Dayton Athletic Achievements Highlighted

DAYTON -- The Dayton spring sports teams gathered together around collaged photo placemats and desserts to celebrate the three teams' work both during the season and in post-season competition at the state level.

All three head coaches echoed sentiments of improvement through the season, which played a role in two of the teams making it to state competitions.

Track and field coach Shawn Magee said he saw major improvements especially in the athletes who competed at the state level.

Some of the track and field students came up after the awards were given out to present Magee with an award for his first year as head coach.

Baseball head coach Sal Benavides first thanked the parents who helped take care of the team then went on to talk about the growth the team saw this season.

"We've improved quite a bit from last year," Benavides said.

He added the Bulldog team battled some tough competition this year, but he said he hopes next year they would take the next step to join track and field and softball at the state level.

Softball head coach Terry Robins started off by warning everyone to get comfortable because he wanted to take his time recognizing everyone on the team and everyone who helped with the team.

Robins, on behalf of all of the coaches, took special time to recognize and remember former athletic director Jack Smiley who died last month and thanked the people who helped when Smiley was sick.

After thanking the parents, Robins noted that the season was difficult because he and the team were so invested in their success.

"It's hard to coach a team you have high hopes for," Robins said. "This was a year of emotion."

Assistant coach Desirae Jones added that the team never gave up.

Most notably, the team doubled the best softball team Dayton has ever had in steals, going 103 for 109.

Dayton Athletic Awards

Track and Field

Most Inspirational: Elise Button

Coach's Award: Justin Clark

Most Improved: Brandon Clark

Outstanding Female: Courtney Fuller

Outstanding Male: Adam Strohbehn

Baseball

Most Inspirational: Garett Turner

Team Captain: Colton Bickelhaupt

"Mr. Baseball" MVP: Lowden Smith

Coach's Award: Joey Yenney

All-League Honorable Mention:

Garett Turner

All-League First Team: Lowden Smith,

Colton Bickelhaupt

Softball

All-League Honorable Mention:

McKayla Bickelhaupt

All Conference: Shelby Smith, Sarah

Phillips, Samantha Harting

Coach's Award: Colleen Delp,

Alexis Ward

Most Improved: Sarah Phillips

Most Inspirational: Jessica Tate

Team Captain: Nicole Lambert

MVP: Samantha Harting

Miss May: McKayla Bickelhaupt,

Nicole Lambert, Jessica Tate