GHS inducts Hall of Famers; recognizes athletes
May 22, 2011

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

Greenville High School inducted three new members of the Lions Athletic Hall of Fame and recognized the 2010-11 student-athletes during Saturday night's athletic banquet.

Former Lion athletes Keith Bonham and Jerry Jolley were inducted along with former Lions' head football coach and athletic director Pittman Keen.

Keen, who was head coach and athletic director from 1974-83, talked about what it felt like to coach a 10-0 team and an 0-10. He said the difference between the two teams was in "athletes."

He said it's great to "love where you live" and love your work.

Bonham, who played on the Lions' district championship football and basketball teams in 1960 and 1961, told the student-athletes present that life is a gift.

"Live it well," he said. "Enjoy it today. Do something fun and be happy."

Jolley, who played alongside Bonham on those district championship football and basketball teams, credited his Lamar Elementary school principal, Raymond Trotter, with his start in athletes.

"Everybody in their life has somebody that influences them," said Jolley.

Jolley also wished the Lions luck in the future.

"Get out there, work hard," he said. "Go Lions!"

Maddy Crabtree, who led the Lady Lions' 16-6 District 19-4A soccer team with 21 goals, earned most valuable player honors.

Pitcher-infielder Miguel Saavedra captured the baseball team's MVP award as well as the Silver Slugger Award presented to the top hitter.

Guard Kenneth Neal captured the boys basketball MVP honor.

The girls MVP basketball honors went to Mackenzie Cooper.

Andrew Carrillo claimed the boys cross country MVP award and the girls cross country MVP honor went to Jennifer Martinez.

Jeffro Davis captured the offensive MVP award in football and Michael Riskey earned the defensive MVP honor.

The MVP awards in golf went to Ryan Litchfield and Tiffani Turner.

Alfred Champion captured the MVP honor in boys powerlifting and the girls MVP honor went to Brittany Davis.

Andrew Carrillo earned the MVP award in boys soccer.

Pitcher Rachael Cook, also one of her team's top hitters, captured the MVP award in softball.

Spring tennis MVP honors went to Lauryn Prather and Colin Doby while the team tennis awards were presented to Kacie Vance, Abigale Hooper and Jordan Henderson.

Christian Clayton ran away with the boys MVP award in track and field and the girls MVP honor went to shot putter Mackenzie Cooper.

Emelie Kilgore captured the MVP award in volleyball.

GHS athletic director Chawn Cooper welcomed the attendees of the banquet and Amy Litchfield, president of the Lion Athletic Booster Club, introduced the club's officers.

Bob Mudie, who provided commentary for many of the Lions' football broadcasts on KGVL-AM and KIKT-FM, recognized the new Hall of Fame members and the student-athlete award winners.

2010-11 GHS Athletic Banquet

Saturday, GHS cafeteria

Award recipients

Baseball -- Miguel Saavedra, Monty Stratton MVP award, Silver Slugger; Justin Koger, Rookie of the Year; Michael Riskey, Most Improved; Blake Taylor, Most Improved; Douglas Skinner, Fighting Lion Award; Sawyer Harmon, Fighting Lion Award; Hayden Stuart, Fighting Lion Award.

Boys basketball -- Kenneth Neal, Ken Gibson MVP award; Jeffro Davis, Defensive Player of the Year; Sawyer Harmon, Offensive Player of the Year; Jaquentin Patt, Mr. Hustle Award; Blake Taylor, Scholastic Award.

Girls basketball -- Mackenzie Cooper, MVP; Aubrey Tucker, Offensive Player of the Year; Ashley Abbott, Defensive Player of the Year, Top Rebounder; Arian Alford, Lion Heart Award.

Boys cross country -- Andrew Carrillo, MVP.

Girls cross country -- Jennifer Martinez, MVP.

Football -- Zach Halverson, Special Teams Award; Brittain Lane, Defensive Line; Tony Rios, Linebacker Award; Alfred Champion, Defensive Back Award; Matthew Woodson, Offensive Line Award; Jaquentin Patt, Top Receiver; Lajorian Harris, Offensive Back Award; Jeffro Davis, Nate Mason Offensive MVP; Michael Riskey, Defensive MVP; Nathan Ruprecht, Scholastic Award; Austin Martin, Lion Heart Award.

Boys golf -- Ryan Litchfield, MVP.

Girls golf -- Tiffani Turner, MVP.

Boys powerlifting -- Alfred Champion, Powerlifting Award.

Girls powerlifting -- Brittany Davis, Powerlifting Award.

Boys soccer -- Andrew Carrillo, MVP; Emerson Flores, MVP, Offensive MVP, Team Spirit Award; Evan Snider, MVP, Defensive MVP, Team Spirit Award; Ramon Alvarez, MVP, Team Spirit Award; Josh Carillo, Newcomer Award; Jacob Phillips, Newcomer Award.

Girls soccer -- Carol Twilley, Newcomer of the Year; Maddy Crabtree, MVP; Meg Lawson, 110 Percent Award; Brenda Hernandez, Team Spirit Award; Stephanie Luna, Defensive MVP; Bailey Phillips, Midfielder of the Year; Julia Hernandez, Offensive MVP.

Softball -- Rachael Cook, MVP; Megan Shaw, Most Improved; Sidney Tippit, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year; Chelsea Rigsby, Rookie of the Year; Katie Threndyle, Catherine Hobbs Award; Arian Alford, Catherine Hobbs Award.

Boys tennis -- Connor Mulkey, Student-Athlete of the Year; Colin Doby, MVP.

Girls tennis -- Laura Boshart, Student-Athlete of the Year; Lauryn Prather, MVP.

Boys team tennis -- Jordan Henderson, MVP.

Girls team tennis -- Abigale Hooper, MVP.

Boys track and field -- Christian Clayton, MVP.

Girls track and field -- Mackenzie Cooper, MVP.

Volleyball -- Emelie Kilgore, MVP; Shanterria Riley, MVP; Maddy Crabtree, Defensive Player of the Year; Mackenzie Cooper, Offensive Player of the Year; Jenny Hardaway, Leadership Award.