Stanton celebrates athletic season with banquet

It has been a successful year for Stanton athletics, and Friday night athletes were honored for their achievements by members of the booster club and their coaches.

The annual athletic banquet saw the booster club give awards to each team honoring who had the most spirit, gave the most effort and who was a senior who was going to be missed the most.

Athletic director Don Hicks has been to every banquet since 1969 and said a lot of the traditions have stayed the same during that time.

“It’s been very, very similar to this,” he said. “It’s always been a meal, and it used to be at the church until we moved it down here.”

Hicks has seen many successful teams during his time at Stanton, and this year has been one of the more memorable years.

“I think it’s been a very exciting year,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride in the community of Stanton and because of that pride and the commitment from the kids, parents, and coaches,  we’ve been able to compete really well.”

Hicks said the group of seniors who are leaving didn’t always have it easy. A lot of them were asked, because of low numbers. to play and contribute to their teams early.

“This group of seniors had to play probably before they were ready,” he said. “We went through a spell where we had several classes in a row where we had a small amount of boys per class, so I think it’s been somewhat of a struggle, but we withstood it,. and it was really nice to see the seniors have some of the success they deserved.”

Each team honored their athletes individually and gave the booster club awards after comments from the coaches.

Girls track:

Head coach Katie Elwood honored last year’s track team that was led by girls who are seniors now, and still leading the team. For booster club awards Brandi Morrison was given the spirit award and the effort award, while Logan Wagg won the senior award.

Boys track:

The boys track team grew heavily in numbers from last season to this current season, and head coach Jeff Grebin, who is also on the football and basketball coaching staffs, said he credited a commitment to be active during all sports seasons as the reason they were able to increase their numbers significantly.

Girls basketball:

The girls basketball team was honored for more than just achievements on the court Friday. Devin Druivenga and Nicole Graham were both honored for making the all-academic district team.

Graham was also honored with the senior award, while Ally Focht won the effort award and Jody Vanderholm won the spirit award.

Boys basketball:

The boys basketball team had one of its best seasons in recent memory, as the Vikings won the Corner Conference regular season and tournament titles, won 20 games, and came close to defeating St. Albert in Council Bluffs in the sub-state final.

The awards portion of the basketball team’s recognition was long, as many members of the team made all-conference or all-district.

For the booster club awards, the spirit award went to Drake Johnson, while Brady Johnson swept the effort and senior awards. Brady Johnson was also honored with a special ball that will be on display in the high school for scoring 1,000 career points with the Vikings.

Volleyball

One of the more emotional moments came during the volleyball team’s recognition Friday, as Jody Druivenga honored her daughter Devin with the booster club’s senior award. After a long embrace she said, “It still hasn’t hit me that she’s a senior.”

Abbi Adams won the spirit award and Ally Focht and Brandi Morrison tied for the effort award.

Football:

The football team finished 6-3 last season and went back to the state playoffs for eight- man football. A large senior class is leaving, but not before some of them were honored. 

Connor Holtman won the starting quarterback job early in the season and won the effort award. Wide receiver Brady Johnson took home the effort award and Alex Becthold took home the senior award for the Vikings after serving as a linebacker, running back and punter for the Vikings during the past season..

 Softball: 

Stanton softball had some familiar names on the awards list, as Devin Druivenga took home the effort award and Logan Wagg took home the senior award.

Baseballl:

Connor Holtman received the effort award once again, while no seniors were on the team so no senior award was chosen.

Stanton is in the middle of track season and still has softball and baseball season before athletics end for the 2015-2016 school year.