Todd Thompson
Hartselle Enquirer

Concluding one of the school’s most successful spring seasons in recent years, Hartselle High School honored athletes from six sports in a banquet at First United Methodist Church Tuesday night.

The softball team, fresh off its second place finish in the state tournament at Lagoon Park, was honored with a video presentation of its season.

The Lady Tigers finished 40-19 this season despite having several of its tournaments shortened by rain.

Kristy Peavahouse was honored as the team’s lone senior this year.

Alexander also presented most valuable player honors to all 17 players. “We had great batting averages, we had great defensive percentages, but we were 17 players strong,” he said. “That’s what makes this team so special.”

The baseball team handed out several awards after reaching the Class 5A semifinals this season. Hartselle was eliminated by eventual state champion Cullman in the semifinals.

The Tigers finished 39-12 and the 39 wins was the second-most of any team in any classification in the state.

Six seniors – J.C. Bates, Zac Bodley, Will Chappell, Luke Holt, Tony Weaver and Ethan Widener – were honored for their contributions to the program.

Weaver, Widener and Chad Girodo were given team captain awards, while the Team Player award was presented to Holt.

The Most Improved Award went to Chappell, who also was honored as Hartselle’s batting champion.

Widener received the Tigers’ Hustle Award.

Two playoff awards were presented at the banquet. Weaver was honored with the Best Playoff Performance award, while Bates earned the Best Playoff Pitching Performance honor.

Chappell was honored with the Best Offensive Playoff Performance award.

Bates, who finished his senior season with 13 wins, was also presented with the Most Valuable Pitcher Award.

The Defensive MVP award went to Weaver, while Garrett Turrentine was named as the team’s Offensive MVP after leading the team with eight homers and 46 RBIs. He was 27-for-60 with runners in scoring postion.

Bodley, who carries a 3.77 grade point average, was honored as the team’s top student-athlete.

He also received the Doug Sherrod Memorial Scholarship, presented annually to the senior baseball player with the highest GPA.

The Anthony Ward Memorial Award for dedication and love for the game was presented to Weaver.

Track coach Steve Knight presented several awards to his athletes, including highest GPA honors to Justin English (4.20) and Rachel Walker (4.14).

The most dedicated award went to Nina Halbrooks.

Also honored were state qualifiers Donique Harwood (javelin), Matthew Bynum (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the high jump) and Allie Shelton (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the high jump).

Tennis coach Regina Hudson presented senior honors to Candice Light, Alex Brown, John Landers, Jeremy Roper and Josiah Weems.

The Lady Tigers finished 5-4 in matches, while the boys’ team was 9-0.

Hartselle’s boys finished sixth in the state.

Hudson presented Scott Dukes and Taylor Bean with Hustle Awards, while Landers and Katie Kilgore received Leadership Awards.

Landers, who carries a 4.0 GPA was presented with the team’s Academic Award. The girls’ academic honor went to Light, who has a 3.4 GPA.

Gary Orr, girls’ golf coach, presented several honors in the wake of the Lady Tigers’ successful season that culminated in a trip to the state tournament.

Kaylon King and Arin Eddy both finished in the top 15 at the state tournament.

King was honored as the team’s low medalist, while Mary Catherine Roberts was named most improved.

In boys’ golf, head coach Chad Gladden recognized Josh Roberson and Matthew Hill for qualifying for substate play.

The Tigers finished 5-5 in 9-hole matches this spring with a lineup made up of all juniors, with the exception of one freshman.

The boys’ soccer team honored its lone senior, keeper Tony Makela, while Michael Edmundson received a manager’s award from head coach David Robinson.

Makela also received the team’s Most Valuable Player award.

Matt Walker had the team’s highest grade point average, while Jay Owen was the team’s most improved player.

Defensive honors went to Forrest Burleson, while Zack Woodruff and Ersay Qualby were recognized for offensive contributions.

The Best Team Player honor was presented to Steven Owen, while captain’s honors were given to Bruce Light, Walker and Steven Owen.

Lady Tigers’ soccer coach Jenny McFee honored the team’s only senior, Jessica Owens.

Owens also received and award for academics and the team spirit award. She carries a 3.95 GPA.

Nancy Canafax and Owens were presented with team leadership awards, while the Most Improved Award went to Mercedes Tidwell, who played her first season of soccer this spring.

McFee presented the Stinky Bag award to Joy Harris, while Addie Roberts was honored with the Unsung Hero award.

Offensive MVP honors went to Johanna McAnally, while Defensive MVP honors went to Mallory Teague.

Rainey Nichols, who averaged 20 saves per game, was the team’s most valuable player this spring. She had 33 saves in a loss to eventual state champion Decatur in the first round of the playoffs.

The Hartselle Scholarship Foundation also presented several scholarships at the end of the banquet.

The Bob Gilchrist Memorial Scholarship was presented to Tyler Bennich.

Brittney Cobb received the Lizzie Reed Penn Memorial Scholarship.

Lauren Dye was presented with the Kelly Littrell Memorial Scholarship, while the Kay Puckett Memorial Scholarship was presented to Jessica Owens.

The Keith Wiggins Memorial Scholarship went to Emily Rhoden, while Tony Weaver received the J.P. Cain Scholarship Award.