Several PCHS softball team members stand onstage at awards night at the high school. From left to right- Riley Harvey, Raegan Burrows, Miya Gallagher, Taylor Garland, Yasmine McKinney, Mady Grenz, Arya Garland and Samantha Bristow.
PCHS sets an hour aside at the end of each sports season to recognize the athlete’s hard work.
On Wednesday, they celebrated the spring sports - baseball, softball, and track and field.
Mustang pride ran rampant. Kids seated in the high school auditorium pointed to the stage and shouted, “That’s my sister!” or “That’s my brother!”
Eight-year-old Romin McKinney yelled “Mom!” when Jordan McKinney teared up while introducing her softball seniors.
It’s been an eventful four years for Miya Gallagher, Taylor Garland, Anna Happy, Kaylah Hanley, Mady Grenz, and Yasmine McKinney.
In 2021, the pandemic cut their freshman season to eight weeks, but their sophomore through senior years made up for it.
They made it to the state tournament with McKinney each time.
The 2A coaches named Yasmine McKinney the Nevada 2A Northern Player of the Year. Anna Happy is the defensive player of the year.
Mady Grenz and Raegan Burrows, a junior, made All-Conference, first team. Sophomore Riley Harvey made All-Conference, second team. Honorable Mentions went to Miya Gallagher, Taylor Garland, Aaliyah Allen (a junior) and Kyra Cerini (sophomore).
In addition, Kaylah Hanley and Miya Gallagher won personal achievement awards for overcoming obstacles and community involvement. The Susie Smith sportsmanship award went to Mady Grenz. Yasmine McKinney was named the Lisa Christofferson Most Improved female athlete. The Peter Thomsen Memorial Award went to Anna Happy.
Principal Jonathan Reynolds gave the audience a moment to applaud the PCHS track team for the strides they made this season. They broke three school records over the year.
On April 19, the 4X100 relay team broke the record at their home meet. The 4x200 team broke the record at zone. And the 4X400 team of Ashton Jimenez, Luis Sanchez, Denzel Zaldivar, and Angelo Gibson broke the record at the State championship (3.34.35).
First-time coach Chelsea Montes introduced the team while AD Mike Brooks handed out awards and certificates.
Gibson collected an award for taking first place in State in the 400 meters (50.41). Luis Sanchez, Denzel Zaldivar, Ashton Jimenez and Josiah Hunt won the State championship for the 4x200 relay (1:34.08). In addition, Brian Kauvaka won the ‘Block P’ sportsmanship award.
Track and field athletes, Ramon Sanchez and Khloe Montes, each won Larry Donaldson Outstanding JV Basketball Player Awards.
The baseball team also set impressive records this year, including beating Battle Mountain for the first time in fourteen years. Ayden Montes hit Pershing County's first home run since 2020. The team had back-to-back seasons of 10+ wins for the first time in eight years.
Coach Jared Jensen introduced each player. Ayden Montes made All Conference, first Team. Wyatt Hughes, Tyler Miller, Trenton Rhodes and Aaron Kienbaum received Honorable Mentions. The Sean Michael Ward Sportsmanship Award went to Conner Fecht.
Jensen could have been speaking for all of the coaches and athletes when he said, "We may not have accomplished all of our goals, but we accomplished things that haven't been done in a long time."