The Italy Athletic Booster Club hosted the Athletic Banquet on Thursday night and honored the Gladiators with a wonderful dinner and awards. President of the Booster Club, Becky Milligan, and Head Football Coach, Craig Bales, welcomed students, faculty, honored guests, family and friends to the event. “This year has not always been a bed of roses. There has been growth and maturation from the first to the last game for everyone. I could not be prouder of these kids,” Bales explained.

Coach Robert Sollers introduced the senior athletes:

Tyler Boyd, Lindsey Brogden, Stephanie Carter, Dontavious Clemons, Angelica Garza, Rebecca DeMoss, Blanca Figueroa, Roy Glaspy, Anthony Johnson, Annalee Lyons, Clay Major, Darrin Moore, Trent Morgan, Diamond Rogers

The Italy Athletic Booster Club, along with their continued support of all IHS athletics all year long, awarded 5 deserving seniors $1,000.00 scholarships that the club had raised over the year. Different fundraisers, concession stand sales and t-shirt sales helped raise the funds for these athletes to continue their education. Each senior will go to a college or technical school of their choice in the Fall 2009. Recipients were:

Tyler Boyd, Becca DeMoss, Blanca Figueroa, Roy Glaspy, Clay Major

Ronnie Clanton, Class of 1968, was an invited guest presenter and shared his thoughts with the crowd, “A Gladiator displays sincere dedication to his sport and to his teammates.” He awarded the Robert Lewis Memorial to senior Darrin Moore. Clanton explained that the Class of ’68 is a close knit group, still today. They meet at least once a month and stay good friends. They lost Robert to an industrial accident, and in fact, four of his class mates have passed on and explained how much it hurts to realize they are gone. He urged the young athletes to stay close to their team and their classmates throughout their lives.

Scott Herald was honored to give the Academic Awards to Tyler Boyd and Lexi Miller. Other special awards are as follows:

• Navy Supreme Athlete Award-Clay Major
• Keith Davis Award-Darrin Moore and Becca DeMoss
• Keith Davis “Big Heart” Award-Curtis Cole
• Jimmy Davis Award-Diamond Rogers
• David Henderson-Clay Major
• Lady Gladiator Award-Blanca Figueroa
• Gladiator Award-Desmond Anderson

Each coach presented their teams and then awarded specific players Offensive Player, Defensive Player and/or MVP of the season.

Head Volleyball Coach, Andi Windham, introduced her varsity players and said, “This has been a building year. These girls worked hard and I am excited about what will happen next year.”

• Newcomer-Kaitlyn Rossa
• Defensive Player, Second Team All District-Drew Windham
• Offensive Player-Jaleecia Fleming
• MVP, 1st Team All District-Becca DeMoss

Coach Bales introduced the junior varsity football team. Bales said, “This team was tough to beat, start to finish.” Bales then acknowledged the Varsity team.

• Offensive Lineman, 1st Team All District-Trent Morgan
• Defensive Lineman, 1st Team All District-Zac Hernandez
• Defensive Back, 1st Team All District-Clay Major
• Offenseive Back Receiver-Desmond Anderson
• 1st Team Academic All District-Tyler Boyd
• MVP-Jasenio Anderson

Head Girls Basketball Coach, Stacy McDonald, introduced the JV girls. They were Co-District Champs for this season. McDonald also thanked the Booster Club and the team managers for all their help. The Varsity Girls made third place in the district and went to playoffs this year, which is the first time in 3 years. “I am proud of these girls and I am looking forward to things to come.”

• Offensive MVP-Jaleecia Fleming
• Defensive MVP-Kaitlyn Rossa
• MVP-Becca DeMoss

JV Boys Basketball Coach Larry Mayberry introduced the JV team. “These boys went 19-1. They were District Champs,” he said. Head Boys Basketball Coach, Kyle Holley, thanked Assistant Coaches Josh Ward and Larry Mayberry. He also thanked Karen Mathiowetz for her hard work in Throw-back night. He thanked Marty & Tina Haight and Ervin Green for all of their time and donations. Also, Christy Holly for all of her support. “This was a great year for basketball. The Varsity team tied 2nd in District and went to the Regional Finals.” Holley announced a new banner was in the gym. At that moment Coach Ward unveiled Regional Finalists for 1974, 1994 and 2009 hanging high in the rafters. This was an exciting moment for everyone.

• Defensive Player-Heath Clemons
• Offensive Player-John Isacc
• MVP-Jasenio Anderson

Coach Holley also introduced the Golf Team. “We had a small team (7 members) this year but maybe next year we will have more on the team. They are a good group of kids and we had a lot of fun,” Holley said.

• MVP-Trent Morgan

Coach Bales introduced the Powerlifting Team. Head Coach Steve Coleman was not present. “I am so proud of these kids. We had 2 state qualifiers,” Coach Bales announced. Bales was a proud father as he introduced the MVP of the team-Kaytlyn Bales.

