The Junction City Blue Jays celebrated a successful 10-1 football season Sunday night at the senior high school.
The occasion was the team’s postseason assembly in the Warren Settles Auditorium.
Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman called the season a lot of fun. “10-1 varsity, 6-3 freshman, 5-3 JV, very very,very good year. I know it’s going to hurt. It’s going to hurt for a long time that we didn’t quite close the door and get all the way to the state championship ballgame but it wasn’t because of lack of effort, because of lack of character from you guys.”
This Blue Jay football team won the Sportsmanship Trophy that goes to the winner of the Junction City – Manhattan football game, claimed a share of a Centennial League co-championship, and claimed District and Regional titles.
A number of awards were presented during the assembly. They included:
–Ron Lowry Memorial Award to Baylor Wilkey and Rooster Adams as the most outstanding freshman players
–Malcolm Tibbets Award to the most inspirational player on the Blue Jay team. This year it went to Raye Wilson and Aryus Jones.
–Joseph Sinegal Award to the player who strives to improve each and every day as a player and a person. The winners was Christian Ozores.
–Al Simpler Memorial Award which goes to the player or players who unselfishly made a significant contribution to the team. The recipients this year were Trae McDaniel and Bradley Breckenridge.
–Elijah Carter / Salisbury Memorial Award to Braden Murry and Angeleau Scott. This award goes to the player who best portrays who Elijah was….a humble, hard working, honest compassional young man of high integrity.
–Black Lion Award to Tim Bell and Dylan Collette. It recognizes relentless, hard working, honest, selfless young men of high integrity.
–Offensive Player of the Year honors went to Jovon Baldwin, Raye Wilson, and Ryan Hennington.
–Defensive Player of the Year honors were presented to Christian Ozores and Terell Wilson.
–Special Teams Player of the Year to Wayne Shirley.
–Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year to John Clark.
–Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year to Kevin Murry and Marc Wells.