DECATUR — Junior- and senior-high athletes from Decatur High School, along with family and friends, gathered for one final sporting event of the 2015-16 school year.
The annual Decatur Athletic Banquet was held in the cafeteria at Northside Elementary May 21. More than 150 athletes, family members, friends and Bulldog supporters attended this year's event which honored the top athletes of the 2015-16 season.
The Decatur sports program is comprised of 17 individual teams, including junior- and senior-high football, junior- and senior-high boys' and girls' basketball, baseball, softball, cross country, trap shooting, cheerleading, soccer, junior- and senior-high track and field and volleyball.
The newest sport to be added to the sports' roster was volleyball.
Over the last 10 years, volleyball has become one of the most rapidly growing sports in the country. What started as a game played only in physical education or on a beach has evolved into a team sport beginning at the high-school level and transitioning into the college and professional level. In Arkansas, 152 high schools in the 3A through 7A and the AC conferences have a sanctioned volleyball program.
What began as a casual conversation between two friends quickly became Decatur High School's newest team sport. Mailee Xiong and Shaney Lee approached Jessica Hartman and Jessi Castanga in April of 2015 with the hope of starting a team. After the dust settled, the Decatur volleyball team was fully accredited and finished its first season, 7 and 7, including five wins in a row. With the probationary season complete, the Decatur volleyball team will begin 4A-1A conference in August.
Both the Decatur junior- and senior-high track and field teams finished another banner season. The junior-high team won both the 2A boys' and girls' district titles. Tajae White and Desi Meek won several high-point individual titles throughout the season, including the district meet.
The senior-high girls' team finished fourth at district and eighth at the state meets for the best season since the early 2000s. Cameron Shaffer brought home the gold medal in the discus, which qualified her for the Meet of Champions, where she finished 10th and set a new personal best in that sport.
For the senior boys' track and field team, the final 2A meet would prove to be the best in several seasons. The boys finished second in the state, losing by only two points. Bracy Owens won gold and the championship in the pole vault, while Taylor Haisman brought home the 800-meter title. Both the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay teams brought home gold and the 2A championships. For Shane Holland, Decatur track coach, this was the best track season (a personal best) of his career.
David Lopez, who came to Decatur this year as a foreign exchange student from Spain, was presented with the most valuable player award in soccer. His talents on both defense and offense prevented several blowouts and contributed to both wins. But Lopez showed his athleticism in other sports. He played on the senior boys' basketball and baseball teams. In the baseball game against Union Christian at Edmiston Park March 31, the Bulldogs were ahead by one point in the top of the ninth inning. UC hit the ball three consecutive times to left field where it landed in Lopez' glove to clinch the win for Decatur.
The final awards were presented to the boy and girl athletes of the year. These awards were given to the top athletes in the Decatur sports program.
Celine Prelle won the 2016 female athlete of the year award for her contributions and leadership to the volleyball, basketball, softball and track teams.
Leng Lee earned the 2016 male athlete of the year award. Lee is one of the most prolific athletes in the Decatur program. His natural athletic abilities, coupled with his desire to succeed, proved to be a valuable asset for the football, basketball, soccer, baseball and track teams.
All District Teams
Football - Meng Vang, Leng Lee
Boys basketball - Leng Lee, Taylor Haisman
Girls Basketball - Cameron Shaffer
Softball - Cameron Shaffer
Baseball - Jason Porter, Leng Lee
Sports on 06/01/2016