On Monday, May 19, athletes who played spring sports at Haywood High School were honored at a dinner banquet. Hosts for the banquet were PEP (Parents and Educators for Progress) members. Dr. Jerry Pyron and Martha Lyle Ford, a member of PEP, welcomed everyone to the event, and the HHS ROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Eliza Ford, a member of the HHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes, gave the opening prayer. HHS Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Tim Seymour gave opening remarks, thanking coaches and parents for their dedication to the students in their sports. Then each coach presented awards to their team members.

HHS Basketball Tomcats

Haywood High School Basketball Coach Kendall Dancy presented awards to some of his players at the award ceremony. Freshmen receiving awards were: Most Dedicated-Dedric Boyd, Most Improved-Tristan Jarrett, Best Defensive Player-Sharayveun Hines, and Leadership Award- Sharayveun Hines. On the varsity team awards were given to: Leading Scorer-Jordon Varnado, Leading Field Goal Percentage-Jordon Varnado, Leading Free Throw Percentage-Jalen Benton, Leading Rebounder-Sadarius Delk, Leading Assists-Kyler Douglas, Most Dedicated-Patrick Cephus, Most Improved-Xavier Delk, Best Defensive Player-Jeffrey Starks, Tomcat Leadership Award-Sadarius Delk, Tomcat Senior Awards – Ryan Williams, Montravious Currie, Patrick Cephus, Sadarius Delk, Jeffrey Starks, and Xavier Delk. Coach Dancy’s assistant coaches are Rodney Chatman and Grover Harwell. The Team was ranked No. 2 in the State, was the District Champs, runner-up in the District Tournament and played in the Regional Tournament.

HHS Basketball Lady Cats

Coach Whitney Baird presented awards to some of her players: Aaliyah Bailey – Senior Appreciation Award, Leadership Award, and All-District Tournament Team; Maiya Bradford – Most Dedicated and Senior Appreciation Award; Summer Cunningham – Most Points Scored, Best Free Throw Percentage, Jackson Sun 2nd Team All-West Tennessee, All-District; Idalias Flagg – Most Assists and All-District; Kayla Shaw – Most Improved; Dasjia Wilson – Leading Rebounder; Alecia Johnson – Sixth Man Award; Madison Smith – Scholastic Achievement Award; Wandarkyu Young – Most Valuable Player and Most Hustle; Kelsey Shutes – Most Improved; and Sierra Green – Senior Appreciation Award. Coach Baird’s assistant is Frank Chapman. This team played in the Regional Tournament.

HHS Basketball Cheerleaders

Shalondria White is the coach for the HHS Basketball Cheerleaders. Her assistants are Tanesha Walker and Nycoria Wilson. She recognized her cheerleaders for their outstanding performance and service to the basketball teams this year.

HHS Softball Lady Cats

Coach Holly Chilcutt announced the awards for the softball team. Earning the All-Academic and Hustle Award was Cassidy Hendrix. Kaitlyn McBride was named All-District, Most Valuable Player and All-Academic. Alyssa Campbell was given the Most Improved Award, and Anne Marie Sceals received an All-Tournament Award. Morgan Hendrix was Best Offensive Player and All-District. Another Hustle Award went to Felescia Sanders. Rick Mason is Coach Chilcutt’s assistant. The team placed third in District and played in the second round of the District Tournament.

HHS Baseball Tomcats

On the HHS Baseball team, Coach Tyler Newman gave these awards: Melvin Bond – Tomcat Award; Thomas Currie – Platinum Player and Best Defensive Player in the League; Blake Esquivias and Bishop Noble – Best Defensive Players and Golden Glove Awards; Taylor Stokely – Offensive Player of the Year; Montravious Woodland – Tomcat Award; Preston Evans – Utility Player of the Year; Jordan Fitzgerald – Offensive Player of the Year; Billy Price and Hunter Roten – Pitchers of the Year; Dustin Staggs – Most Valuable Player of the Year; Colton Lilly – Breakout Player of the Year; and Andrew Scott – Rookie of the Year. Coach Newman’s assistants are Oscar Esquivias and Jimbo Worrell. The Baseball Tomcats were second in the District, regular season; second in the District Tournament; second in the Regional Tournament; and advanced to the Sub-State contest.

HHS Track and Field – Boys

Dave Rogers was the Boy’s Field and Track Coach. He named Deonte Brown as the Best Distance Runner, Christian Florence as the Best Sprinter, Shavius Hines as the MVP of the Track Team and the Best Field Events, Kortavus Jones as the Best Mid-Distance Runner, Jalen Turner as the Best Hurdler and Markevious Williamson as the Best Jumper. Montravious Currie received the Most Academic Award.

HHS Tennis Tomcats

Coach Stark Davis recognized several of his players for their achievements on the tennis court. Kyle Sills and Quinton Douglas were named All-District. On the girl’s team, March C. Sharpe and Amanda Lopez were recognized as All-District. Mary C. Sharpe also earned the runner-up trophy in the Region.

HHS Soccer Tomcats

HHS Soccer Coach Mixon Moore was named the District Coach of the Year. Kendale Crew, Christian Castro and Het Herrera served as captains of the team. Christian Castro was named the Defensive Play of the Year, and received the Most Tackles Award and the All-Tomcat Award. Het Herrera was named Mid-Fielder Player of the Year and received the Most Assists Award. Miguel Herrera had the Most Goals and was named the Best Offensive Player of the Year, and Kaleb Witherspoon was named the Most Physical Player of the Year. This team played in the third round of the District Tournament.

Basketball Coach Kendall Dance and Athletic Director Tim Seymour presented moments of Remembrance for the late Mike Leigh at the end of the evening. He was a teacher and an avid Tomcat supporter.

The HHS Class of 2014 has six seniors who will compete in their sports on the college level:

Qua Barbee – football – Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tennessee

Devonte Briley – football – Bethel University, McKenzie, Tennessee

Montravious Currie – football – Bluefield College – Bluefield, Virginia

Cassidy Hendrix – softball – Millsaps College – Jackson, Mississippi

Mary Clairborne Sharpe – tennis – Millsaps College – Jackson, Mississippi

Amanda Tindle – soccer – Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas