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 2nd.
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.
