Exeter-Milligan Athletic Banquet

Exeter-Milligan three sport athletes are pictured front row left to right: Kate Jansky, Caitlin Murphy, Anna Sluka, Anna Bettu, Samantha Horne, Hailey Luzum, Giada Miniussi, and Katherine White. Back row from the left are:  Trever Zelenka, Max Zeleny, Mitchell Manning, Theron Odvody, Spencer Pribyl, Tara Mueller, Sydney Hall, Hannah Beethe, and Trevor Luzum.

Receiving special trophies at the Exeter-Milligan Athletic Banquet were (from the left):  Anna Sluka, Ella Wilkins, Sydney Hall, Trevor Luzum, Evan True, Max Zeleny, and Cameron White.

Exeter-Milligan fans of the year were Cheryl Luzum (far left) and Dwayne Luzum (second from right) and their grandchildren Hailey and Trevor Luzum and foreign exchange son Jos Cremers (far right).

 

The Exeter gymnasium filled quickly as the 2016-2017 Exeter-Milligan Athletic Banquet was held on Tuesday, May 2^nd.

Master of Ceremonies Eric Johnson, Max Country Disc Jockey, invited all of the guests to enjoy a delicious sliced pork supper before the coaches gave their presentations.

First off was Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan softball coach Aaron Lauby who introduced the team and shared some of the highlights of the season. Ten Exeter-Milligan girls participated in softball this year and the team finished with a record of 12-17. Junior Hannah Horne received the Leonard Kassik Softball player of the year trophy.

Phyllis Severson introduced the cheerleaders and also announced Dwayne and Cheryl Luzum as the “Fans of the Year.”

In the absence of Coach Filipi (due to illness), Assistant football Coach Jackson Krejci introduced the football players and gave some of the individual players statistics along with recognizing the team for their state playoff berth. Trevor Luzum was honored as the football senior player of the year.

Next up introducing the volleyball team was Coach Darcy White.  White introduced the team and then shared some of their individual statistics, especially the career statistics of the seniors. The team voted on awards and named Kate Jansky as the most improved player and Sydney Hall as the most inspirational, team player and most valuable. The team ended their season with a 28-5 record and a third place finish at the state tournament.  Sydney Hall received the Bill Fitzgerald Volleyball player of the year trophy.

Lisa Kanode coached Junior High volleyball and spoke about their season.  They took third place in several tournaments throughout the season and showed a great amount of improvement.

Krejci also coaches the junior high girls basketball and talked about their season.  Even though the team finished with a 4-7 record there were several very close games and Krejci noted the effort the girls put into the team.

Still at the podium, Krejci talked about the high school girls team and the struggles they faced, especially losing in the district tournament.  The team had to wait over a week to know if they were invited to play in the state tournament while continuing to practice.  Krejci mentioned how several of the players made key plays in the first round of the state tournament win against the number two seed.  The girl finished fourth in the state tournament.  Sydney Hall received the Gary Ruhl trophy for girls basketball.

Assistant Coach Matt Nicholas spoke in the place of Filipi for boys basketball noting the tough start the boys team had before finishing the season 12-11.  Trevor Luzum was presented the Gary Ruhl trophy for boys basketball.

Nicholas also introduced the boys’ golf team.  Evan True was recognized as the boys golf team member of the year.  Nicholas coaches the girls golf team and introduced the members of the team.  Ella Wilkins was honored as the girls golf team member of the year.

Kanode introduced the junior high girls track team members noting the accomplishments they achieved on Tuesday at the CRC meet. They placed first at the McCool Invite this year.

Coach Katherine Roemmich spoke about the high school girls track team noting that Kate Jansky broke the school record this season in the 3200m run. The team placed third at the CRC meet on Monday. The Bill Fitzgerald track member of the year has not been determined yet.

Coach Brian Murphy introduced the junior high football team and talked about their 3-3 season which included a double overtime loss to Heartlands.  Murphy noted that the team is in its third year of coop with Friend.

Murphy also coaches the junior high basketball team who had a record of 5-6 this season including two second place tournament wins.  Murphy also introduced the junior high track team members noting that the 1600 relay team of Jackson Beethe, Casey Jindra, Clint Oldehoeft and Brock Steuben broke the school record at the CRC meet on Tuesday.

Murphy moved on to talk about high school boys track and the success the team has had this year so far.  He recognized retired coach Lonnie Shafer who continues to work with the team and has coached, mentored and inspired many Exeter and Exeter-Milligan athletes including Murphy.

“T-N-T” as Murphy calls them (Trevor Luzum and Trystan Brandt) have now broken six track and field school records this season.  Luzum at the high jump, 110 high hurdles and 300 hurdles and Brandt at the triple jump, long jump and as a member of the 400m relay team. The Walt Barkmeier boys team member of the year has not been determined.

Freshman Anna Sluka was named the Bill Fitzgerald Female Rookie of the year and Max Zeleny was named the Bill Fitzgerald Male Rookie of the year.  Female team player of the year was Sydney Hall and Cameron White was the male team player of the year.  Female athlete of the year was Sydney Hall and male athlete of the year was Trevor Luzum.