December 27, 2007

Powell County High School Sports
By James Cook, Times Editor

Fall sports honored at PCHS

The Powell County High School Athletic Department held the Fall Sports Award Banquet last Thursday night at the high school cafeteria. Players, parents, coaches and fans of boys and girls golf, cross country and volleyball were on hand for the event. The football banquet, hosted by the boosters club will be held after the first of the year.
Powell Athletic Director Monroe Jones opened the ceremonies thanking everyone who was involved with helping the programs and the student-athletes. “Sports are a good avenue for your future, but your work in the classroom, your academics will take your further,” Jones said.
Powell Schools Superintendent Lonnie Morris also spoke to the crowd and especially the players. “Great coaches are made by great players,” Morris said as he congratulated the players for all their hard work and the coaches for their efforts. Morris sent on to say “Over the years we have to develop the fundamentals our sports teams need and we have the students to do this.” Morris also noted that a pictorial history of Powell County had been released recently in a book by Wallace Reed and that sports were a prominent part of the book. “You look through the book and you see pictures of teams from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. In athletics you create for yourself, your family and your community, memories that last a lifetime,” Morris said.
Coach Ken Jones handed out awards to the Lady Pirates volleyball team for all their hard work. Leadership awards were given to members of both the JV and Varsity teams. The JV winners were Leigh Hensley and Jazmen Thorpe. While Timika Ashley and senior, Rebecca McCoy took the varsity honors. The JV squad had a remarkable season finishing with a 15-2 record. The varsity team claimed both the 53rd District Conference and Tournament championships, breaking the odd year curse. Since Jones took over the Lady Pirates have won the tournament titles in 2002, 2004 and 2006. “This was the first year we won it in an odd numbered year,” Jones said.
The varsity team lost out in the first round of the 14th Region Tournament, losing a seven overtime thriller to Hazard. “I think the long drive to Letcher County Central, which seemed to take a week and a day, zapped us a little before that game,” Jones added. The varsity team finished the 2007 season with a 16-11 record.
Other awards for the volleyball team were:
Most Improved Player – Stachia Shelton
Most Consistent Player – Brooke Tyra
Most Kills – Timika Ashley
Most Aces – Brandi Clem
110 Percent – Ashley Howard
Player voted awards were:
Rookie of the Year – Kendra McFarland
Will to Win Award – Timika Ashley
Player of the Year Award – Rebecca McCoy
Both Ashley and McCoy were named to the all region team this season.
The other sports that were recognized and awards that were given out were:
Cross Country Team Participation Awards:
Tyler Angel – Senior
Dustin Bowen – Sophomore – Academic All-State Honorable Mention
Emma Faulkner – Eighth Grade
Anthony Johnson – Junior – Academic All-State Honorable Mention
Kris Mays – Sixth Grade
Tenny Ostrem – Junior – First Team Academic All-State, KTCCCA First Team Academic All-State, KTCCCA All Junior Team
Kasey Reed – Sophomore – First Team Academic All-State
Breanna Taulbee – Junior – First Team Academic All-State
Brooke Tyra – Junior – Academic All-State Honorable Mention
The Girls Golf Team awards were:
Participation Awards and years on the team listed:
Seniors - Chelsea Hayes (four years), Nikki Skidmore (four years) and Ashley Lacy (three years); Sophomore - Meghan Mays (six years); Freshman - Corri Collins (two years); and Sixth Grade - Brittany Harrison (one year).
Golf team members who were named Academic All State First Team with a grade point average of between 3.75 and 4.0 were:
Nikki Skidmore, Meghan Mays and Corri Collins
Meghan Mays won the award for lowest scoring average. The PCHS Girls Golf Team finished the season with a record of 8-3 and finished tied for fifth place in the 14th Region.
The Boys Golf Team was also presented participation awards. Those present were:
Seniors-  Jason Johnson, Seth Profitt; Sophomore - Myles Ashley; Freshman - Devean Teasley; Eighth Graders -Jimmy Combs, Ethan Adams, Lucas Spencer
Golfers who were on the team but did not attend the banquet are Chris Watson, Josh Drake, Chase Fallen, Corey Kirkpatrick and Gary Lacy.