Gladiators boast 16 all-district performers as Hollywood earns Coach of the Year
The 2012 Italy Gladiators (9-5) finish with 16 All-District performers combining for 21 total accolades to claim the Region II Division I Class A District 6 Championship after posting a 5-0 district record. (Barry Byers)
2012 Region II Division I District 6 – 1A Football All-District players have been announced with Italy totaling 9 Gladiators on the coveted list. In addition to edging out Cayuga for the most all-district recipients, Italy’s coaching staff, head coached by Hank Hollywood, was honored as the Head Coach and Coaching Staff of the Year!
The 2012 Italy Gladiator Coaching Staff:
- HFC/AD Hank Hollywood
- Nate Skelton
- Brian Coffman
- Josh Ward
- Brandon Duncan
- Wayne Rowe
- Larry Mayberry, Sr.
As a team, this year’s Gladiators accumulated 6 prestigious awards during its journey to becoming one of four teams still standing in the state semifinals:
- Region II Division I District 6 Class A District Championship
- Region II Division I Class A Bi-District Championship
- Region II Division I Area Championship
- Region II Division I Regional Final Championship
- The Army Strong Week 13 Team of the Week
- Region II Division I Quarterfinal Championship
With all the players forever linked to the vast network of alumni Gladiators, the 2012 Italy Gladiators also join an elite group which includes three previous Gladiator teams, 1978, 1985 and 1997 that have won their quarterfinal championship games and then finished as state semifinalists. The 1940 Italy Gladiators went undefeated as well.
Player Superlatives
| Player | Class | School | Superlative |
| Marvin Cox | Senior | Italy—Unanimous | Most Valuable Player |
| Ryheem Walker | Senior | Italy—Unanimous | Offensive Most Valuable Player |
| Don Holly | Senior | Cayuga | Defensive Most Valuable Player |
| Chandler Rigdon | Sophomore | Cayuga | New-Comer of the Year |
1st Team Offense All-District Honors
1st Team Quarterback:
| Player | Class | School |
| Nate Betts | Sophomore | Kerens—Unanimous |
1st Team Running Back
| Player | Class | School |
| Rayvon Faulk | Junior | Kerens—Unanimous |
| Robert Overstreet | Senior | Gateway—Unanimous |
1st Team Tight End
| Player | Class | School |
| Chase Hamilton | Senior | Italy—Unanimous |
1st Team Receivers
| Player | Class | School |
| Cole Hopkins | Senior | Italy—Unanimous |
| Taylor Johnson | Senior | Cross Roads—Unanimous |
| Pat Boxie | Senior | Cayuga—Unanimous |
| Kevin Townsel | Senior | Kerens—Unanimous |
| Brett Anderson | Junior | Kerens—Unanimous |
1st Team Linemen
| Player | Class | School |
| Zain Byers | Junior | Italy—Unanimous |
| Ty Tunstall | Senior | Cayuga—Unanimous |
| Michael Khne | Senior | Kerens—Unanimous |
| Christian Cruz | Senior | Itasca |
| Tye Jenkins | Junior | Cross Roads |
1st Team Defense All-District Honors
1st Team Defensive Linemen:
| Player | Class | School |
| Jalarnce Lewis | Senior | Italy—Unanimous |
| Zain Byers | Junior | Italy—Unanimous |
| Ty Tunstall | Senior | Cayuga—Unanimous |
| LeLand Lloyd | Senior | Gateway |
| Dylan Woods | Senior | Kerens |
1st Team Inside Linebackers:
| Player | Class | School |
| Shadrach Newman | Junior | Italy—Unanimous |
| Ashton Campbell | Senior | Itasca—Unanimous |
| Michael Khne | Senior | Kerens—Unanimous |
1st Team Outside Linebackers:
| Player | Class | School |
| Chase Hamilton | Senior | Italy—Unanimous |
| Byron Lynch | Senior | Gateway—Unanimous |
1st Team Defensive Backs:
| Player | Class | School |
| Eric Carson | Junior | Italy |
| Travon Morgan | Senior | Gateway |
| Pat Boxie | Senior | Cayuga—Unanimous |
| Zach Duncan | Sophomore | Kerens |
1st Team Kicker:
| Player | Class | School |
| Kevin Roldan | Junior | Italy—Unanimous |
1st Team Punter:
| Player | Class | School |
| Chad Sherrell | Junior | Cross Roads |
2nd Team Defense All-District Honors
2nd Team Defensive Linemen:
| Player | Class | School |
| Reid Jacinto | Senior | Italy |
| Brandon Batton | Senior | Cayuga |
| Jashaun Epps | Senior | Cayuga |
| Coy McCray | Senior | Cross Roads |
| Neiman Williams | Senior | Gateway |
| Tavion Hall | Sophomore | Kerens |
2nd Team Inside Linebackers:
| Player | Class | School |
| Chace Lopez | Junior | Cross Roads |
| Kevin Williams | Junior | Gateway |
| Coleman | Junior | Itasca |
2nd Team Outside Linebackers:
| Player | Class | School |
| Hunter Merimon | Freshmen | Italy |
| Justin Vaughan | Sophomore | Cross Roads |
| Todd Willis | Junior | Itasca |
2nd Team Defensive Backs:
| Player | Class | School |
| Chantz Holland | Senior | Cayuga |
| Wesley Rigdon | Senior | Cayuga |
| Taylor Johnson | Senior | Cross Roads |
| Kevin Townsel | Senior | Kerens |
Honorable Mention — Gladiators
Offensive Line:
| Player | Class | School |
| Cody Medrano | Junior | Italy |
| Kevin Roldan | Junior | Italy |
| Zack Boykin | Senior | Italy |
Receiver:
| Player | Class | School |
| Eric Carson | Junior | Italy |
| Reid Jacinto | Senior | Italy |
Defensive Line:
| Player | Class | School |
| Adrian Reed | Senior | Italy |
| Darol Mayberry | Junior | Italy |
Outside Linebacker:
| Player | Class | School |
| Hayden Woods | Senior | Italy |
The Gladiator coaching staff also selected three players as their team’s 2012 Players of the Year:
- Overall Player of the Year — Marvin Cox
- Offensive Player of the Year — Ryheem Walker
- Defensive Player of the Year — Zain Byers
Congratulations to this season’s All-District award winners and to Marvin, Ryheem and Zain on being selected as Italy’s Players of the Year!