The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1436082
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 8, 2021 B-3 Abigail Skelton Ava Hudson Aaleiha Herring Emma McKinney The winter sports 2021-2022 Charger sideline cheer team includes, front row (l to r): Alyssa Young, Abigail Skelton, Ava Hudson, Emma McKinney, Aaleiha Herring and Carlie Halbrader. Back row: Michaela Gray, Han- nah Cassada, Tylor Gosciniak, Jillian Bailey, Chloe Willis, Alli Hardin, Ella Hartke, Katie Burkhart and Riley Russell. SENIORS Five players took home the 2021-2022 football season awards from the Charger football banquet on Monday, December 6 at the Petersburg Community Church. Pictured are (l to r): Braden Howald, PAC All-Conference defensive back/Mental Attitude Award/Team MVP; Conner Loveless, Academic Award; Wyatt Frasure, PAC All-Conference Honorable Mention linebacker/Team MVP; Matthew Meadows, Most Improved Award; and Jus- tin Spinks, Most Improved Award. The Pike Central Charger football team hosted their banquet at the Petersburg Community Church on Monday, December 6. The players all received their varsity let- ters for the 2021-2022 football season. Pictured are, sitting (l to r): Sammy Coleman, Morgan Sallee and Wyatt Frasure; standing: Justin Spinks, Avery Smith, Paul Thompson, Arie O'Neal, Kole Nossett, Trinten Richardson, Billy Like, Matthew Meadows, Billy Payne, Caden Fausnaugh, Braden Howald, Corey Goeppner, Landon Mc- Dowell, Jace Himsel, Julian Gish, Braden Schultheis, Jagar Dent, Conner Loveless and Isaac Marchino. Charger junior Braden Howald receiving the Men- tal Attitude Award from Head Coach Kelly Brashear at the Charger football banquet on Monday, Decem- ber 6 at the Petersburg Community Church. Charger football banquet recognizes team's ability to overcome Howald awarded PAC football All-Conference player By Matthew Haycraft The Charger football team hosted their end-of-season banquet on Monday, Decem- ber 2 at the Petersburg Com- munity Church. Head Coach Kelly Brashear thanked all the people who helped the program's booster account, along with everyone who helped make the season a successful one. He went on to praise the players for their coachability and willingness to play hard and do what needed to be do- ne during the season. There were many games where the players had to play positions they were unfamiliar with, but pressed on, letting the coach teach and help them through the position. "This is a group that I will remember forever. This is my 21st year of coaching, and this group is really special, especially for their adversity throughout the season that they had to overcome. We have a lot of great kids, and more importantly good foot- ball players. Parents, you have a lot of great kids, some of the best that I've ever coached and look forward to next year. I hate to lose the three that we are, but we wish them the very best," said Coach Brashear. Coming to the awards, the coaches decided since they started the season with 22 players and ended with about 19 players, who all played in some capacity throughout year, all of the players would receive their varsity letters. Coach Brashear went on to tell the team that not too ma- ny freshmen receive their var- sity letter in sports. However, for the time, the effort and commitment that they put in- to this season, they deserved it, and that he was proud of the whole team. Following that, he an- nounced the other team awards, starting with Aca- demic Award. Freshman Con- ner Loveless won this award for the 2021-2022 season. Brashear stated that Loveless exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete. Coaches decided to give two kids the award for most improved player this year. Freshmen Justin Spinks and Matthew Meadows took home the awards for most improved players. Coach Brashear said he expects big things for them in the next season. Junior Braden Howald took home the Mental Attitude Award, with Coach Brasher saying he has a great attitude, is a great leader and practices like he plays, putting his heart and soul into the game. The Charger team had two MVPs for this year's season. Senior Wyatt Frasure and Howald won this award for their leadership, high foot- ball IQ and their coachability. Howald was selected as a PAC football All-Conference player as a defensive back. He is a 5'10, 165 -pound junior. He played in seven games this season. He had 51 solo tack- les and 46 assists for a total of 97 tackles. His tackle to- tal ranked second among the PAC small division schools. Howald also had one sack, one interception and two caused fumbles. Coach Brashear stated, "Braden is the epitome of what football coaches want and need out of their players. He has a high football IQ. He practices like he plays. Braden is one of the hardest workers I have coached in my 21 years of coaching. He is a great leader, and our younger players look up to him. We expect great leadership and play from Bra- den his senior year." Frasure was selected as a PAC football All-Conference Honorable Mention as a de- fensive linebacker this year as a 5'11, 180 -pound senior. He played in just five games this year. He had 16 solo tack- les and 15 assists for a total of 31 tackles. Wyatt also had one caused fumble. "The same can be said about Wyatt as was said about Braden. Wyatt came to prac- tice ready to work everyday. He was a joy to coach and will be missed next season. He too was a great leader. He only played in five games this sea- son due to COVID quarantine and a death in his family. Had he played in all eight games, I have no doubt that Wyatt would have made All-Confer- ence as a linebacker," com- mented Coach Brashear.