WESSON – The Brookhaven Academy faculty and coaches honored their varsity athletes with a spring banquet to commemorate football, girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, softball, baseball, cheerleader, golf, track, archery, tennis, girls’ soccer and boys’ soccer.

Dr. Ed Moak served as the banquet’s speaker and welcomed the large crowd to the special event that was held in the new extended facilities of John R. Gray Gymnasium located on the Brookhaven Academy campus Thursday night.

After the meal, coaches from each sport started to recognize their team’s achievements during the year and players were given awards to signify their hard work.

Seniors Heath Hickman and Mary Claire White were presented with the Cougar Leadership Award. Hickman received the KDMC Golden Helmet Award and the All-District Most Valuable 5-AA Player in football. Hickman also received the Offensive Most Valuable Player award in baseball. White was also recognized with the best shooter award in girls’ basketball.

Garrett Pace received most valuable defensive player and best lineman honors in football. Pace was also honored with two more prestige awards. He was chosen for the All-District Most Valuable Lineman award and was a member of the MAIS All-Star football team.

In boys’ basketball, Peyton Hood was recognized as the Most Valuable Player. Hillary Wilson received the Most Outstanding Player award in girls’ basketball and the Most Valuable Player award in girls’ soccer.

Trent Nettles and Marlee Watts were recognized as the boys’ and girls’ Most Valuable Player in tennis.

In softball, Anna Smith was recognized as the Most Valuable Player. Zach Dickerson took home the overall Most Valuable Player award in baseball.

Alex Smith received the Most Valuable Player honors in All-District, which was voted on by the coach in District 2AA.  Smith also won the Golden Glove award for Brookhaven Academy. Both Dickerson and Smith were recognized as BA’s MAIS Baseball All-Stars. They will play in the MAIS All-Star baseball game on May 22.

Other honors went to Hayden Smith and Kaitlyn Bass in archery as the top shooters. Bryce Whiter received Most Valuable honors in boys’ soccer. Julianna Mills captured the Top Overall Runner award in girls’ track

Moak closed the ceremony, thanking the athletes, coaches and families for the wonderful year they had at Brookhaven Academy in 2015.

Brookhaven Academy Awards Banquet 

 CHEERLEADERS

Junior High Cheer Captain:  Madalyn Oglesby. Junior Class Captain: Whitney Moak. Senior Class Captain: Emily Allbritton. Senior Class Captain & new Southwest Cheerleader scholarship signee:  Olivia Lofton.  Varsity Cheer Captain:  Hillary Wilson.

GIRLS SOCCER

Hustle Award: Julianna Mills, Emily Allbritton. Offensive Award: Harley Smith. Defensive Award: Sophie Wilson. Cougar Spirit Award: McKinnley Evans, Rebecca Harvey. Most Valuable Player Award:  Hillary Wilson.

BOYS SOCCER

Most Valuable Defensive Player:  Trent Cannon. Most Valuable Offensive Player:  Grayson Devito. Most Valuable Player: Bryce White.  Cougar Award: Zach Carr.  Coaches Award:  Bryce Foster.

 SOFTBALL 

Most Valuable Player: Anna Smith. Heart of a Champ:  Anna Grace Covington. Coaches Award: Alex Rae Smith. Lady Cougars Leadership:  Olivia Thornton. Pitching Award:  Alex Rae Smith, Olivia Lofton. Defensive Award: KK Jordan. Best Batting Average: Morgan Walker. All-District:  KK Jordan, Olivia Thornton, Anna Smith, Olivia Lofton, Alex Rae Smith.  MAIS All-Star Award:  Anna Smith.

FOOTBALL

Best Linemen:  Garrett Pace. Best Linebacker:  Michael Fiorella. Best Wide Receiver:  Caleb Brown.  Most Improved:  Ross Felder. Mr. Hustle: Zach Carr. War Horse Award:  William King. Cougar Award: Grayson Devito. Team Captain Award: Heath Hickman. Most Versatile: Carter Culbertson.  Coaches Award:  Trent Nettles. Most Valuable Defensive Player:  Garrett Pace. Most Valuable Offensive Player:  Connor Dorman. KDMC Golden Helmet Award: Heath Hickman. All-District First Team:  Heath Hickman, Garrett Pace, Trent Nettles, William King, Caleb Brown, Conner Dorman. All-District Second Team:  Carter Culbertson, Michael Fiorella, Joey Rushing, Madison Smith, J.T. Cline. All-District 5-AA Most Valuable Player: Heath Hickman.  All-District 5-AA Most Valuable Lineman: Garrett Pace.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Cut Throat Award:  Leah Case.  Best Defender Award: Anna Smith. Best Newcomer:  Alexis Byrd. Best Passer: Anna Smith. Best Rebounder: Anna Michael Smith. Best Shooter:  Mary Claire White. Most Outstanding Player:  Hillary Wilson. All-District:  Hillary Wilson, Anna Smith, Mary Claire White.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Most Valuable Player:  Peyton Hood. Offensive Player of the Year:  Caleb Brown. Defensive Player of the Year: Trent Nettles. Senior Leadership Award: Drake Flowers. All-Conference Team: Peyton Hood, Drake Flowers, Caleb Brown, Trent Nettles, Ross Felder, Austin Smith. All-District MVP:  Zac Smith.

GIRLS TRACK 

 Cougar Award:  Anna Grace Covington, Lucy Leblanc. Top Sprinter: KK Jordan.  Top Overall Runner: Julianna Mills.

ARCHERY

Highest Point Female Shooter:  Kaitlyn Bass. Highest Point Male Shooter:  Hayden Smith.

BASEBALL

Rookie of the Year: Madison Smith. Most Improved:  John Coleman. Mr. Hustle:  Carter Culbertson. Golden Glove Award: Alex Smith. Most Valuable Offensive Player:  Heath Hickman.  Team’s Most Valuable Player:  Zach Dickerson.Cougar Award:  JP Jackson, Connor Dorman. All District:  Alex Smith, Heath Hickman, JP Jackson, Zach Dickerson. MAIS District MVP:  Alex Smith. MAIS All-Stars:  Alex Smith, Zach Dickerson.

TENNIS

Most Valuable Boy:  Trent Nettles. Most Valuable Girl:  Marlee Watts. Cougar Awards:  Susanna Ratcliff, Jacob Wiggins.. Rookie of the Year:  Dylan Winborne.

 SPECIAL HONORS

Senior Leadership Award:  Mary Claire White, Heath Hickman.