QC All SportsBanquet

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Queen City athletes, coaches, administrators and families converged on the campus of Morris Upchurch Middle School on May 10, to honor the student-athletes at their annual sports banquet.
QC AD Justin Burk kicked off the evening’s awards presentation by giving two plaques to football players who went above and beyond.
The Outstanding Defensive MVP Award went to Trent Dial and the Outstanding Offensive MVP Award went to Malik Wilburn.
Cross Country coach Heath Petten awarded Emily Richards the MVP Award for the year, and head volleyball coach Haley Patterson named Alyssa Wiley and Brianna Watkins as Co-MVPs after another stellar year for the Lady Bulldogs.
Shaelyn Goecke received the Blocker Award and Katy Tankersley won the Libero Award.
Coach Petten couldn’t choose just one player for MVP of the girls’ basketball team so he chose two.
Sophomore ballers Jessica Jones and Jacie Lance were selected as the Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP respectively.
For the QC varsity boys’ basketball team Coach Burk gave the MVP Award to Dakota Carver.
Powerlifting coach Fred Thrower selected both male and female MVPs again this season.
QC’s powerlifting program enjoyed plenty of success this season as several lifters advanced to regionals and one to the state platform.
Boys’ state finalist Ryan Fincher was named MVP for the boys and Coach Thrower chose Celeste Fortune as his pick for the ladies’ MVP for the second year in a row.
Coach Bekkah Crisp chose Zach Baum and Watkins as her Co-MVPs after they teamed up and won a doubles district title. Watkins took home her third consecutive tennis MVP Award.
Golf coach Steven Holmes chose Katy Holmes as his pick for MVP, freshman Ciara Walker was named MVP for the girls’ track team and Brandon Russell was selected as the MVP for the boys’ track team for the second consecutive year.
For softball Patterson chose Alyssa Wiley as the MVP for the Lady ’Dawgs softball team after the senior belted 10 homeruns this year. Kenadi Meador was given the Most Improved Award and Brooklyn Sykes the Most Dedicated Award.
Coach Sonny Birdwell handed the MVP Award to Rob Hill before Athletic Boosters President, Tiffany Griggs, presented seniors Wiley and Russell with Senior Awards Booster Scholarships for their contributions made from freshman year until now, getting over hurdles as athletes/students and making a great commitment to the athletic program as well as playing multiple sports at times.
Carver and Wiley were chosen as Bulldog of the Year and Lady Bulldog of the Year respectively for showing good, moral character, being all-around sports athletes and for being good role models for the younger athletes to look up to.
Last but certainly not least, the Brandon Warren Courage Award was given to seniors Brandon Russell and Brianna Watkins who, as student athletes, held to the same standards and inspirations as Coach Warren did throughout his high school career.
Coach Warren was the prime example of a “Classy guy” who showed us all that giving up was not an option and his courage and strength through adversity is a testament to all who believe. Coach Warren would want the student athletes to take that courage and use it against whatever giants they may face in the next phase of their young life.