By: Mike Glesinger
The 2020-21 school year saw challenges never seen before. Students, Parents, Teachers, Coaches and everyone else were making adjustments, sometimes by the minute, to get through their days. Despite all of that, Alliance High School had plenty to celebrate at the Annual A-Club banquet Tuesday night.
A-Club President Caeson Clarke opened the evening by thanking everyone for their support and encouragement through the year. Football Coach Chris Seebohm, Volleyball Coach Jessica Kaiser, Girls Golf Coach Berlyn Clear, Cross Country Coach Kelly Erickson, Softball Coach Carlos Palomo, Girls and Boys Tennis Coach Scott Mills, Wrestling Coach Nick Myers, Girls Basketball Coach Heidi Manion, Boys Basketball Coach Michael Baker, Unified Bowling Coach Joe Mangas, Cheerleading Coach Danielle Swanson, Boys Golf Coach Brandt Banzhaf and Girls/Boys/Unified Track & Field Coach Nate Lanik...all presented their letter winners, talked about their seasons and honored their seniors.
Activities Director Anita James presented several special awards.
Honorary A-Club Member: Shannon Garwood
Charles J. Sherlock Senior Citizen Booster Award: Shari Harris and the late Barry Harris
Outstanding A-Club Member: Keeley Mazanec
A-Club Scholarship: Shaylee Messersmith
Amy Stephens Scholarship: Keeley Mazanec
Western Conference Student Activities Scholarship: Caeson Clarke
3-D Sports Award: Payten Gibson
Western Conference Scholar Athletes: Jaxon Bair, Shelbee Burke, Caeson Clarke, Crayten Cyza, Bryson Darveau, Kelsey Horton, Chase King, Olivia Knapp, Diana Kollars, Kenna Montes, Nolan Nagaki, Mikayla Seebohm, Emma Wood.
Special recognition was also given, by several coaches and Ms. James , to Duane Dobson, who has assisted with the Bulldog wrestling program for 50 years. Duane is retiring at the end of the school year. Anita James also recognized Kurt Lambert, Shannon Garwood, Steve Gullion, Kevin Horn and Laura Schroer, for their long time involvement with AHS Activities.... and was then honored herself by Berlyn and Baily Clear, who thanked her for her leadership and guidance through this pandemic troubled year.
Last years Female Athlete of the Year, Payton Weber, then presented this years Girl Athlete of the Year to Diana Kollars and Boy Athlete of the Year to Caeson Clarke.
Ms James finished the evening with an emotional review of the 2020-21 school year and looked forward to a positive, normal year in 2021-22 and ended the evening on a positive note with her favorite saying......
"It's a Great Day to be an Alliance Bulldog"!