Major award winners at Triton are pictured above. On the front row from left are Reagan Bradham, Grace Wilson, Taylor Denning, Aubree Bass and Tristan Ennis. On the back row are Ellis Pope, James Shaw, Noah Jackson, Nate McKoy, Jalen Evans and Ross Stevens.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Triton athletic director and volleyball coach Wendy Simmons announced her retirement as Triton held its athletic awards banquet on Thursday night.
Simmons has been at Triton for 27 years. Her volleyball teams established a tradition of dominance in conference play, which included 15 league championships. She was presented a bouquet of flowers by principal Ryan McNeill at the close of the program. Simmons also was a respected math teacher.
The gathering enjoyed a meal in the cafeteria before the presentations in the auditorium.
Booster Club president Parrish Daughtry noted in her opening remarks that it was the first athletic awards banquet since 2019 for the Hawks, a situation resulting from COVID restrictions.
Major awards were presented after honors were announced for fall, winter and spring sports. Scholastic awards went to Ellis Pope for boys and Reagan Bradham for girls.
The Bobby Tart Coaches Awards were presented to Grace Wilson for girls and James Shaw for boys.
The Charles Whitney Bradham Sportsmanship honors went to Noah Jackson for boys and Taylor Denning for girls.
The Bill Tart Most Versatile presentations went to Jalen Evans for boys and Aubree Bass for girls.
The Bill Boyette Best All-Around honors went to Nate McKoy for boys and Reagan Bradham for girls.
The Athlete of the Year honors were presented to Ross Stevens for boys and Tristan Ennis for girls.
Triton competed in the All American Conference for the first time in 2021-22. The league also includes Harnett Central, E.E. Smith, Overhills, Pine Forest, Terry Sanford, Western Harnett and Westover.
The Hawks won league titles in girls golf, baseball and softball.
Fall Sports
Coaches
Sarah Haney (JV Volleyball), Wendy Simmons (Varsity Volleyball), Dana Davis (Girls Tennis), Mark Whitman* (Girls Golf), Kim Hackett (Cross Country), Brian Foster (Boys Soccer), David Reece (JV Football), Ben Penny (Varsity Football)
* — All American Conference Coach of the Year
Retiring Triton athletic director Wendy Simmons.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Volleyball award winners, from left, are Makayla Norris (Coach’s Award), Grace Wilson (Heart of the Hawk Award), Carleigh Hemby (Most Valuable Offensive Player) and Reagan Bradham (Best All-Around). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Girls tennis winners, from left, are Madelyn Parker (Offensive Award), Pilar Trochez (Hustler Award), Shelby McLamb (Co-Most Improved) and Addie Albright (Co-Most Improved).
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Award winners in girls golf include, from left, SueAnna Bass (Rookie of the Year), Tristan Ennis (Hawk Award) and Neva Chance (MVP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cross country award winners are, from left, are Cameron Denning (Girls Freshman of the Year), Christopher Mancera (Boys Freshman of the Year). Claire Ennis (Girls Most Improved), Taylor Denning (Girls Blue Hawk_, Reece Daughtry (Boys Blue Hawk), Kassandra Mancera (Girls MVP) and Hunter Pope (Boys MVP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Award winners in boys soccer are, from left, Benny Villalvazo (Golden Boot, 24 goals), Malik Beaumont (Defensive Player of the Year), Luis Elizalde-Valente (Gamechanger Award) and Francisco Martinez (Heart of the Hawk). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Football award winners are, from left, Carter Daughtry (Special Teams Award), Javon Cowan (Offensive Player of the Year), Ross Stevens (Defensive Player of the Year), Jayden Giles (Lineman of the Year), Camauri McDougald (Playmaker ofnthe Year), Nate McKoy (Champion Award) and Noah Jackson (Iron Hawk Award). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Winter Sports
Coaches
Heather Foster (JV Cheerleading), Casidy Havird (Varsity Cheerleading), Cameron Baillez (Wrestling), Julia Hendrick (Swimming), Josh Canterbury (Winter Track), Richard Rozier* (Varsity Girls Basketball), Jimmy Holbrook (JV Boys Basketball), T.J. Morrison (Varsity Boys Basketball)
* — All American Conference Coach of the Year
Cheerleading honors went to, from left, Kyla Hubbard (Most Spirited), Zeah Ennis (Coach’s Award) and Macey Meredith (MVP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Wrestling awards went to, from left, Nate Williams (Most Outstanding), Nico Addington (Most Outstanding Underclassman), Malachi Nettles (Most Improved) and Maia Sa (Comeback Athlete of the Year). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Swimming awards went to Julia Ramirez (Girls Coach’s Choice), Allen Hudson (Boys Coach’s Choice), Abby Miller (Girls Most Improved), Logan Westbrook (Boys Most Improved), Ruby George (Girls MVP) and Michael Daughtry (Boys <VP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Winter track award winners are, from left, Emma Stanley (Girls Best Sprinter), Shyhiem Cooke (Boys Best Sprinter),, Kassandra Mancera (Girls Best Distance), Hunter Pope (Boys Best Distance) and Malik Beaumont (Boys Best Field). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Girls basketball award winners are, from left, Abby Hood (Defensive Player of the Year), Unique Cooke (Most Improved), A’Shari Watlington (Coach’s Award) and JaNiah Smith (Hawk Award).
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Varsity boys basketball winners are, from left, Javon Cowan (Defensive Stopper) and Will Heard (Most Improved). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Spring Sports
Coaches
David Reece (Boys Golf), Brian Foster (Girls Soccer), Sarah Haney (Girls Track), Josh Canterbury (Boys Track), Mark Whitman (Softball), Jacob Willis (Baseball), Jacob Fipps (Boys Tennis)
Award winners in boys golf, from left, are Braedon Kessler (Coach’s Award) and Grant McIntyre (MVP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Girls soccer award winners included, from left, Emma Stanley (Golden Boot), Ashlyn Vincent (Defensive Player of the Year), Carleigh Parker (Gamechanger) and Nicole Vann. (Heart of the Hawk Award).
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Girls track award winners include, from left, Kyla Hubbard (Sprints MVP), Kassandra Mancera (Distance MVP), Diana Lopez (Throws MVP), Maia Sa (Coach’s Award) and Kate Perez (Most Improved Runner). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Award winners in boys track include, from left, are Aidan Johnson (Coach’s Award), Hunter Pope (Distance MVP), Nate McKoy (Throws MVP), Shyhiem Cooke (Best Sprinter) and Malik Beaumont (Best All-Around). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Softball award winners, from left, are Kimah Warren ((Co-Hawk Award), Gracie Byrd (Co-Hawk Award_, T.K. McLean (Offensive Player of the Year), Tristan Ennis (Defensive Player of the Year) and Aubree Bass (MVP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Baseball honors went to, from left, Anthony Jones (Defensive Player of the Year), Ross Stevens (Offensive Player of the Year), Hayden Pope (Pitcher of the Year), Braxton Davis (Player of the Year) and Wyatt Avery (Most Improved). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Boys tennis award winners include, from left, Matthew Jones (Rookie of the Year), Hunter Thompson (Most Improved), Wei Liu (Leadership) and Ellis Pope (MVP). (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
