesday. Eighth graders who played football this year included David Ashbrook, Seth Kennedy, David Moore, Jared Pardee, Ryan Rychner, and Cole Schmid. Seventh graders were Brennen Bonsell, Darin Schallenberger, and Turner Tooke. Sixth graders were J.W. Elmore, Jaden Pardee, Tucker Tooke, Sean Wolenetz, Cardell Laughery, and Caiden Chavarria. Fifth graders playing football for the first time included Christian Ashbrook, Ryker Carroll, and Ethan Frye.

Returning letterwomen for the 2016-2017 CCHS Lady Bulldog basketball season were Kimberlee Elmore, Kylee Kennedy, Jordan King, Annette Lovec, Casidy Newburn, Tori Tooke, Whitney Kittelmann, Hannah LaBree, and Heather LaBree. New letterwomen were Lauryn DeFrance, Rose Rychner, Kari Kittelmann, and Ella Rucker. This year's managers were Kennedy Tooke and Claire Callahan. Callahan missed the season and became manager due to a leg injury that kept her sidelined.

Captains for the Lady Dawgs were Kennedy and Elmore. Kennedy also was an All-Conference selection this year along with fellow teammate Heather LaBree. Nine team members-Kennedy, King, Kennedy Tooke, Tori Tooke, Whitney Kittelmann, Hannah LaBree, Heather LaBree, Rychner, and Kari Kittelmann were on the Academic All-State list.

Team awards went to Heather LaBree for Miss Offense, Tori Tooke for Miss Defense, Hannah LaBree for Hustle, Rose Rychner and Lauryn DeFrance for Most Improved, and Kylee Kennedy for MVP.

Junior high girls basketball players receiving recognition were Kari Kittelmann, Ella Rucker, Emily O'Connell, Katy Ivy, Amaya Rios, Kenzie Tooke, Heidi LaBree, Tyra O'Connor, Kendall Kittelmann, Brynn Loehding, and Natalie Foxley.

David Pierson, Glen Frye, Tanner Fix, Caleb Fix, Wyatt Kittelmann, Mick O'Connor, and Dylan King were all returning lettermen for the high school boys basketball team this year. New lettermen included Grafton Bonsell, David Ashbrook, Seth Kennedy, Jared Pardee, and Ryan Rychner. Turner Tooke served as team manager while Jaden Pardee ran the camera. Wayne Yost was also recognized for keeping books for both the boys' and girls' teams.

Tanner Fix, Frye, Caleb Fix, Kittelmann, O'Connor, Kennedy, Jared Pardee, Rychner, and Tooke made Academic All-State. All three CCHS seniors-Pierson, Frye, and Tanner Fix-were selected to the All Conference team and were this year's captains.

Mr. Offense this year was Tanner Fix, Mr. Defense was Caleb Fix, Mr. Hustle was Pierson, 6th Man was Jared Pardee, MVP was Frye, and Most Improved was Mick O'Connor.

Junior high basketball boys receiving recognition included David Ashbrook, Seth Kennedy, Jared Pardee, Ryan Rychner, Brennen Bonsell, Adrian Rios, Turner Tooke, J. W. Elmore, Jaden Pardee, Tucker Tooke, Sean Wolenetz, Caiden Chavarria, Christian Ashbrook, and Ethan Frye.

Track awards were not given at the banquet as the track season is still underway. Junior high and high school athletes were recognized for their participation but no individual awards were given. Those awards will be handed out during the academic awards night later this spring.

Besides student athletes, many other members of the community were thanked and recognized throughout the night. They included: EMTs, clock runners, ticket takers, refs, the chain gang, water boys, judges, bookkeepers, statisticians, coaches, parent and student volunteers, fans, bus drivers, janitors, the band, the superintendent, and the Athletic Director.