Bridge City Athletes honored at Mondays Banquet

The BCHS cafeteria was filled with a capacity crowd of about 500 student athletes, their families, and coaches.

This was the night that the student athletes were recognized for their accomplishments.

Athletic Director Cris Stump served at the Master of Ceremonies and started the evening by introducing guest speaker Coach Steve Roccaforte, Head Basketball Coach of Lamar University.

Coach Roc, as he is known, told how he and Stump had been athletes at the same school at the same time and how both had worked to become coaches.

Roccaforte told the assembly how he had gone from a student coach at Lamar to becoming Head Coach.

“Find something that you want to do and put all of your energy into it and make it happen.

You can be what you want to be you just have to work hard to get there;” he said.

As the program progressed, Mike Allison of the Cardinal Athletic Booster Club recognized outgoing board members and introduced incoming members.

Allison conducted drawings for door prizes, the first of many for the night.

He also made some remarks about the booster club giving $1000 scholarships to a senior boy and senior girl athlete.

The requirement for applying is that the parent has to be a booster club member.

“This is a great return on the $10 membership fee,” Allison said.

An important part of any athletic program is the Cheerleaders.

Sponsor Michelle Huff recognized the Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshman Cheerleaders.

She spoke of their accomplishments.

“I am so very proud of them and the hard work they have done this year.

I also want to thank Casey Jackson who was the Flag Runner this year and also the Tunnel Crew.

Their hard work made this season a great success.” Huff said.

Recognition was given to members of all 17 teams at the school.

Each coach had remarks to make about the athletes on their squads.

When all of the individual and team accomplishments were given for the night it was a very impressive list for the school.

In his remarks about the Cross Country Team, Coach Cody Knight said that the Cross Country Team had run 206 miles at the recent Relay for Life held at the high school.

“The team wanted to keep someone running at all times” Knight said.

Lady Cardinals Volley members receiving awards were Jenna Angelle, Defensive Player of the Year, Lauren Angelle, Offensive Player of the Year, Kayla Fullerton, the Heart/Desire Award, and MVP was Audrey Myers for the forth year in a row.

Stump recognized the Varsity Football team and said that Pat Carlton, Luke Rhodes and Joe Robertson were named to the All-District Team.

This year’s Most valuable Offensive Player Award went to Joe Robertson and the Most Valuable Defensive Player Award went to Pat Carlton.

Tracy Luce won the Heart/Desire Award.

The Tennis Team, coached by Coach Bill Dixon, was the District Champion.

Most Improved Player Award went to Stephen Dotson and the Newcomer of the Year Award was presented to Kegan Duplechin.

Lady Cardinal Basketball was under the direction of Head Coach Alan Ashworth, assisted by Coaches Becca Mathews and Beth Larson.

They all said of their teams that they were a hard working group and had accomplished much this past season.

Coach Tony Knight of the Boys Basketball Team gave this past season record of 12 wins and 17 losses.

“It was not a real good season, but last year we went 2 and 28.

The season shows a lot of improvement,” Knight said.

Corey Smith won the Cardinal Heart Award and Adam Sanchez, who plays as a 5’10” Center and was 1st Team All-District, was the MVP for this year.

Golf coaches Nancy Wood of the Girls Team and Allen DeShazo of the boys team.

Both spoke of their teams with pride and stated that they would be ready for next season with a core of good players for each team.

Head Coach of the Powerlifting Team this year has been Kevin Jones.

Jones has been assisted by DeShazo.

Both the Boys and Girls teams were Regional Champions with several State Champions being won by both teams.

“Our Boys Team is one of only three teams in the region to have won Regional Championships back-to-back,” Jones said.

Brittany Myers who lifts in the 130-pound class won the State Championship and went on this past weekend to win the National Championship in Baton Rouge with a squat of 336 pounds.

Myers will compete in the World Championship to be held in Florida in November.

The Cardinal Baseball Team coached by Billy Bryant had a record of 24 wins and 5 losses in the regular season and a record of 13-1 in District play.

Bryant spoke with pride of this years team.

“They competed very well in what many consider to be the toughest district in the state.

When you still have a team playing in May it is something to be proud of,” Bryant said.

Coaches Elmer Laird and Chris Moore assist Bryant.

The Lady Cardinal Softball team is the District Champions this year.

Sophia Mount coaches them.

Assistant Coaches are Alan Ashworth and George Navarro.

Lauren Angelle received the Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Karen Bozman coaches the Girls Track Team.

“They had the opportunity to compete as a Junior Varsity team this year.

They won the district title and we are very proud of them,” Bozman said.

Faith Rowe was the Newcomer of the Year and Ariel Chesson was the Most Improved.

Assistant Coaches are Joe Blanda, Crystal Jones, and Cody Knight.

The Male Senior Athlete of the year was Corey Smith, a two-sport competitor.

Female Senior Athletes of the Year were Lauren and Jenna Angelle.

The winner of the Cardinal Pride award was Audrey Myers.