Kate Toler receives Athlete of the Year award

On Friday night, Kate Toler was named Du Quoin High School's 2014 Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year at the Girls' All-Sports Banquet, hosted by Elks Lodge #884, an award that includes a $1,000 scholarship.

The daughter of Kathy Toler, Kate Toler was a standout for the Du Quoin volleyball team throughout her career and was the every-day third baseman for the Lady Indians softball team.

Toler and the softball class of 2014 won a record 107 varsity games in four years under head coach Jason James, the most by any class in DHS history. She will be moving on to St. Louis College of Pharmacy in the fall, where she will play both softball and volleyball for the Lady Eutectics.

Bailie Caldwell, who participated in softball, volleyball and basketball for the Lady Indians, took home the Kris Stacey Scholarship award, given to the athlete that best demonstrates the desire, character, enthusiasm and other qualities of Kris Stacey - the first DHS girls Senior Athlete of the Year back in 1979.

Caldwell led the DHS girls basketball team in scoring and was also a part of the historic softball senior class of 2014.

Another member of that softball class, Abby Myers, was the winner of the Kris Stacey Academic Award, given to the senior athlete who, in addition to earning a varsity letter, excelled above her teammates in the classroom. Myers also participated in basketball for Du Quoin.

Both Caldwell and Myers received $500 scholarships along with their awards.