The food was great and the accolades were deserving.
But head baseball coach Matt Nelson probably said it best Saturday night during the "Best of the Best" 2010 Bob Shay Most Inspirational awards banquet in the high school commons area.
Nelson, referring to the school colors, said "pride in the green" was on full display as the top Wood River High School students in extracurricular activities earned accolades and plaques with families and friends watching with pride.
Athletic Director John Rade presided over the two-and-a-half-hour program and introduced guest speaker Paul Unger, a Treasure Valley businessman. Using athletic references, Unger provided real-world advice to the students.
Unger suggested students should be unafraid to step up and ask questions as they venture out and enter the working world.
"Find mentors," he said, and "carefully choose who is around you in your environment. Building a brand is important. You have to intentionally go out and build that."
Unger also advised the students to set up a goals program—a game plan for life. Such a game plan should be well balanced, he said, between the personal, family and friends, career and education, spirituality and giving back.
Most of the evening was devoted to the honored students. Judged by a vote of coaches as the "Outstanding Senior Athletes," for the 2009-10 school year were Ashley Hesteness and Chase Caulkins.
This was the 13th year Wood River honored three-activity letter winners who are the backbone of the programs.
Honored as three-activity lettermen were Kelly Chapman, Jade Glenn, Grace Lagodich, Juan Martinez, Kaitana Martinez, Alex Padilla, Ben Stout, Cheyenne Swanson, Albert Thomas and Haylee Thompson.
The presentation of Allan Lee Patterson Memorial Awards to two outstanding senior students was a highlight of Saturday's program.
Selected by the school's coaching staff, Patterson honors were given for the 33rd time in memory of Hailey's Allan Patterson, a 1975 Wood River graduate and promising alpine skier who died in 1977.
Allan Patterson winners were Zeb Glenn and Alex Lindbloom.
U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete awards went to Morgan Pike and Grace Lagodich. Receiving the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete honors were Monica Garceau and Brendan Freund.
Alison Town earned the Rose Bergin Memorial Award. It was given for the 30th time to the Wolverine girl who possesses the qualities of Bergin, a 1977 WRHS grad and runner who died of cancer.
The fifth annual Monte Brothwell Unsung Hero Award honoring the Bellevue runner and 1972 state cross country champ for Wood River who has completed 46-plus marathons was given to Rusty Williams.
Given the 2009-10 "Wolverine Awards" were Kelly Chapman, Juan Martinez, Chance McCroskey and Sam Schwab for spirit; Crockett Stearns, Rachel Maier and Chauncey McGraw for leadership; Jonathan Hobbs, Nick Chase, Keven Abbott and Tyler Peters for tenacity.
There were two new awards given Saturday—the Tim Neville Award named after the Wood River speech arts teacher who enjoyed uncommon success at winning state championships, and the Outstanding Performing Arts Award.
Matt Lichtenberg accepted the Tim Neville Award. Brita Gaeddert and Chris Clark were top performers.
Bob Shay "Most Inspirational" awards were presented to athletes in each of the school's varsity sports and to participants in activities like drama, cheerleading and band.
The awards, once called Rick Hawkes Memorial, were given for the 21st time in honor of legendary coach Shay. Recipients were:
Fall sports—Jessica Hamilton for a second year in volleyball; Alison Town and Chase Caulkins in cross country; Alexander MacMillan in boys' soccer; Maddie Kate Currie in girls' soccer; and Nick Chase football.
Winter sports—Keven Abbott in boys' basketball; Kelly Chapman in girls' basketball; and Tanner Orchard for a third consecutive year in wrestling.
Spring sports—Colton Seely in boys' track; Julianna Herrera in girls' track; Jessica Hamilton and Morgan Pike in tennis; Juan Martinez in baseball; Crockett Stearns for a second straight year and Jennie Williams in golf; and Rachel Maier in softball.
Other activities—Eric Boyle and Audrey Brassil in debate and speech; Erin Burbank and Connor Zaft in drama; Sydney Brower and Sam Schwab in band; Alexandra Kuntz and Taylor Walton in choir; Stephanie Sloan and Sean Dahlman in orchestra.
Presented for the 21st time was the "Shay Cup" to Wood River coaches/advisors in Bob Shay's name.
This year's winner was tennis coach Vicki Johnston, who has guided the Wolverine girls to three straight conference championships. She was also named the 4th District 4A Tennis Coach of the Year at the May 15 district coaches fete.
Past "Shay Cup" winners:
Cheerleading and track coach Jeannie Bradshaw; cross country and track coach James Foster; football coaches John Blackman and Mike Glenn; baseball coach Lars Hovey; softball coach Chris Cey; softball coach Dale Martin (twice); tennis coach Nancy Williams; cross country coach Joel Zellers; boys' soccer coach Brian Daluiso (twice); and band and choir teacher Bart Bailey;
Speech arts coach Tim Neville (three times); volleyball coach Dave Neumann; wrestling coach Tom Goicoechea; boys' basketball coach Norm Cook; girls' basketball/track coach J.C. Nemecek; girls' soccer coach Tizz Strachan; cross country/track coach Bill Martell; and boys' soccer coach Erik Larson.
Outgoing high school principal John Blackman, attending the awards banquet for the 26th time, thanked retiring speech arts coach Carol Stilz for her hard work in continuing the successful legacy of Tim Neville.
Sam Schwab, this year’s senior class Citizenship Award male winner, and Allan Patterson, Memorial award recipient for band. Schwab also won a Wolverine Spirit honor.
Stephanie Sloan, this year’s senior class Citizenship Award female winner, and Allan Patterson, Memorial award recipient for orchestra, at Saturday’s fete. Photo by
