The 2013 Junction City Blue Jay team gathered Sunday evening at the high school for the annual postseason banquet and awards celebration.

Head Coach Randall Zimmerman addressed the team. “One of the big things that you accomplished this year was keeping the Silver Trophy at home.”  That trophy goes to the winner of the Junction City – Manhattan football game, which was won by the Blue Jays this year 16-10.

The Blue Jay varsity finished 6-3 overall and 2-1 in district play. They tied Topeka High and Manhattan with the same record in district play, but under the KSHSAA tiebreaker rules did not advance to postseason play.

The Blue Jay junior varsity finished 5-3 and the freshman team 5-4.

Numerous awards were presented Sunday evening to members of the football team.

–the Malcolm Tibbetts Memorial Award that goes to the most inspirational Blue Jay went to two players, Justice Rexrode and Micah Felton.

–Joseph Sinegal Memorial Award in honor of a Blue Jay lineman who died in an automobile accident in 1995 went to Tre Brown and Immanuel Cason.

— Coach Al Simpler Memorial Award in honor of the late Blue Jay coach Al Simpler went to Will Ervin, Nate Funk, and Steven Matthews.

–Elijah Carter –  Salisbury Award named in memory of a Blue Jay player who died unexpectedly in 2012 went to Kemondre Taylor and Semaj Johnson.

–Ron Lowry Award to the outstanding freshman went to two players, Ryan Henington and Kayne Hutchinson.

–and the Black Lion Award given in memory of Major Don Holinder who died in combat Oct. 17, 1967 in Vietnam, and the Black Lions of the 28th Infantry Regiment who died with him that day was presented to Jerma’l Campbell and Sean Gustad.