Piedmont High athletic director Tyler Small and principal Dr. David Yoshihara announced the school’s first Highlanders Awards on Friday, May 16 in a ceremony at the Alan Harvey Theater. The event honored teams, coaches, and athletes who embody school spirit toward athletics.
“When I got this job a year ago, one of the things I wanted to do was find an opportunity to bring the entire community together and highlight the amazing accomplishments of our student athletes, coaches, and fans,” Small said.
The school awarded every All League honoree throughout its three seasons and each Player of the Year. Below is a list of each winner.
Award Recipients
Boys’ Athlete of the Year:
Sam Shelby and Miguel Long. Both played football and will be competing in the NCS Meet of Champions for the track and field team.
Freshman girls’ basketball star Jenelle Solis was named the school’s Girls’ Athlete of the Year. The girls’ basketball team was also honored as the school’s Female Team of the Year after winning the Western Alameda County Conference Foothill Division, reaching the North Coast Section Open Division with the No. 5 seed, and advancing to the Div. 1 CIF State Regional Semifinals.
The boys’ soccer team was named Piedmont’s Male Team of the Year after winning the D5 CIF NorCal Tournament as the No. 5 seed and reaching the D4 NCS Championship. First year coach Ben Russell was named the school’s Coach of the Year.
Newcomer of the Year was awarded to athletes who were making an impact in their first year of varsity sports. Boys’ recipients included Xavier Henderson of football and Lucian Fang Ring of basketball, while girls’ winners included Andrea Martin of basketball and Edie Elmquist of softball and flag football.
The Varsity Award was given to athletes who competed in three different sports at the school. Winners included Gus Von Metzsch and Cash Elmquist of lacrosse, track, and football, Cash Panico of football basketball, and lacrosse, and Samantha Ronen of softball, soccer, and golf.
The Team GPA award was given to girls’ soccer for being the team with the highest collective grade point average.
Eunice and Cyntiche Kouadio were honored with the Acts of Service award for their effort in assisting Piedmont High sports. Both play on the softball team.
Ken Tran was named the school’s Fan of the Year, and Caitlin Boothby was given the Pep Band Award.
Stay tuned for our June 11 issue, when The Post announces its Athlete of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Sophomore of the Year awards.