It must be near the end of the

school year because, as has been the custom for many years now, the

student-athletes at Greensville County High School were honored at the Athletic

Banquet this past Wednesday night at the high school.

Both athlete and family alike were served dinner starting at 5:00 p.m. with an

awards ceremony to follow.

Over 80 student-athletes

currently playing sports for the Greensville County Eagles while attending the

high school were honored at the event for their participation in a variety of

sports during this school year.

First up in recognition of the athletes was Chairman of the Greensville County

Supervisor Peggy Wiley, who stood up to honor those players from the Eagles'

varsity boys' basketball team that went 29-1 on their way to the Group AA State

Title game and finished as runners-up.

She read a resolution issued by

the county in honor of the team, and presented that resolution to Principal

Alvera Parrish. Wiley also presented a copy of the resolution to each player on

the team.

In recognizing the players and their accomplishments, Wiley said, "I must

also recognize the parents and all of those who support all of these students as

they participate as Eagles for Greensville County."

The first sport honoring its

players was, appropriately enough, that same basketball team.

Head Basketball Coach Randy Jessee thanked all of those who supported "the

young men of this team throughout this season, and those who traveled many miles

to be with us during our season," he said. After thanking parents and

supporters alike, Jessee talked about the team's accomplishments: Undefeated

Southside District and Region I champions, making their second consecutive Final

Four appearance and making it to the title game.

After recognizing all of the players, Jessee singled out a few for their

efforts. He and his fellow coaches selected Deon Bullock with the Defensive

Award. Bullock garnered Honorable Mention from the Southside District.

Rustin Jessee was given the Offensive Award after being selected to the

All-District 1st Team.

The Newcomer Award went to sophomore Waverly 'Trey' Drake, who made the varsity

squad knowing he would have to play beyond his years.

The Coaches Award went to Marcel Powell, a senior who could've very easily been

a 1st Team All-District pick while making Honorable Mention.

And the MVP award went to Jamar Walton, who was chosen as the Southside, Region

I, and Co-State Player of the Year in Group AA, all for the second year in a

row.

George Phillips was next in line, head coach of the golf team. Phillips talked

about having some of the best athletes in the state of Virginia at GCHS, and

said he might have the smartest golf team ever. After applauding their

dedication and hard work, Phillips gave the Coaches Award to Brian Gill, the MVP

Award to Matt Barnes, and told an interesting story about Most Improved Award

winner Jamie Byers.

Byers set a Southside District tournament record by knocking in a hole-in-one on

#16 at Powhatan this past year, and is the first player in school and District

tournament history to do so.

Cross Country coach Mitchell Smith was up next to present his team's awards,

saying that it "takes a special person to want to run 3.1 miles."

While Smith recognized his All-District selections, Nick Hobbs, Jeremy

Blackwell, Matthew Harrell, Alissa Williams, Renae Williams, Rebecca Vincent,

Leslie Gill and Lacey Mabrey, he also complimented the efforts of Alissa

Williams in her Regional and state meets. She finished 1st for the second year,

was 1st at the Regional meet, and 17th overall in the state out of 140

competing.

Gerald Wyche was then given the Most Improved Award for the boys, Katelyn Andell

for Most Improved for the girls, while Nick Hobbs and Alissa Williams were given

the MVP for boys and girls, respectively.

Volleyball coach Gary Williams recognized his seniors and thanked them for all

of their hard work throughout their time at GCHS. He also recognized Rebekah

Sykes, who was a 2nd team All-District selection, and Alissa Williams, who was

an Honorable Mention All-District pick.

Coach Williams gave his Most Improved Award to Mary Alice Stroud, his Most

Dedicated Award to Sarah Jones, and his MVP Award to Rebekah Sykes.

Cheerleading Coach Karen Taylor stood up next to talk about the accomplishments

of her team, who hosted the District Cheer Competition for the first time.

Taylor thanked members of the staff and administration at GCHS for all of their

support.

