TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — The Hulbert Athletic Department held its annual sports banquet Thursday night sponsored by Hulbert Sports Booster Club. Fastpitch softball awards were: The most Improved Player award went to Dahlia Alyia. The Hustle Award went to Tara Maine. The Ace award (pitching) went to Courtney Buford. The combined award for all categories was given to Jordan Landsaw.

The Hulbert Rider volleyball team received their All-Conference plaque. The four girls receiving All Conference honors were: Melissa Jones, Katy Wallace, Tara Lamb, and Paiten Taylor. The Digger award went to Jones. The Hustle and Server Awards were given to Wallace. The dedication award went to P.J. Farmer. Farmer also won the Lady Rider Award. Taylor won the Spike and Blocking awards. Taylor was also named MVP in the Conference and was named to all four tournament teams in which the Lady Riders participated.

Jeremy Burkart was named the newcomer of the year for the Rider football squad. A Special Teams Award went to Matt Fertig, while the Defensive Player of the Year was given to Doug Yates. The Offensive Player of the Year was Daniel Mauldin and the Rider Award was given to Trey Teague. The Rider Football MVP award went to Justin Copeland. Mauldin received the hardship award in District A-6. Also receiving All-District A-6 Award was Doug Yates. Yates, Teague, and Copeland will play in the Lion's Club All-Star Football game at Verdigris on Friday, May 23, at 7:30.

Only one award was given to the Hulbert cheerleading squad as Wallace received the Senior Award for four years of cheerleading. The Hulbert Lady Rider basketball squad Hustle Award went to Angelique Garcia. Taylor received her MVP All-Conference Award and was given the Offensive and Defensive Player of the year award for scoring rebounds and blocked shots. The Lady Rider Award went to P.J. Farmer. The Assists Steal Award was given to LaRae Arnall. Arnall also won the three-point award for being in the Top Ten in the state and was on the Second Team All-Conference. Taylor and Arnall were also named to the Porum All-Tournament Team. The X-factor award went to Krystal Chance.

In Boys basketball Dillon Brown was named the Offensive MVP. He was also named to the Big Eight Conference First Team. The Defensive MVP went to Cody Adair while the top rebounder was Dustin Shade. The free-throw champion went to Skyler Heaton and the Ratio Award went to Shade. The Most Improved player was Cody Potts. The Rider Award and the X-factor Award went to Brett Walker. Walker was also recognized for being in the Top 10 in the state for his three-point shooting.

Michael Perez received an award for being All-Conference in wrestling. He also had the most wins of the season and was named Wrestling MVP. The Fastest Fall went to Kenny Vance and Most Improved Wrestler was Steven Swinford. Mr. Hustle Award was given to Theo Neighbors. The newcomer award was given to Jeremiah Burkart. The Rider Award was given to Daniel Wikel.

In slowpitch Softball Awards Tara Maine was given an award for the best second-year player. Alyia earned the Hustle Award while Courtney Buford claimed the Top Hitter Award. Landsaw also got an award for being an Outstanding Hitter. The Best Outfielder was Garcia and the Most Improved Player award went to Stephanie Wilson. The RBI leader and Slugging Percentage was earned by Taylor. The Outstanding Pitcher Award was given to P. J. Farmer. Farmer also received the Infielder Golden Glove Award. Wallace received a Golden Glove Award. Hope Fielden received a Senior Award while Angela Farmer got the Lady Rider Award.

In baseball, Michael Fleming received a Hitting Award. The Ace Award (pitching) went to Kyle Jenkins. The Rider Award went to Daniel Wikel for being the team leader in RBI. The Golden Glove Award went to Mac Capps. The Most Improved player was Daniel Mauldin. The team MVP was Shade for his pitching and On-Base Percentage.

In girl's track the Most Improved award went to Nikki Copeland. The Outstanding Middle Distances went to Sammie Keener. The Distance Award went to Cynthia Frisbee. The newcomer of the year was Garcia. The Lady Rider Track had co-MVP in Paiten Taylor and her state championship in the High Jump and Tande Beaver for her third place finish at State in the Shot Put. Taylor also received her All-State Award.

In boys’ track the Outstanding Sprinter went to Jeff Hardison. The Distance Award went to Brett Walker while the Field Event winner went to Mauldin who was also recognized for his fifth place finish at State in the Discus. The Rider Award went to Clinton Kaelke. The Most Improved to Doug Yates.

The Female Athlete Award went to Katy Wallace. Wallace was a Cheerleader for four years and was captain for three of those years. She played Volleyball all four years and was named All-Conference her Senior year. She played four years of Softball and one year of basketball. Wallace was voted all-school queen by the student body and serves as class president. Wallace is Valedictorian of her Senior Class. She is also a concurrent student at Northeastern State University where she plans to continue her education in the fall.

Justin Copeland won the Male Athlete of the Year. Copeland was named All-District First Team and led the Rider Football Squad in tackles his Senior Year. Copeland was also named the most outstanding Weightlifter in the three meets in which he participated. He was also named to the Lion's Club All-Star Football Squad.The Hulbert Rider and Lady Rider Senior Athletes received special awards for their participation and dedication during their Hulbert High School years.