SWIMMING: Indians celebrate historic season at awards banquet

Posted July 29, 2014 11:00 pm

Doug Daniels

The Swimming Indians celebrated Saturday's Southern Illinois Swim Conference championship victory with their annual awards banquet on Monday night at the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin, and named Jerry Kuhnert the team's MVP for the 2014 season - his last year of eligibility with the squad.

Kuhnert was fresh off of two record-breaking swims at the conference meet in Salem, where he finished third in points amongst boys 15-18 years of age. The Team MVP honor stamps an exclamation mark on the end of his decorated career with the Swimming Indians. He also received the "Most Outstanding Swimmer" award for the team's oldest group of boys.

Other "Most Outstanding" award recipients included Justin Harsy (boys 6 & under), Haylee Crow (girls 6 & under), Henry Harsy (boys 7-8), Mikah Montgomery (girls 7-8), Brent Wallace (boys 9-10), Lauren Heape (girls 9-10), Jacob Harsy (boys 11-12), Madilyn McLain (girls 11-12), Paxton Higgerson (boys 13-14), Olivia Cravens (girls 13-14) and Quinn Kirkpatrick (girls 15-18).

Three other awards were also handed out in each age group.

The list of "Hardest Worker" award winners included Justin Harsy (boys 6 & under), Abby Keith (girls 6 & under), A.J Keith and Maddax Thompson (boys 7-8), Rylie Day (girls 7-8), Jackson Halstead (boys 9-10), Meesha Montgomery and Makoa Montgomery (girls 9-10), Benjamin Harsy (boys 11-12), Elizabeth Bird (girls 11-12), Rylan Ragar (boys 13-14), Maddison Dorsey (girls 13-14), Caleb Gomes (boys 15-18) and Haley Kuhnert (girls 15-18).

Swimmers taking home the "Most Improved" award were J.J. Van Zandt (boys 6 & under), Kelby Funk (girls 6 & under), Alec Bellamy (boys 7-8), Kallie Oestreicher (girls 7-8), Ian Carver (boys 9-10), Kaylen Sawyer (girls 9-10), Keegan Daner (boys 11-12), Maya Russell (girls 11-12), Brogan Smith (boys 13-14), Allissa Klamm (girls 13-14), Nicholas King (boys 15-18) and Grace Bailey (girls 15-18).

"Coaches Awards" went to J.J. Van Zandt (boys 6 & under), Mackenzie Eaton (girls 6 & under), Cooper Rice (boys 7-8), Lucy Halstead (girls 7-8), Jacob Eaton (boys 9-10), Malayna Russell (girls 9-10), Ethan Bellamy (boys 11-12), Trinity Wright (girls 11-12), Nathan Manning (boys 13-14), Rachel Gomes (girls 13-14), Sam Manning (boys 15-18) and Mikaela Montgomery (girls 15-18).

The "Best Newcomer" awards went to Malik Jones (boys) and Grace Bailey (girls). "Best Veteran Swimmer" awards were received by Collin Dorsey and Cole Kirkpatrick.