Taylor gave the Coaches Award to Taneshia Gray, the Most Dedicated Award to

Lakesha Pearson, the Most Improved Award to Kimber Lewis, and the MVP Award to

Sharetta Powell.

For girls' basketball, Coach Ruby Daniels stood to talk about her Lady Eagles,

who finished 2nd in the district this season.

While they fell in the first round of the district tournament, Daniels said that

with a record of 16-5 and with their first win over Brunswick since 1997, the

season was a good one.

She gave her Coaches Award to Derica Donofrio and Jeneane Daniels, who was an

Honorable Mention selection and led the team in blocks.

Her Offensive Award went to Kelly Woodley, also an Honorable Mention pick. Her

Defensive Award went to Dominique Dunn, a 2nd Team All-District pick.

Daniels then gave her MVP award to Katchona Johnson, a 1st Team All-District,

2nd Team All-Region pick, and an alternate for the VHSL All-Star game. She has

already gotten a full scholarship from Virginia Union to play basketball next

season.

Indoor Track Coach Virgil Forbes recognized those who came out for him and were

successful both in their season and in the regionals.

Two runners, Alissa Williams and Markese Long, both qualified for states in

their events.

Williams finished 10th in the state in the 1600 meter and was sick and unable to

finish the 3200 meter while Long finished 15th in the 55 meter run.

Forbes gave his Most Dedicated Award to Lacey Mabrey and his Most Improved Award

to Megan Mitchell.

He then gave his girl's MVP Award to Alissa Williams and his boy's MVP award to

Markese Long.

Football Coach Bernard Griffin was up next, and after a lengthy speech, prepared

to award his players. He recognized their effort in a new system this past year,

and praised them for their play on the field as well as their actions in the

classroom saying, "The only way to compete in the field of athletics is to

dominate in academics."

He recognized his All-District picks, Matthew Temple, Jermel Banks, Bryce Smith,

Jamar Walton, Marcel Powell, Trayman Hill, Deon Walker, Craig Mangrum, and

Donchae Smith.

While almost all of those players were selected as All-Regional picks, Walton

was selected as an All-State pick, and Griffin gave him the team's MVP Award.

For the Special Teams Award, Griffin picked Trayman Hill. Matthew Temple was

given the Most Improved Award, Korey Rose the Offensive Award and Craig Mangrum

the Defensive Award.

For the softball team in his first year, Coach Ricky Riddick was quick to thank

his players and the support from others, as the team set out and reached their

goals for the season, finishing with a record of 13-5, third overall, and making

the district tournament.

To his infield, he credited them for having 178 put-outs with only 17 errors.

His Coaches Award went out to Kelli Draper, an Honorable Mention pick. His

Defensive Award went to Derica Donofrio, a 2nd Team pick.

His Offensive Award went to Renae Williams, also a 2nd Team pick, and recognized

his lone captain, Meredith Lee, an Honorable Mention pick.

He then gave the team's MVP Award to Rebekah Sykes who was the 2nd leading vote

getter for the All-District 1st Team.

For baseball, Randy Jessee was up again, saying how proud he was of his players.

"We came one pitch away from winning the District title," he said,

only to have his team's hearts ripped out.

Still, he was proud of his seniors and the way his younger players stepped up

when their team needed them. "In my 17 years of coaching, I've never been

more proud of a group of players," he said.

He then gave his Offensive Award to Matt Barnes, a 1st Team All-District pick,

for the way he hit the ball all season. He gave his Defensive Award to Rustin

Jessee, another 1st Team pick.

He recognized two players, Rob Lankford and David Grizzard, for their efforts by

giving them the Coaches Award.

His team MVP was also a 1st Team All-District pick as well as being the Player

of the Year for the second straight season, Jamar Walton.

Soccer Coach Wilcox Raymond was up next and praised his team for playing with as

much intensity as they did all season.

Raymond also recognized his players for their effort this year, calling them a

"remarkable team" for having played the way they did.

Raymond then gave his Coaches Award to Stephanie Pollard and Matthew Temple, and

gave his Most Improved Award to Phillip Moss.

