On Tuesday, Nov. 22, a crowd packed the high school auditorium to celebrate a successful fall sports season for Pershing County High School.
Now most of the athletes transition to wrestling or basketball, the winter sports.
Principal Jonathan Reynolds congratulated those who excelled academically, including Yasmine McKinney, Kaylen Halverson, Jessica Gonzalez, Andrea Canchola, Connor Fecht, Wyatt Diaz and Nova Karlsson.
Next, Spirit Squad coach Cece Thornhill called the cheerleaders onstage.
This year’s squad included Brooklyn Mitchell, Marya Burke, Benedetta Pompignoli, Autumn Holtsclaw, Nova Karlsson, Lupita Lopez, Danya Zepeda, Kyria Angel, Kaylah Hanley and Jena Pilon.
The JV football and volleyball teams also took center stage. The boys finished undefeated. Jessica Gonzalez walked off with the MVP award. Julissa Gonzalez was the most improved.
Soccer awards
The soccer team said goodbye to five girls who graduate this spring - Cora Trowbridge, Jillian Bridges, Rylee Renfroe, Hannah Gonzalez and Lex Chandler. Coach Matt Fuller has coached them for about eight years, including middle school.
He and Cassidie Fuller also gave a shout out to the team’s number one fan, Jordan Trowbridge.
The nine 2A coaches voted on the following league awards.
They gave Lily Burt and Cora Trowbridge Honorable Mentions. Miya Gallagher and Yasmin Acosta each made the second team. Gallagher and Acosta each scored ten goals for the Mustangs.
Varsity volleyball awards
The varsity volleyball team finished the season ranked 17-9, overall, and 11-3 in the 2A.
They went to the playoffs as third seed and beat Silver Stage in round one. The Mustangs lost the next round to Yerington.
The 2A coaches named Kaylen Halverson to the first All-Conference Team.
Kaydance Happy made the second team. Raegan Burrows got an Honorable Mention. Taylor Garland is the 2A Defensive Player of the Year.
Coach Monica Halverson also gave out several awards. She gave the Coach’s Award to Andrea Canchola. The Mustang Award went to Anna Happy. Raegan Burrows won the Playmaker Award. Aaliyah Allen was the Most Improved.
Varsity football awards
The varsity football team finished at 8-3, overall, and 6-1 in the 2A. They won their home playoff game against Battle Mountain.
In Las Vegas, they lost to the eventual champions, the Meadows School.
The 2A coaches named Wyatt Diaz the Defensive Player of the Year.
They voted Wyatt Diaz (O-Line), Izayuh Mcglothin (RB, DB) and Luis Sanchez (DB) to the first team.
Second team awards went to: Jacob Burke (O-Line, D-Line), Aaron Kienbaum (WR) and Noel Zaldivar (RB, kick returner) and Blake Burrows (D-Line).
Honorable Mentions went to: Blake Burrows (O-Line), Travis Donaldson (QB, defensive back), Russell Stokes (O-Line) and Brian Kauvaka (D-Line).
Coach Mike Brooks gave the Cody Gibson Memorial Award for special teams play to Wyatt Diaz.
He handed the Robbie Weagant Underclassman Line Award to Jacob Burke.
For now the players hang up their football, volleyball, and soccer jerseys. They look forward to successful wrestling and basketball seasons.
