Sydney Jaynes and Tyler Goecker were named the most valuable basketball players at Trinity Lutheran High School during Thursday night’s winter sports awards program in the Bollinger Athletic Complex.
Also, Rachel Sabotin and Ethan Myers were named the most valuable swimmers, while Paige McCammon and Anna Benter were named co-most valuable cheerleaders.
Swim coach Doug Sabotin presented the swimming awards. Rachel won the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley at the Columbus North Sectional and placed third in both of those events at the girls state swim meet.
She set five school records this season and also received a senior award.
Sarah Lemming was named the most improved swimmer for the girls. Coach Sabotin said Lemming had a nice time drop in the 50 freestyle.
Myers was named the most valuable boys swimmer for setting four school records, and he advanced to the consolation finals in the 200 freestyle at the Columbus North Sectional.
Nick Tucker received the most improved award. Coach Sabotin said at the start of the season, he swam the 50 freestyle in 51 seconds, and by the end of the season, he lowered his time to 33 seconds.
Coach Sabotin said the highlight for the regular season was swimming in the Schools with No Pools meet at the Indiana University Natatorium at IUPUI. There were 19 teams at that meet.
Cheerleading coach Brooke Carlin said this was the fourth season for her to be cheerleader sponsor, and when she started, Trinity only had four cheerleaders, and this season, there were 18 girls cheering for the Cougars.
Paula Diaz was named the most improved cheerleader.
Assistant girls basketball coach Donna Sullivan introduced the players and presented the special awards.
The Cougars won the West Washington Sectional and finished 24-4 for a school record for wins in a season. Sullivan said the team was 65-20 the past three seasons, and that included two sectional titles.
Jaynes scored 427 points this season for an average of 15.3 per game. Her high games were 27 against Hauser and South Ripley, and 26 against Orleans. She also averaged 8.8 rebounds per game.
Jaynes, a junior, has topped 1,000 points in her career and was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association small school all-state team.
Bailey Tabeling received an award for leading all freshmen in the state in scoring with 598 points. She scored in the 30s five times with her high games being 36 against Edinburgh and Crothersville in the sectional. She was named small school all-state honorable mention.
Emma Goecker received a senior award for having played basketball four years, and she and Hannah Sabotin received Cougar Awards.
Kailene Cockerham was named the most improved varsity player, and Katherine Whitmore was named most improved JV player.
Boys basketball coach Michael McBride introduced basketball players and presented special awards.
“I will remember this team forever since this was my first year here,” he said. “We have a great foundation to build off of.”
The varsity finished 11-13. The Cougars were 1-5 after six games, then won four of their next five. They had a four-game winning streak late in the season but lost four of their last five.
McBride presented Tyler Goecker with the most valuable and leadership awards. He said Goecker was the “runaway winner” of the leadership award.
Goecker, a junior, topped the Cougars in scoring with 343 points for an average of 14.3 points per game. His high games were 29 against South Decatur and 22 against Christian Academy in the regular season and Edinburgh in the sectional.
Noah Voelker, Josh Rowe and Kaleb Baumgartel received senior awards for playing basketball or being associated with the team for four years.
Voelker and Jack Marksberry received Cougar Awards, while Jacob Sabotin received the most improved award.
C team coach Alan Ballard and JV coach Ryan Crase talked about highlights of their teams.