Two Players of the Year, 12 All-Conference picks

Student athletes feted at Dec. 3 HEM banquet

At 6:15 p.m on Dec. 3 at Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School's gym, the HEM football team and HEM volleyball team were honored by students, faculty, parents and fans.

Russ Wiggam, director of sports activities for HEM, said the awards were in recognition of both athletics and academics attained during the season for both sports.

Both the varsity football and volleyball team had most of their players recognized for keeping an above 3.4 grade point average while participating in their sports.

It was not only the varsity teams acknowledged at the awards assembly. The junior varsity teams also got their moments of recognition.

Both young teams were brought out.

Once these teams got their tributes, it was the football team's turn.

Head football coach Zack Scott told all the athletes no matter what their grade and age, it would benefit them to use the gym and weight room before he started to speak of individual achievements.

"We have a weights program that starts in the summer and goes all through the year and we need to dedicate ourselves to always getting better," Scott said. "Everybody needs to come out when they can, it is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday."

Scott thanked the maintenance staff for all their work on getting the field ready when HEM played their home. He thanked his coaches and managers.

Once he brought the football team out, he distributed individual awards.

Before recognizing individuals, he said statistics could have been higher for some players, but for the exception of two games in the season, he would have the starters play the first half and then have the junior varsity play the second half.

"By having the starters play just the first half and JV the second half, it just tells you how good we were."

Scott recognized the six players who made All-Conference: Brendon Reeves, Devon Grosstick, Basil Phillips, Tylor Goodro, Shane McGraw and Conor McGraw.

In addition to All-Conference, both McGraws won All-State honors along with Goodro.

C. McGraw took the award for winning Six-Man East Player of the Year, in addition to his other awards. (See 'Six Men for Six Man' on page 6 of the Nov. 28, 2018 Saratoga Sun).

After the football awards were given out, Jackie Jones, HEM head coach for volleyball brought out the girls team.

She thanked assistant coach Wiggam and people who had helped the volleyball throughout the season. Then she focused on the team.

"I need to thank the players and managers alike," Jones said. "This year we had our ups and downs to the point that someone said that it was too bad we wouldn't be going to regionals."

She said, not only did the team make regionals, but ended up in the finals.

The awards passed out went to five players that made All-Conference. They were Amy Campbell, Madison Campbell, Megan Hunter, Taylar Scott and Rainey Wilson.

Amy Campbell won All-State and was named 1A Southeast Conference Volleyball Player of the Year.

After the award ceremony was concluded, the attendees and players all had dinner together.

It was a good way to finish the evening.

 

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