Quitman High School holds an athletic banquet every year but never before has such a successful sports campaign been celebrated as what took place past Friday night in the school auditorium.
Superlatives were abound about the 2023-24 sports year that saw not one, not two, but THREE, QHS teams win state championships, two more individuals win state track championships and every single sports program qualify for post season play.
In recap, during the 2023-24 sports year Quitman High School won first ever school state titles in softball and baseball while adding a fifth overall state championship in golf. Included was Hallie Kate Pullig and Ian Tilley being named MVP’s of the state championship games.
Adding to the incredible success achieved, in track and field Nathan Harvey won state in the 300 meter hurdles and Bryan “Peanut” Lay took a third straight outdoor Class B championship and the schools first ever, indoor state title in the Pole Vault. Both the boys and girls cross country teams qualified for the state championships as well.
The QHS tennis team also saw Walker Medaries and Gage McMurray become the first boys pair to qualify for the state tournament and nine more qualify for regional competition. Rounding out the year was both girls and boys basketball teams making the postseason.
While the success of the school sports programs was the main theme of the evening also highlighting the gala event was the honoring of individuals with awards that made the historic success possible.
QHS Athletic Banquet Award Winners
Boys Baseball – Division V State Champion
All District First Team: Logan Ponder, Hudson Pullig, Kace West, Riley Duck
Wolverine Award: Hayden Davis
Defensive Player of the Year: Logan Ponder
Pitcher of the year: Ian Tilley
Offensive MVP: Hudson Pullig
Mr Clutch: Jake Potts
Newcomer of the year: Zach Smudricks
Senior Awards: Logan Ponder, Riley Duck, Ian Tilley, Pete Simonelli, Braden Hobbs, John Raegan Hasley
Girls Softball – Division V State Champion
All-District First Team: Cali Deal (MVP), Maggie Guyotte, Madison Chaplin, Hallie Kate Pullig, Karley Huckaby, Kinsley Ponder
All-District Second Team: Anna Clair Leach, Marley Bell
Honorable Mention: Brenna Lamkin, Briley Brown, Taylor Harvey, Zoee Williams
Team MVP: Cali Deal
Offensive MVP: Maggie Guyotte
Defensive MVP: Anna Clair Leach
Lady Wolverine Award: Madison Chaplin
Newcomer Award: Kinsley Ponder
Boys Golf Team – Division IV State Champion
Team results:
District Championship, 2nd in Regionals, Division IV State Championship
Individual Achievements:
Eli Walker – District Champion, 2nd in Regionals, 3rd in State
Pete Simonelli: 3rd Place in State Tournament, Hole in One in Regionals
Outdoor Track and Field
QHS boys team 3rd place in Class B
Bryan Lay: State champion in Pole Vault
Nathan Harvey: State champion in 300M Hurdles, 2nd place in 100M Hurdles
Asher Shultz: State runner-up in Javelin
Gage Horton: State runner-up in 1600 Meters
Taylor Borland: State 3rd Place finisher in Pole Vault
Rookie of the Year: Hallay Taylor and Mathew Odom
Most improved: Lindsey Woods and James Brown
Blue and Gold Award: Maddie Grace Giddens and Jayden Harts
Wolverine Award: Kinley Walker and Sean Henry
Extra Mile Award: Maggie Guyotte and Conner Davis
Most Dependable: Lily Kate Odom and Brayden Smith
Indoor Track and Field
LHSAA State Championship Winner: Bryan Lay – Pole Vault
Louisiana Milesplit Athlete of the Year: Bryan Lay
Louisiana Milesplit Athlete of the Week: Kaleigh King and Bryan Lay
LHSAA state indoor meet qualifiers: Kaleigh King, Nathan Harvey, Bryan Lay, Gage Horton, Jayden Harts, Brayden Smith. Alternates: James Pabaya, Sean Henry, Tyler Lay
Cross Country
Boys State Meet Qualifiers: Jayden Harts, Nathan Harvey, Sean Henry, Gage Horton, Brayden Smith
Girls State Meet Qualifiers: Morgan Cheatwood, Lanee Cheatwood, Laina Hatfield, Megan Kelley, Hadasa Tilley, Lindsey Woods
MVP: Morgan Cheatwood, Gage Horton
Rookie of the Year: Hadasa Tilley, Sean Henry
Most improved: Lindsey Woods, Jayden Harts
Wolverine Award: Lanee Cheatwood, Nathan Harvey
Tennis
State Tournament Qualifiers: Walker Medaries, Gage McMurray
Regional Tournament Qualifiers: Kinley Walker, Reese Womack, Kensley Green, Syerra Lewis, Bradley Woods, Gabe Lebrun, Ashlyn Wiley, Amber Spangler, Chanier Blundell
Wolverine Award: Raelieigh Medaries
Most Improved: Addisyn Bougues
Boys Basketball
First Team All-District: Logan Ponder, Eli Walker
Second Team All-District: Riley Duck, Brayden Smith
Honorable Mention All-District: Noah Leach
Team MVP – Logan Ponder
Defensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith
Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Walker
Sixth Man of the Year: Gavyn Caskey
Most Improved: Noah Leach
Wolverine Award: Riley Duck
Coach’s Award: Grant Williams
Girls Basketball
Honorable Mention All-State: Cali Deal
First Team All-District: Cali Deal
Second Team All-District: Anna Leach
Honorable Mention All-District: Taylor Borland
Team MVP: Cali Deal
Breakout Player of the Year: Taylor Borland
Most Improved Player of the Year: Jaleigh Burns
Comeback Player of the Year: Emma Walker
Wolverine Award: A.J. Gray
Sixth Man Award: Taylor Harvey
Playmaker/ Floor General Award: Anna Leach
Academic All State
Composite Team (4.0 GPA): Maddie Grace Giddens, AJ Gray, Bryan Lay, Eli Walker
Division V Team (3.5-3.9 GPA): Riley Duck, Taylor Harvey, Braden Hobbs, Tyler Lay, Pete Simonelli