WAITSBURG–Student-athletes of the Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack combined athletic program were honored for their basketball-season accomplishments-including Head Coach Roy Ramirez, who was named East Division Coach of the Year–were recognized at the covid-delayed Sports Awards Banquet here Thursday, July 1.

"It will be the first and last Winter Sports Banquet to be moved inside on account of heat," quipped DW Athletic Director Sam Korslund of the event, a hallmark of the topsy-turvy conditions high-school athletics have endured since athletics was opened up earlier this year.

Seven cheer squad members were recognized with letter certificates: Laney Crow, Janae Helm, Wyntr McCauley, Victoria Rapoza, Sarah Shutters, Julia Brooks and Alicia Apodaco.

Helm, a freshman, was voted Most Improved; junior Apodaco was selected as Most Inspirational and Most Valuable was named to Shutters, a sophomore. Both Apodaco and Shutters were captains.

Scholar-athletes were Helm, McCauley, Rapoza, Shutters and Apodaco, said Cheer Advisor Vickie Hamann.

McCauley also received the Leadership Award from A.D. Korslund.

Eleven Lady Wolfpack players were presented letter certificates: Allysa Hollingsworth, Grace Trump, Rachel Klein, Adisyn Andrews, Kameryn Tupling, Mohala Bramer, Claudia Benavides, Sagelyn Kilts, Megan Forney, Samantha Davis and Sadie Seney. Klein and Tupling are scholar-athletes.

Hollingsworth, an eighth grader who played up, was named Most Improved Player. Kilts was presented with the Most Inspirational Player plaque. Forney and Seney both received the Coach's Award from Coach Tamira Culley. Seney also was honored for First Team All Conference and with the Alpha Dog Award.

Coach Roy Ramirez was named EWAC East Coach of the Year. Referees and opposing coaches would comment that DW was "building a program," Ramirez recounted.

-Chronicle photo

The Lady Wolfpack basketball players were honored with achievement awards: from left, Sagelyn Kilts was named Most Inspirational Player; Allysa Hollingsworth was presented a plaque as Most Improved Player; Megan Forney received a Coach's Award; and Sadie Seney received the Coach's Award, Alpha Dog Award, Most Valuable Player and was named to First Team All Conference.

Varsity letters went to Ryland Kilts, Benny Bryan, Monte Pettichord, Keon Lindley, Dylan Bledsoe, Wyatt Costello, Colton VanBlaricom, Shawn Evans and Mason Finney. JV certificates went to Wyaitt Booth, Cayle Davis, Blake French, Nolan Korslund, Jasper Morrow, Vaughn Walter and Ruben Yutzy. Scholar athletes were Morrow, Walter, Bryan, Pettichord and Evans.

All League First Team honors went to Evans and Finney, with Costello making Second Team.

Coach's Award was presented to VanBlaricom, Costello, Evans and Finney. Costello received the Most Improved award, Pettichord was named Mr. Defense, Walter was named Mr. Hustle and Finney received the Most Valuable Teammate award.