How do you follow up on celebrating a school’s most historic year in athletic competition? Simple! Make more history!
That is what the boys and girls athletic program at Quitman High School did in 2025, and on Monday, May 19th, the young men and women who have forever etched themselves in school annals came together to celebrate their history-making sports year at the annual Wolverine Athletic Banquet.
In 2024, Quitman High School set new sports standards not only for the school but all of Jackson Parish by winning three state championships in one calendar year. QHS didn’t win three in 2025 but came close, garnering two state championships while also crowning individual state champions in track and field.
Several historic marks were set along the way. One was the Lady Wolverines softball team became the first in school history to win back-to-back LHSAA softball championships. Another historic mark achieved is that with the Softball team and the boys track team earning state championships, for the first time ever QHS has won multiple state championships in different programs in back to back years.
If anyone is counting, the total is FIVE in just two years!
A packed house crammed the QHS auditorium on Monday as school administration, faculty, staff, coaches, family members, friends, and fellow athletes reflected on the incredible success had in 2025 and received recognition on their outstanding performances.
Below is a listing of the young men and women who were recognized by their coaches and the school awards they were honored with.
Quitman High School Softball
Class B State Champion
After winning the title in 2024, there was really only one thing to shoot for in 2025.
DO IT AGAIN! And guess what? THEY DID!
The effort and dedication that the Lady Wolverines exhibited and their ability to stand up to the task of repeating as state champions were not lost on Lady Wolverine Head Coach Justin Dodson.
“It is one thing to win a state championship. It is entirely something else to win two in a row,” beamed Dodson when reflecting on the Lady Wolverines’ accomplishment. “People don’t understand how it is after you win a title. Almost every game you play is the biggest game of the year for your opponent, and you are always going to get their best effort,” Dodson continued. “To carry that target on your back all year long is incredibly stressful but our girls not only stood up to the challenge, they persevered without question against the strongest schedule in the state. I am so blessed to be able to coach this group. They have so much character, and I am not talking about one or two, but every single one of these girls is like that. They are a dream to coach!”
2025 Award Winners
All-District First Team: Cali Deal (District 1B MVP), Zoee Williams, Maggie Guyotte, Hallie Kate Pullig, Kinsley Ponder, Anna Claire Leach, Karley Huckaby
All-District Honorable Mention: Briley Bowers, Breanna Lamkin
Team MVP: Cali Deal
Offensive MVP: Maggie Guyotte
Defensive MVP: Karley Huckaby
Spirit Award: Hallie Kate Pullig
Wolverine Award: Cali Deal
Quitman High School Track and Field
2025 Class B Boys State Champion
Before you can talk about all the incredible performances put forth by the young men and women on the QHS track team that earned the Wolverines their fourth boys state outdoor track and field title in school history and several young ladies individual crowns, you have to look back at the “one who inspired” them all.
They say behind every good man is a good woman. That holds true for the 2025 Class B Champion Wolverines as the leader of the pack is Cindy Pardue, who in only her second year at QHS has brought home team gold and led several other individuals to the top of the podium.
Just before Quitman took to the track at the state meet, Harvey gathered her squad together and said……Today is what matters. We have trained and we have prepared. So have all the other teams who have made it this far. Today is about poise…Poise refers to a state of calm confidence and grace, often associated with graceful movement and a self-assured demeanor. It can also refer to the ability to handle difficult situations with ease. YOU ALL HAVE THAT IN YOU! It’s about strength and perseverance. It’s about guts and glory. Without guts there is no glory! But who we give glory to matters!!!!! This is how we are going to do it!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” – Colossians 3:23 NIV
Let’s be confident! Let’s show guts! Do what you know to do! And give it your best!!!!
On Friday, the athletes were the center of attention, reaping the rewards of their achievements. Beaming in the background was their inspiration, their leader, their coach.
