The sports banquet is more than just an end-of-season banquet. It is a celebration of teamwork, hard work, determination and recognizing the athletes. It provides an opportunity to honor achievements, and some players make incredible progress throughout the season.
“The biggest accomplishment this year is the boys’ golf; they are going to the state tournament. Baseball won the district championship and there are track athletes that are in regionals. The banquet is very important because in Hallettsville, we have multi-sport athletes that do a lot for this program and it’s really cool how one banquet can recognize all the athletes,” Coach Montgomery said.
This year has been an improvement for everyone, as the athletes continue to show up and work for what they want; they bring motivation for everyone. As the multi-sport athletes really contribute and help this program, they are appreciated and recognized.
“The biggest accomplishment for the girls and the boys was to make it to state. The banquet is very important for a sport like powerlifting because not everyone knows about its importance to get in front of everybody and be able to acknowledge the hard work and dedication,” Coach Lisenbea said. “My hope for the program is for the kids to continue to work hard and improve the number of kids who get to regionals and state each year.
Coaches work hard to support their athletes, and it’s truly amazing seeing them grow up as they continue their journey and being part of it, as they work hard to prove themselves not only to themselves but to everyone else.
“Being recognized in the sports banquet means that all the hard work I have put into the program is being seen by others. As a senior, something I would miss about being part of the team is waking up early and going to meets and the long bus rides with them,” senior Kash Mozisek said.
This season has meant a lot to the seniors, and being recognized for their hard work is really a motivation to not give up on themselves. As the program continues to grow, the expectations continue to grow.
“Being recognized in the sports banquet means that I accomplished something I worked hard for and it makes me feel motivated to do more. The biggest challenge I faced this year was getting over the lack of confidence I had in myself, but the people who motivated me most this year were my parents and friends. Another thing that motivated me was the thought of my future plans and how I was willing to work as hard as I could to get to my goal. I am most proud of being recognized for all states for football and getting an honor roll for athletic training in baseball and being a leader that younger people can look up to,” senior Taylor Lamson said.
Some upperclassmen have worked hard to prove themselves, as they have also been amazing successes for the team, and have put in a lot of effort to make themselves and others proud.
“The biggest challenge was balancing my schedule. It is hard to spend time with my family and find time for myself and friends. What motivated me the most was my teammates, doing it for them and with them. But also winning, because I am a competitive person and I always want to win. I’m proud of being the volleyball district defensive player of the year, because volleyball is a sport that I pour a lot into and knowing that other teams and people saw my talent is something that I am really proud of,” sophomore Christine Felcman said.
As this season has come to an end, seniors are ready to leave, but they have enjoyed and remembered every single memory that made this season unforgettable. This senior class helped build a culture of commitment, respect, and teamwork.
“We hope for our athletes to learn the value of working hard, being able to start what you finish and learn through sports. The senior athletes do so many different things and that’s what I would remember the most and we appreciate them,” Montgomery said.
