We began the awards part of the program by recognizing our team assistants for the 2010 Season. These two young ladies were very helpful to me in a variety of different ways this spring and took care of many details that often are not thought about. I sincerely thanked:
Betsy Creech
Emily Edwards
We then introduced the non-letter winning players and mentioning their season accomplishments:
Quincy Ghent
Phillip Yommer
Ben Leppard
Collin Schroeder
Jacob Schroeder
Ben Barkley
Jonathan Patton
Brian Fitzpatrick
We then introduced the varsity letter winners for 2010 and touched on their accomplishments:
Wesley Matthews - 1st Tennis Letter
Daniel Hawkins - 1st
Key Barkley - 1st
Tyler Leonard - 2nd
Chris Cassidy - 1st
Michael Baldwin - 1st
Collins Mauldin - 2nd
Jordan Beaver - 3rd
John Clark - 2nd
Hunter Love - 2nd
Drayton Wade - 3rd
Seth Russell - 5th
I then handed out 3 team awards and the coach's award for 2010. The kids had the opportunity to vote for Most Valuable Player, Best Practice Player, and Most Improved Player.
For Best Practice Player, I ask the players to think about who sets a great example in practice and pushes you to work harder because of how they work. The 2010 Best Practice Player was Collins Mauldin.
For the Most Improved Player, I ask the guys to vote for who they think has either improved the most since last season or improved the most over the course of the season. The award for 2010 went to Michael Baldwin.
For the Most Valuable Player award, I ask the players to think about what player was most responsible for the level of success we were able to achieve as a team this season. The award went to Drayton Wade.
For my Coach's Award, I think through the past year as to who represents the team in the highest manner. I try to think of a player that I want others to try to be like in how they work, how they play, and how easy they are to coach. I awarded this year's Coach's Award to Hunter Love.
We had 11 members of the Boys Tennis Program be named All-State Academic Team for 2011 this spring and we awarded them with certificates of their student achievements: Drayton Wade, Jordan Beaver, Collins Mauldin, Michael Baldwin, Tyler Leonard, Daniel Hawkins, Wesley Matthews, Ben Barkley, Jonathan Patton, Ben Leppard and Brian Fitzpatrick.
Betsy & Emily then provided the true highlight of the evening as they presented awards that they came up with that needed mentioning. I wish I had them give me the whole list so I could post it, but the entire room was laughing at some of the creativity that went into the award names (Best Bandanna, Best Pickup Lines, Best Foodfight Starter, etc.)
After we took a few photos, I went over an off-season program that I came up with to motivate the returning players to prepare for next season. Honestly, I assume that if we do no work between now and next year we could finish 3rd in our region next year. That wouldn't be a rewarding season in my opinion.
The whole reason that I put this program together is that I feel this group of returning players should win Region 3-AAAA and be a contender for a state championship in 2011. It won't be an easy goal to accomplish, but if the work goes into it... the reward should be very satisfying next May.
Go Trojans!
