The VHS Auditorium was once again filled on Thursday evening with athletes ranging from freshmen just starting their high school careers to seniors getting ready to take the next step of their lives. Coaches sat proudly on stage and watched their players and teams celebrate the end of the season. The program was opened by Herb Hofer, Athletic Director at VHS.
“For me, one of the highlights of the awards recognition programs, such as tonight, is the opportunity to honor individuals for their outstanding contributions to their team and sport,” Hofer said in his opening speech. “Each of us can be inspired by their passionate commitment to improve themselves. Their dedication should serve as our motivation to continue the interscholastic programs that we oversee.”
Teams that were recognized that evening were: the Vikettes, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Girls Swimming, Boys Swimming, Wrestling, Girls Basketball, and Boys Basketball. After Hofer finished speaking, Principal Reid Amones said a few words of encouragement, and then each coach got up and recognized the MVP of their team.
“Tonight we come together to celebrate the many accomplishments of our student athletes,” Amones said. “As principal of this high school, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see student athletes conducting themselves as young men and women out on the athletic competition field, floor, pool, mat –pick your sport, pick your venue.”
The 2013 MVPs were:
Vikettes: Maddisen Brennecke
Cheerleading: Caitlyn Gear
Gymnastics: Morgan Alogozine
Girls Swimming: Kaitlyn Steffus
Boys Swimming: Andrew Antonetti
Girls Basketball: Andi Sarkisian
Boys Basketball: John Mosser
Wrestling: Kyle Rafferty
After the MVPs were announced and the student athletes collected their awards –to the raucous cheers of their team mates- the teams separated to do individual awards and recognitions. Parents proudly watched their kids collect awards and got snap-happy (as they should) with their cameras. Each team had a nice spread of food that they happily feasted upon during their individual awards. There were lots of hugs, laughs, and some bitter-sweet tears as seniors saw this as their final season for winter sports at VHS. But the night will surely be a good memory for them to keep with them as they head into their futures.
To find out more about Valparaiso High School Athletics, click here!
Read about the 2012 Fall Sports Awards Program via this link!
Click here to see more photos from the Awards Program!