Amanda Bruce and Jose
”
Tapon
”
Velasquez remained modest about the awards that kept coming and
were happy that the work they’ve been putting in is being
appreciated.
Bruce didn’t realized she was receiving the award until the end
because that’s when the athlete of the year was presented.
By Greg Chapman Staff Writer
Amanda Bruce and Jose “Tapon” Velasquez remained modest about the awards that kept coming and were happy that the work they’ve been putting in is being appreciated.
Bruce didn’t realized she was receiving the award until the end because that’s when the athlete of the year was presented.
“It feels great,” Bruce said. “It’s an amazing feeling because there’s so many great athletes at our school.”
Velasquez said the award was unexpected because the Mustang boys’ soccer team played as a team, but he is glad the all hard work is paying off.
“I’ve been working a hard for the group and for myself,” Velasquez said. “It has paid off, I’m proud of the work I’ve done.”
Standing out in sports, working hard all the time and being a leader were the qualifications for the distinguished athlete award.
When asked does she think she fit the criteria, Dana Schoeneman, center on varsity Mustang basketball who felt honored to receive the award, said, “Yeah I do.”
“I stepped up as a team leader, and I really came through when when we needed it,” Schoeneman said.
Jaimie Silva, field hockey player and captain of the track and field sprinter’s team, was always congratulatory to her opponents, and those efforts got her the Sal Tomasello “Pursuing Victory with Honor” Sportsmanship Award.
“After every race, I would go up to my opponents and say good race,” Silvia said. “I was always doing that.”
Benjamin Wilson, tennis player, was honored to also win the Sal Tomasello “Pursuing Victory with Honor” Sportsmanship Award because it showed there was more to him then just sports.
“It means you’re more of a player because you take your wins with the losses,” Wilson said.
Jesus Diaz, midfielder/defender on the Mustang CCS Division 1 champion soccer team, was happy to receive the Paul Thompson “Inspirational Athlete” Award because of the many good athletes at the school. On the field Diaz, was the inspirational leader.
“I pushed my teammates to go above 100%,” Diaz said. “To give more than 100% inside and outside the field.”
The female recipient of the Paul Thompson “Inspirational Athlete” Award had an open mind to meeting people and playing new sports.
Alicia Reese, who participated in three sports this past year, has played softball since she was seven, but field hockey and soccer were two new sports to her.
“It was my senior year, so I wanted to try new things because I thought it would be fun,” Reese said. “I just tried out wanting to play sports other than softball this year.
Megan Litle and Michael Stevens were able to handle the books and sports, winning the Scholar Athlete Award.
Some days were stressful for Litle, a cross-country and track runner who obtained a 4.3 GPA, but sports were fun for her and she used them to take homework off her mind for a while.
“It was nice to have a balance of both of them,” Litle said.
Stevens, baseball player who also had a 4.3 GPA, has been doing both his whole life, so he just grew into it.
Although Stevens started playing baseball before he started school, school is first.
Still, Stevens said they go hand in hand.
“I’m glad I was able to do both, a lot of people can’t,” Stevens said.
