Banquet highlights fall sports teams’ best

By Jim Rogers

At Waterville High School’s fall sports banquet, held Nov. 16, football and volleyball players, parents and fans gathered to give special appreciation to the players who were as voted most valuable players.

Volleyball coach Jill Moomaw announced the most valuable players for the 2011 season — seniors Briana Hinderer and Alyssa Moomaw. The team’s most inspirational player was Kassidy Simmons. The most improved player was Bailey Bromiley, and the coaches award went to Kamryn Shafer. Alyssa Moomaw was named to Central Washington B League North Division first team, and Hinderer was an honorable mention selection.

Jill Moomaw said the team was small and fun to coach, and showed improvement throughout the season.

“We didn’t reach our postseason goals, but ended respectfully with a 4-8 record,” she said. “This team had the potential.”

Next year’s team will miss Alyssa Moomaw and Hinderer, and Jill Moomaw has stated that she’s resigning her post as coach after 11 years on the job. However, the Shockers will return a core group of talent, incuding Shafer, Bromiley, Hanna Clements, Diana Davila, Kathleen Schmitz, Alex Landon, Marny Lowe and Simmons.

“I always feel privileged to coach and mentor young ladies,” Jill Moomaw said. “My hope is that they take away the ideals of teamwork, dedication and hard work that I tried to convey throughout the season. After coaching 11 years, this was to be my last year coaching Shocker volleyball. It is a bittersweet ending, but I feel it is time for Shocker volleyball to hear a new voice from the sidelines.

“I can’t thank enough people for all their support throughout the years, but Terry Conners has been one of the most dedicated contributors, spending endless hours traveling to games and keeping score for us. Caryn Davis, Kim Landon, Jacque Clements, Tim Moomaw, Rachel Poppie, Lucy Zychek and Gary Brown are a few of the other supporters that helped with the program and deserve recognition for all that they did.”

The football team’s honors went to Wyatt Mires (most improved), Mars Chambers (most inspirational), Mitch Clements (most valuable player), Jabe Murphy (coaches award) and Jay Landon (special recognition).

Trey Worthen, Clements, Garrett Thomsen, Mires, Abrahamse and Francisco Arteaga earned all-league honorable mention honors.

After going winless in 2010, the Shockers bookended their 2011 campaign with wins in their first and last games.

“I feel really good about the season despite the record of 2-5,” said coach Mike Gray. “The team improved as the season went on. The team is looking forward to next year. They were good kids and showed up for practice. I felt very positive. They are a bunch of kids who want to play ball.”