Medora recognizes fall sports teams

MEDORA — During the summer, a group of students at Medora Junior-Senior High School decided they wanted to bring cross country back to their school.

It all began with one student getting the ball rolling, and it resulted in teams at the middle school and high school for the first time in 10 years.

This fall, six boys and three girls made up the junior high team, and seven boys and one girl ran for the high school.

These students, along with volleyball players from fifth to 11th grade, were recognized during Tuesday’s cross country and volleyball awards program in the school cafetorium.

“You have to want to be a cross country runner,” head coach Dennis Pace said. “It takes a tremendous amount of effort, and I’m extremely, extremely proud of each one of our runners. All of the kids really, really worked hard.”

Being the only girl on the high school team, freshman Justice Dean received the mental attitude, most improved and most valuable runner awards.

“She deserves all of it,” Pace said. “She dropped seven minutes in time from the first meet to the last meet. Her perseverance, it’s astounding to do that.”

Brad Bozarth earned the mental attitude award for the boys.

“He was part of the original group that wanted a cross country team,” Pace said. “He came in and worked hard day in and day out.”

Michael Powell was named the most improved runner for pushing through the season and setting a goal to have a personal record at sectional. Pace said Powell met that goal.

As the Hornets’ No. 1 runner all season, Tanner Bennett received the most valuable runner award.

“He led the way for us all year,” Pace said. “He had a fifth-place finish at Pekin, which was very impressive for a guy who showed up one summer day and said ‘I want to run.’”

For the Lady Hornets volleyball team, freshman Hannah Elkins had an armful of plaques at night’s end, collecting six awards.

Elkins earned awards for passing (598-694, 86 percent), hitting (556-614, 91 percent), kills (195), blocking/block kills (205/36), serving (256-266, 96 percent) and serving aces (57). She also had the best overall statistics.

“This girl can put it away,” coach Kristina Beesley said of Elkins’ presence at the net. “She has great, strong approach.”

Beesley also presented Kennedie Miller with a passing award, and she was 884-1,122 for 79 percent.

The Hornets’ two setters earned setting awards. Mariah Campbell was 911-1,021 (89 percent) with 153 assists, while Morgan Fields was 759-838 (91 percent) with 151 assists.

Campbell also was named Miss Hustle.

“She had to really step up,” Beesley said of Campbell. “She brings a lot of energy to the floor, and she worked perfectly for a setter. She was all over the floor, and she would dive to get the ball.”

The final awards were presented to Meagan Ramos and Montana Wheeler. Ramos received the mental attitude award for remaining positive despite not getting much playing time, and Wheeler received the coaches award for her hard work and improvement.

“She had never played volleyball before, and she kept coming back and she kept working extra hard, just determined to accomplish something this year,” Beesley said of Ramos. “Volleyball was very good for her. She encouraged the other players like you wouldn’t believe.”

Of Wheeler, Beesley said, “This girl has a lot of potential, and she’s very promising. She always had a good mood and always tried to get everybody pumped up.”

The Hornets went from winning one match last season to three this fall, and the team also improved in its serving, going 1,309-1,467 for 89 percent.

In six games this season, the Hornets won a set, and half of that time, the matches went five sets.

“That’s a big improvement at all levels,” Beesley said.

Athletic Director Adam Disque also presented Dean, Powell, Campbell, Wheeler, Elkins, Miller, Chase Hurley and Lindsey Ball with the Scholar Athlete Award for maintaining a 3.5 grade point average or higher. Disque said that was the most students receiving that award for one season.

Junior High Awards
Cross Country
Mental attitude award: Zack Thompson (boys), Carley McCammon (girls)
Most improved award: Levi Owens (boys), Taylor Blake (girls)
Most valuable runner: Levi Owens (boys), Carley McCammon (girls)
Volleyball
Fifth and Sixth Grade
Passing: Bradey Wayman
Hitting: Bridgett Ball
Serving: Avery Carney
Mental attitude award: Jadelyn Dean
Coaches award: Haley Hall
Most improved award: Cynthia Edwards and Kaitlyn Wilson
Determination award: Katie Stewart
Seventh and Eighth Grade
Serving percentage: Monika Beavers
Serving ace: Victoria Booker
Passing percentage: Monika Beavers
Attacking percentage: Mackenzie Hackney
Kills: Maddie Plummer
Mental attitude award: Darian Beavers
Coaches award: Ashley Lambert
Determination award: Jerica Raby