Gladiators boast 16 all-district performers as Hollywood earns Coach of the Year

Image: 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.

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!