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Coaches honor GCHS athletes at spring banquet

GC VILLAGE — Mitchell Walker didn't play a spring sport at Grand Canyon High School, but he was still the big winner at the spring sports banquet Friday night.

Walker, junior, took home the Male Athlete of the Year Award, the Hugh J. Shevlin Award as top male scholar and the Male Sportsmanship Award. Walker was an all-state soccer player and all-region basketball player.

The top female awards for the year were swept by GC seniors. Katie Clayton was named Female Athlete of the Year. Kristin Olsen won the Debbie L. Clancy Award as top female scholar athlete and Erin Northup won the Female Sportsmanship Award.

The evening progressed quickly with coaches reviewing the season and sharing comments about their athletes.

Pat Martinez got things started with softball, which finished the season with a winless record.

"We didn't have a very successful season, but we did have some accomplishments," Martinez said. "Everyone had a batting average, I'm proud of that. And in some of the games, we had more hits than the opponent. We just didn't have the defense."

Northup was named the softball MVP, being called "a good role model" by Martinez.

In baseball, Terry Tobin presented the awards in various categories. Jose Diaz-Gonzalez, who broke team records in batting average (.694) and home runs (8) was named MVP.

"It was a successful season with only three of our players not being underclassmen," Tobin said. "We went 9-11 overall, 9-7 in the conference ... if we're playing .500 or better ball with these young guys, it shows we're a pretty good team."

Track coach Anne Phillips reviewed the girls' state runnerup finish and various individual accomplishments. Erin Wahler was named the track MVP.

"Before state, we sat down and talked about striving to be our best," Phillips said. "There was not one athlete who didn't get a personal-best at state."

The evening ended with a video review of the soccer season, presented by coach Ken Olsen.


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