Vernon High School student athletes were recognized and honored for the 2024-25 school year Tuesday evening at the Vernon Lions Athletics Booster Club Sports Banquet held at the Wilbarger Auditorium. Lions and Lady Lions, along with their guests and coaches, enjoyed refreshments in the Empire Room before making their way to the main auditorium for the awards ceremony.
Coaches of each sport called members of their team to the stage one at a time to present them with a certificate. If the Lion and Lady Lion athlete earned performance or academic honors for their sport, those were also announced. Most coaches also presented superlative awards for their sport.
At the end of the evening, it was announced that Javi Lopez and Kellan Byars were the recipients of the Vernon Athletic Booster Club Lions and Lady Lions Scholarships.
Also recognized during the event were the student athletic trainers and the VHS cheerleaders.
Here is a list of those Lions and Lady Lions who received superlative awards for those sports presenting those honors:
-- Lady Lions Cross Country: Emily Rodriguez, Outstanding Lady Lion Runner
-- Lions Cross Country: Jackson Ochoa, Outstanding Lion Runner
-- Volleyball: Mijah Johnson, Lady Lion Fighting Heart Award; Klancy Sherrill, Lady Lion Pride Award; Key’Maria McBride & Mari Johnson, Co-Most Valuable Player Award
-- Football: Javi Lopez, Defensive Lion Heart Award; Carson Schoppa, Offensive Lion Heart Award; Israel Espinoza, Special Teams Most Valuable Player; Tyce Payne, Defensive Most Valuable Player; Ty Scott, Offensive Most Valuable Player
-- Lady Lions Basketball: Lily Beam & Mari Johnson, Co-Lady Lion Heart Award; Daniella Eneanya, Mari Johnson, Mijah Johnson, Key’Maria McBride & Zayleigh Sweet, Roar of the Lion Award; Zayleigh Sweet, Defensive Player of the Year; Key’Maria McBride, Offensive Player of the Year
-- Lions Basketball: Ethan Evans, Fighting Heart Award; Adarius Williams, Most Valuable Player Award
-- Lions Wrestling: Israel Espinoza, Most Valuable Lightweight Wrestler; Merrick Byars, Most Valuable Heavyweight Wrestler
-- Lady Lions Wrestling: Emily Rodriguez, Most Valuable Lightweight Wrestler; Kellan Byars, Most Valuable Heavyweight Wrestler
-- Lions Powerlifting: Justin Rejino, Newcomer of the Year; Christian Gallegos, Lion Heart Award; Israel Espinoza, Outstanding Lifter
-- Lady Lions Powerlifting: Amari Garcia & Nadia Gaines, Co-Newcomer of the Year Award; Daniella Eneayna, Fighting Heart Award; Kamryn Hall, Top Lifter Award
-- Softball: Lily Maxwell, Fighting Heart Award; Laurel Easley, Defensive Most Valuable Player; Amari Garcia, Offensive Most Valuable Player
-- Baseball: Zack Harjo, Newcomer of the Year; Ryan Fieldhouse, Defensive Most Valuable Player; Brinden Farrell, Offensive Most Valuable Player
-- Tennis: Atticus Mixson & Mason Ford, Lions Co-Fighting Heart Award; Mariana Ortega, Lady Lions Fighting Heart Award; Ryne Sanders, Most Improved Lion; Arianna Castellanos, Most Improved Lady Lion; Jonathan Medina, Most Valuable Lion; Courtney Saylor, Most Valuable Lady Lion
-- Lady Lions Track: Nadia Gaines, Most Improved; Breasha Waggoner, Heart of a Lady Lion Award; Key’Maria McBride & Klancy Sherrill, Co-Most Valuable Player
-- Lions Track: Jamari Chance & Tevan Evans, Co-Outstanding Field Event Lion; Ty Scott & Tru Gipson, Co-Outstanding Sprinter; Jackson Aydelott, Most Valuable Player