The Italy Gladiators made it happen in 2016 by earning the District 12-2A Basketball Championship. They followed that major accomplishment up with a Bi-District playoff win over Valley View and the finished the season as Area Finalists.

For their efforts, the Gladiators were well recognized during the All-District voting with Keith Davis II being named the Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore Kendrick Norwood was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year and junior Christian Lightfoot received Newcomer of the Year honors. Italy claimed 3-out of-4 available superlative awards.

Junior Kevin Johnson was named 1st Team All-District and senior Ryan Connor was named 2nd Team All-District. Italy also had 3 Honorable Mention players with senior Levi McBride, junior Kenneth Norwood and junior David De La Hoya making the list.

Academic All-District players were Connor, Micah Escamilla and De La Hoya.

Italy’s first-year head coach, David Ervin, was honored, as well, when he was named the district’s Coach of the Year along with his coaching staff which included Larry Mayberry, Bobby Campbell and Mitchell Blake.

Congratulations to the Gladiators and to Coach Ervin and his staff on a magical season with the expectations now set very high going into next season. Included in this article are pictures from Italy’s area-championship battle against Petrolia.

2015-2016 District 12-2A All-DistrictBasketball Awards

Superlatives — Italy:

Coach Of the Year:
David Ervin, Italy

All-District Awards — Italy:

Academic All-District Awards — Italy:

Go Gladiators!