Gravette honors athletes at awards ceremony

GRAVETTE - Hundreds of persons filled the Gravette High School commons and Performing Arts Center (PAC) Saturday evening at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet.

Coordinated by the high school and efforts of the Gravette Boosters, the meeting was a highlight of the athletic year. It honors athletes as well as persons and organizations who are physical and financial boosters of the program.

The meal was catered by Steve Martinez of Hard Luck Cafe in Gravette. Also held in the practice gymnasium was the annual silent auction for several thousand dollars of merchandise and service prizes.

The evening concluded with the annual awards ceremony held in the PAC where Federal Judge Jimm Hendren, a Gravette native and GHS alumnus, spoke. Dwayne Craig provided an entertaining and successful auction of numerous other athletic and athlete related items.

Following is a list of the student athletes who were honored for their special achievements during the past school year:

FOOTBALL: MVP, Peyton Rose; Offensive Player of the Year, Chase Brody; Defensive Player of the Year, Brenton Ogle; Offensive Lineman of the Year, Marcus Adams; Defensive Lineman of the Year, Braton Coffelt; Lion Heart Award, Zach Walker.

VOLLEYBALL: Outstanding Offensive Player, Monica White; Outstanding Defensive Player, Whitney DeWitt; MVP, Monica White; Lady Lion Award, Tanner Bryson.

GOLF: Best Male Golfer, Matt VanOtterloo; Best Female Golfer, Jordan White.

CHEERLEADING: Golden Megaphone, Deanna Marta; Lion Spirit Award, Rachael Morris.

BOYS' BASKETBALL: Offensive Player of the Year, Terence Pierce; Defensive Player of the Year, Matt VanOtterloo; Most Improved Player, Otto Troutner; Lion Award, Cody Nims.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Offensive Player of the Year, Destaney Wishon; Defensive Player of the Year, Monica White; Most Improved Player, Samantha Pruitt; Lady Lion Award, Whitney DeWitt.

BASEBALL: Outstanding Defensive Outfielder, Quinten Parker; Outstanding Defensive Infielder, Cody Fields; Outstanding Offensive Player, Jasper Russ; Ace Awards, Ethan Vanderpool and Aaron Means; Lion Award, Braton Coffelt.

SOFTBALL: Offensive MVP, Destaney Wishon; Defensive MVP, Lindsee LaBreque; Lady Lion Awards, Meagan Ward and Ashleigh Horn.

TRACK: Boys Track Athlete of the Year, Roberto Garcia; Girls Track Athlete of the Year, Jordan White.

SILVER LIONS

The following athletes received Silver Lion awards for the 2012-2013 school year: Destaney Wishon - basketball, softball; Monica White - volleyball, basketball; Whitney DeWitt - vollyball, basketball; Quinten Parker - basketball, baseball; Matt VanOtterloo - golf, basketball; Jessica Bayley - vollyball, basketball; Chase Brody - football, track; Zach Deatherage - football, track; Koletun Hamilton - football, track; Jordan White - golf, track; Braton Coffelt - football, baseball; Haley House - golf, basketball.

Sports, Pages 9 on 05/15/2013