Seven Colfax senior gridders get farewell at team banquet

Nov 29, 20120

Colfax football marked the end of the season Monday night with a dessert banquet which honored seven departing seniors. Coaches presented letter awards and individual honors which were decided on team votes.

Bulldog varsity players named for individual awards Monday night were, in back from the left, Levi Hardy, most valuable; Brady Ellis, inspirational; Arron Arneson and John Mellor, co winners of the coaches’ award. In front are Mark Webber, left, most improved, and Cody Gronning, co-winner of the scholastic award with Mellor.

Seven seniors honored were Brady Ellis, Kellen McNannay, Cole Klaveano, Judd Thompson, John Mellor, Arron Arneson and Cole Neu. Ellis, Neu, Mellor and McNannay are all the youngest brothers from families who have had a players in the Colfax football program for the past 12 years.

Coach Mike Morgan rated the fall football campaign as a terrific year. He explained a win-loss record is not the lone standard of a team’s success. The Bulldogs competed all-out during the fall campaign which ended at 5-3 mark and a pre-playoff finish.

Pictured at above are JV players who received individual honors. From the left are Reggie Jones, most improved; Nick McAdams, best scout team player; Cody Fulfs and Keith Gfeller, co-winners for most valuable; and Tyler Kincaid, inspirational

Morgan pointed out the defeats were all to teams which advanced into the post season with the LRS Broncos, the NE league’s pre-season pick to run the gamut, now booked to play Friday in the state 2B championship game against Morton-White Pass at the Tacoma Dome.

Neighboring TOR, which stopped Colfax in the SE crossover, advanced to the first round of the playoffs, and Reardan, the team which ended the Bulldogs’ long string of wins in the NE, advanced to last week’s quarter-finals.

At left are Cole Klaveano, left, and Cole Neu, who received varsity captains awards along with Ellis and Mellor.

Ellis, senior quarterback, received the inspirational award, and Mark Webber, sophomore backup quarterback, received the most improved award. Levi Hardy, junior running back, received the most valuable teammate award. Senior linemen John Mellor and Arron Arneson were named co-winners of the coaches’ award, and Mellor and Cody Gronning were named co-winners of the scholarship award.

Defensive backs Coach Jason Cooper presented letter awards to Ellis, McNannay, Austin Corean, Austin Getz, Dylan Hall, Webber and Keith Gfeller.

Linebackers Coach Craig Culbertson presented letters to Klaveano, Mellor, Levi Hardy and Brandon Arneson.

Line Coach Mark Brown presented awards to Arron Arneson, Neu, Thompson, Ray Compton, Andrew Becker and Josh Brown.

Individual awards for the jayvee squad went to Reggie Jones, most improved; Tyler Kincaid, inspirational; Nick McAdams, scout team; Cody Fulfs and Keith Gfeller, most valuable.

The jayvees this year compiled a 3-2 record with wins over Asotin, Lind/Ritzville/Sprague and Riverside. Coach Cooper said the Riverside game, which was added to the schedule after three scheduled foes canceled, was one of the season highlights.

Coach Cooper presented jayvee certificates to Adam Tate, Tobie Warwick, Galen McWhirter, Isaiah Warner, Zack Elkins, Kim Hinnenkamp, Brian DeYoung, Zway Erickson, Kenton Lyman, McAdams, Reese Sanders, Gronning, Jones, Kincaid, Dylan Heiser and Dustyn Hall.

Cheerleader advisor Connie Ellis presented awards to the football cheer squad. Seniors were Rachel Napier, Paige Mackleit, Taylor Lange and Clara Higginson. Napier, a four-year member of the squad, Lange and Mackleit gave short talks.

Also on the football cheer squad were Jacee Thompson, Jolee Aeschliman, Emma Klaveano and Hailey Ring.

Bo Claassen, Brian Stueckle and Christopher Koenig, players on the injure reserve, were recognized along with stat keepers Ben Stueckle and Michael Clinton.

Ballboys Jacob Brown and Anthony Becker were also recognized.