Italy’s student athletes are expected to perform well in the classrooms and be campus leaders. Furthermore, each of them made a commitment to represent I.H.S., this town, their peers and themselves, all the while inspiring a new generation of Gladiators.

To mark both individual and team achievements, the Italy High School Athletic Banquet will be held inside the Italy Coliseum (the dome) on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. The event reflects back on an incredible season of Gladiator triumphs.

Triumphs like:
When the Football program reestablished itself as a threat, under the Friday Night Lights, regaining some of that old gold swagger. Starting back in the off-season, their efforts set the tone for an amazing year.

And when the Volleyball Team gave rise to a new found confidence that had eluded the Lady Gladiators in previous years. To suddenly realize they could compete against anybody, how empowering those moments must have been.

And when all four Basketball teams hit the floor running and put up one great moment after another. For the Varsity Boys, no one will ever forget the 78-71 playoff win over Itasca and the Regional tournament experiences in Abilene. And the Varsity Girls for not only making the playoffs, but the impact they’ve had on Lady Gladiator teams to follow is unmeasurable.

The JV Boys finished 20-1 with their only loss coming to Ferris. The JV Girls were fun to watch as they established themselves as a contender while posting a winning record in district.

The IHS Powerlifting Team kept the Gladiator spirit pumped up by “Raising The Bar” all the way to the state meet, and in the process rejuvenated the Powerlifting program.

The Tennis Team, a diverse squadron of Gladiators, used overhands and backhands in an attempt to knock their district competitors off the courts.

Softball and baseball were a hit with the Ladies finishing as the Co-District Champs and the Boys baseball team claiming 2nd in district. Young squads with mature work ethics are proving anything is possible as they both extended their seasons beyond the 1st round of the Playoffs.

And rounding out the athletic seasons for Italy were the Gladiator Track Teams as they displayed strength, speed, jumping ability and skill. Italy turned in one last reminder, proving to themselves, their fans and their district competition that the Gladiators are back!

The 2008-2009 Athletic Banquet may be a time for reflection, but the revolution has already begun!

Below are various video clips that captured inspiring moments from the 2008-2009 athletic season. We will remember…

And…