Head Softball Coach, Jennifer Reeves, asked the Lady Gladiator Softball Team to stand. “These ladies went to Regional Quarter finals and, of course, we’d rather be playing a softball play-off game, right now, but they have done well for the season. Next year, I expect another great year like this one.”

All District Honors

• Newcomer of the Year-Megan Richards
• 1st Team All District Infield-Courtney Westbrook
• 1st Team All District Infield-Drew Windham
• 1st Team All District Infield-Bailey Bumpus
• 1st Team All District Outfield-Abby Griffith
• 1st Team All District Outfield-Marisela Perez
• 2nd Team All District Infield-Meredith Brummett
• 2nd Team All District Infield-Cori Jeffords
• 2nd Team All District Outfield-Alma Suaste

Reeves announced the Offensive Player was Cori Jeffords and Defensive Player was Courtney Westbrook. Coach Reeves declared the winner of the Nancy Ferguson Carter Award was Drew Windham.

Coach Holley and Principal, Scott Herald, awarded a signed Varsity basketball to local favorite, Ervin Green, for many years of work and devotion he has shown IHS and the crowd gave a standing ovation.

Tennis Coach, Dana Hamby, introduced her Varsity Tennis Team and said she had a lot fun with them this year. “‘We received a brand new tennis court and we had quite a few compliments about our facilities from the other schools. We had 17 players on this year’s team. Even though it rained a lot during our season and there was a lot of hitting the ball in the old gym, the team still practiced everyday and had lots of fun. We placed 3rd in the district. This year’s MVP is Kaytlyn Bales.”

Head Baseball Coach, Matt Coker, introduced his Varsity Baseball Team. “I first would like to thank all the players, fans and parents for their devotion to our team and to the game. My right arm, Coach Josh Ward and my wife, Angie.” He explained that the baseball teams haven’t gone to play offs in 7 or 8 years. Coker added, “Our team went 11-3 and became Bi-District Champs.” The Lloyd Davidson Award went to Jasenio Anderson.

All District Honors

• Pitcher of the Year-Justin Buchanan
• Newcomer of the Year-Jasenio Anderson
• 1st Team All District-Colten Campbell
• 1st Team All District-Ethan Simon
• 2nd Team All District-Ryan Ashcraft
• Honorable Mentions-Josh Milligan, Desmond Anderson and Dan Crownover

The Varsity Track Team was introduced by Coach Robert Sollers. Not to be outdone by any other sport, Track ended the season with 3 regional qualifiers. Two of them received 5th in the triple jump and 5th in the mile. “We were runner up at the Ferris 3A track meet, which is pretty good, considering we are 1A. MVP’s for the track team are Kaitlyn Rossa and Ryan Ashcraft.”

2008-2009 Cheerleaders
Lexie Miller, Kaitlyn Rossa, Beverly Barnhart, Destani Anderson, Lindsey Brogden, Drew Windham, Blanca Figueroa, Amber Mitchell, Cori Jeffords, Bianca Evans
Sponsor Lee Owens

In keeping with tradition with all the Athletic Banquets gone before, a senior was chosen to explain what Gladiator tradition meant to him. After reflecting on the awards and honors that this year held for all the teams, Clay Major said,

“The athletic tradition at Italy High School is no secret. Anywhere you go in Texas, people automatically associate Italy with two words-sports and winning. As a child, I grew up watching people like Randy Johnson and Keith Davis, relentlessly giving everything they had for their teammates, school and town every Friday night. It is this kind of sacrifice that has both made and upheld the traditions in which we at Italy High School hold so dear today. With that being said, I am proud to say that the participants of the 2008-09 Gladiator athletic program have succeeded in upholding the tradition. Though, we are all very proud of Italy’s accomplishments this year. Do not be fooled by this speech and think that Italy’s tradition is winning. Winning is merely a benefit that comes with Italy’s tradition. Italy’s tradition is one of hard work, sweat, blood and tears. It’s putting everything you have into everything you do. It’s making sure you are exemplary both on the field and in the classroom. It’s pushing the people around you both physically and mentally. Italy’s tradition is the young men and women sitting out there among you tonight. So, for those that are leaving, I would like to thank you for the memories and I am proud to have spent the past 14 years of my life with you. As for those with years to come, please remember tradition is not something that is given, it is earned through hard work and dedication.”

Becky Milligan gave a special recognition to Larry Mayberry, the glue that holds the athletic program together. “Larry is a coach and always the first one to here to help and the last one to leave. He has been a strong force in all the teams.” With overwhelming applause, the crowd gave another standing ovation.

With the athletes fed and honored, Coach Bales gave a final farewell for the evening, “What a year this has been. It’s been a good one and a celebration for the seniors. We can’t wait to see what happens next year.”