He then gave out his team's MVP awards, one for Nic Conwell for the boys and one

for Emily Clinedinst for the girls.

For outdoor track, Coach Mitchell Smith was back, and talked about how hard his

players worked this past year. Having hosted the district meet and finished very

well, several players had already gone and competed at regionals.

While the sport is very individual, Smith praised his kids for having "a

very team oriented" view, because "you need a team to win."

Smith said the boys finished 2nd in the district as a team and the girls

finished 4th. The girls team then followed that up by out-placing district champ

Powhatan at the Regionals, finishing 7th.

He recognized Ashli Reavis, who finished 2nd in the triple-jump, 4th in the high

jump, and 5th in the long jump at the Regionals.

He also recognized Alissa Williams for winning both the 1600 and 3200 at

Regionals and Trayman Hill for winning both the 100 and 200 at Regionals.

Hill also tied the record set by Greensville's Joe Rowe with a 10.6 time in the

100 meter race.

Smith gave his Coaches Award to Stanley Smith and Megan Mitchell and his Most

Improved Award to Markese Long and Lacey Mabrey.

His team's MVP Awards then went to Trayman Hill and Ashli Reavis.

Girls' tennis coach Jennifer Williams was up next, as her team finished 2nd in

the district as a team, their doubles duo of Alissa Williams and Emily

Clinedinst finished as runner-ups in the district, and their #1, Alissa

Williams, also was runner-up in the district.

She gave her Coaches Award to Whitney Bloom, her Most Improved Award to Laura

Darden, and her MVP Award to Alissa Williams.

Carl Anderson was the last coach to present awards.

While his team also finished second in the district, with their doubles pair of

Brock Tyus and Curtis Lewis earning a spot in the Regional tournament, he also

recognized his teams' dedication, saying, "I had a great opportunity to

coach some of the most dedicated players at GCHS."

He gave his Coaches Award to Brock Tyus, his Most Improved Award/Most Dedicated

Award to Matthew Temple, and his MVP Award to Curtis Lewis.

Moses Smith was up after all of the coaches from their respective sports were

done so he could give out the Eagle Club Awards.

First was the Stan Vassar Memorial Scholarship, given by the Eagle Club to two

future college students for $1,000 each. This year's winners were then

recognized, seniors Emily Clinedinst and Alissa Williams.

Next was the Crystal Eagle Award presented by the Eagle Club to a member of the

community for their continued dedication to Eagle athletics as well as the

Emporia-Greensville area.

While telling how he first met the recipient years ago, Smith talked of this

person's dedication in helping coach a variety of sports both in EGRA leagues

and at the high school.

Smith announced that Allan Sharrett was this year's Crystal Eagle award winner,

and Sharrett, was "very honored" by the award saying, "it's one

of the most meaningful awards I've ever received."

Principal Parrish was up next for Special Presentations to several athletes and

groups.

She first recognized this past year's basketball team, and called each player's

name so that they could collect their medals given to them by the VHSL.

In her closing remarks, she talked about how great of a year it was, and talked

about how the students are excelling in so many ways.

"It was truly a great season to be an Eagle," she said, as she

recognized the many accomplishments of the teams, from the Eagles basketball

squad, to having the smartest golf team in the district, to the track and field

athletes who have done so well throughout both the Southside and the Region I

meets.

She also talked about hosting the first cheerleading competitton, having a 7-3

football team with a brand new coach introduced just a few weeks before the

season started, and recognized two different coaches, Ricky Riddick in softball,

and Randy Jessee in basketball, for having earned Coach of the Year awards.

The final awards given on the night were by Athletic Director Leonard Deloatch.

Deloatch noted that of the 162 athletes at Greensville County High School, 76 of

those have a 3.3 or above GPA in the classroom. He then called out the names of

those who were given the award. This is the fourth year GCHS has offered it.

Deloatch said that he also figures that of the 162 total, around 100 probably

have a 3.0 GPA or above.

(reprinted with permission)

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