2025 Award Winners
Class B Most Outstanding Athlete – Nathan Harvey
Class B Individual State Champions: Asher Shultz – Javelin, Nathan Harvey – 110 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Hurdles, 4×400 Meter Boys Relay (Nathan Harvey, Gage Horton, Jayden Harts, Brayden Smith), 4×200 Meter Boys Relay Champions (Brody Cotten, Jayden Harts, Brayden Smith, Nathan Harvey), Gage Horton – 400 Meter Run, 4×400 Meter Girls Relay Champions (Kaleigh King, Lindsey Woods, Rylee Kelley, Sunni Altheimer)
Class B Individual State Runner-Ups: Gage Horton – 400 Meters, 4×200 Meter Relay (Syerra Lewis, Kinley Walker, Sunni Altheimer, Emayshia Wiley)
Class B Individual Third Place Finishers: Gage Horton – 1600 Meters, Jayden Harts – Long Jump, Lily Kate Odom – Triple Jump, Kaleigh King – Pole Vault
Most Improved – Jana Potts and Conner Davis
Rookie of the Year – Kaleigh Webb and Tylan Leonard
Blue & Gold Award – Marlee Bedgood and Jayden Harts
Wolverine Award – Kinley Walker, Lily Kate Odom, A’Maurion Thompson, Case Sims
The Extra Mile Award – Megan Kelley and Gage Horton
Most Dependable – Emayshia Wiley and Brayden Smith
Most Valuable Performer – Kaleigh King and Nathan Harvey
Cross Country Awards
Rookie of the Year – Kinley Walker and James Brown
Wolverine Award – Kaleigh King and Mathew Odom
Most Valuable Performer – Megan Kelley and Gage Horton
QHS Boys Basketball
2025 LHSAA Class B Quarterfinalist
Award Winners
All-State – Second Team: Noah Leach
All District – First Team: Noah Leach
All District – Second Team: Brayden Martin and Brayden Smith
All District – Honorable Mention: Abel Leach, Taden Thomas, Gavyn Caskey
Senior Awards: Grant Williams, Case Sims, Payton Nomey, Noah Leach, Amaurion Thompson, Gavyn Caskey
Defensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith
Coach’s Award: Payton Nomey
Wolverines Award: Gavyn Caskey
Team MVP: Noah Leach
QHS Girls Basketball
2025 LHSAA Class B Quarterfinalist
Award Winners
All State – Second Team: Cali Deal
District 1B MVP: Cali Deal
All District First Team: Anna Leach
All District Second Team: Jaleigh Burns
All District Honorable Mention: Taylor Borland, Emma Walker
Defensive Player of the Year- Taylor Borland
Most Improved Player of the Year– Kinsley Ponder
Wolverine Award- Emma Walker, Jaleigh Burns
6th Man Award– Hallie Kate Pullig
Playmaker Award – Anna Leach
Single Game Performance of the Year(8 3’s and 32 pts in one half)- Anna Leach
Team MVP- Cali Deal
Quitman High Baseball
LHSAA Class B Quarterfinalist
Award Winners
LSCA All-Region: Hudson Pullig, Hayden Davis
All District – First Team: Hudson Pullig, Hayden Davis, Maddox Duck, Zach Smudricks, Kace West
All District – Honorable Mention: Cail King, Jake Potts
Senior Award: Jake Potts, Hayden Davis
Newcomer of the Year: Conner Moak
Wolverine Award: Asher Rhodes
Mr. Clutch: Cail King
Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Davis
Defensive Player of the Year: Kace West
Offensive Player of the Year: Hudson Pullig
QHS Fishing Team
Award Winners:
Angler Team of the Year: Hayden Davis & Maddox Duck
QHS Tennis Team
Award Winners
Regional Qualifier: Kinley Walker, Emma Toms, Gabi Hood, Makayla Hood, James Brown
Coaches Award: Emma Toms
Wolverine Award: Makayle Hood
Most Improved: James Brown
QHS Golf Team
Award Winners
Division IV State Tournament: 4th Place Team Finish
Division IV Regional Tournament: 2nd Place Team Finish
Division IV District Tournament: 3rd Place Team Finish
District IV Tournament (Individual): Payton Nomey – 3rd Place
Team Members: Payton Nomey, Noah Leach, Grant Williams, Hudson Pullig, Kase West, Hayden Davis, Jake Potts, Abel Leach, Cooper Lancaster
QHS Cheer Team
Award Winners
Most Spirited – Marley Temple
Outstanding Leadership – Baylee Caskey
Coach’s Choice – Emma Kate Toms
Flyer of the Year – Mae Mae Howard
Rookie of the Year – Sunni Altheimer
Veteran of the Year – Katy Cumpton
Sportsmanship Award – Cadence Pennington