The Rising Sun High School Athletic Department hosted its annual sports awards banquet Tuesday, June 9 in the school cafeteria.
It was an emotional evening as coach David Brown was given a plaque for his 30 years as the only girls’ softball coach. He finished with 396 wins and gave flowers to his wife Becky for her support over the years and remembering his father (Butch) who passed away this past year.
Cheer coach and athletic secretary Ronna Billingsley also thanked Becky Brown for the years of work in the high school office. Brown will be moving to work in the superintendent’s office.
Athletes sports from all seasons were recognized as Rising Sun boys won every sport except basketball (second) and the girls were third overall in the Ohio River Valley Conference. That gave them the combined all-sports trophy.
Those receiving all-conference honors during the year included:
Volleyball- Bailey Baker, Bailee Bostic, Alix DeDreu, Tiffany Vinup.
Cross country- Bailey Baker, Kasey Baker, Lucy Carrigan, Claudio Gallegos, Zach Martini, Matt Yocum.
Basketball- Austin Armstrong, Kurtis Armstrong, Lucy Carrigan, Tiffany Vinup.
Softball- Bailee Bostic, Alix DeDreu, Tiffany Vinup.
Baseball- Austin Armstrong, Bryant Housemyer, Mitchell Morris, Brady Murray.
Soccer- Tyler Camden, Derrick Eldridge, Tyler Roberts, Jake Uhlmansiek.
Track- Bailey Baker, Kasey Baker, Whitney Chipman, Derrick Eldridge, Claudio Gallegos, Colton Henry, Andrew Koons, Matt Martini, Zach Martini, Kinzie Scott, Erin Webb, Matt Yocum.
Golf- Austin Armstrong, Sam Markland, Brady Murray, Aron Walker.
Most Outstanding Athlete awards went to Alix DeDreu and Austin Armstrong while the schools valedictorian (Whitney Chipman) and salutatorian (Jake Uhlmansiek) received the top scholastic awards.
Blanket awards for those earning over 11 letters went to Bailey Baker, Austin Armstrong and Jake Uhlmansiek.
A host of first year letter winners included Kasey Baker, Mollie Baxter, Chelsea Brown, Lucy Carrigan, Madison Cloutier, Alexis Davis, Joe Evans, Michael Fisher, Joe Frondorf, Tiara Harrison, Emma Hoffman, Andrew Koons, Dylan Koons, Sam Markland, Matt Martini, Jayden McAlister, Jason McClellan, Colton McKay Allyson Pruiett, Kiersten Pruiett, Levi Purvis, Joanna Rhoades, Nicole Rider, Mariah Robbins, Erica Schraeder, Jake Scott, Kevin See, Meg Slack, Brittany Smith, Caroline Stapleton, Brent Turner and Sierra Webb.
Jackets awarded to those receiving their fifth varsity letter included: Tristan Brown, Shane Chase, Derrick Eldridge, Angelo Gallegos, Katie Jackson, Emily Kendrick, Zach Martini, Mitchell Morris, Bryce Potraffke, Tyler Roberts, Sarah Steele, Jack Sullivan, Mike Vecchiola, Aron Walker, Jamie Williams and Matt Yocum.
Awards presented included:
Cross Country: Bailey Baker was girls’ MVP, Captain and Scoring Champion and Zach Martini was MVP and Scoring Champion with Matt Yocum Captain.
Volleyball: Bailey Baker- Serving Award and Defensive MVP; Alix DeDreu- Offensive MVP
Girls Soccer: Carly Bowman- Defensive MVP, Erin Webb- Captain, Chelsea Brown and Carson Blackwell Co-Offensive MVPs
Boys Soccer: Tyler Roberts- Defensive MVP and Captain, Jake Uhlmansiek- Offensive MVP
Boys Basketball: Austin Armstrong- Free Throw Award, MVP and CO-Captain along with Brady Murray.
Girls Basketball: Lucy Carrigan- Free Throw Award and Co-MVP along with being honorable mention all-state as a freshman. Tiffany Vinup was Co-MVP with Bailey Baker and Erin Webb- CO-Captains.
Cheerleading: Cailin Bush- Captain.
Softball: Haley Presley, Bailee Bostic and Alix DeDreu were Co-Captains. DeDreu won the batting ward and was Co-MVP with Bostic. Bostic was named third team all-state and DeDreu second team all-state and Indiana All Star. Bostic is the first Div. I scholarship winner in softball (heading to Evansville). DeDreu hit over .500 each season and is headed to Thomas More.
Girls Track: Bailey Baker and Erin Webb- Co-Captains with Whitney Chipman- MVP and Scoring Champion (winning sectional in the shot put (37’5″) and discus (108’9″).
Boys Track: Matt Yocum was Captain and ORVC Mental Attitude winner. Claudio Gallegos- earned the Scoring Champion with Zach Martini- MVP
Baseball: Brady Murray- Batting Champion and Austin Armstrong- Team Captain and MVP.
Boys Golf: Aron Walker, Austin Armstrong and Brady Murray were Co-Medalists with Armstrong and Murray, Co-MVP and Co-Captains.