The naming of Taylor McDonald and Brock Bailey as male and female athletes of the year and Kyle Harris as the All-Academic Award winner highlighted the recent Grace Christian Academy Sports Awards Banquet.

Pitcher Taylor McDonald and his brother Grant McDonald, who were both solid members of the Cougars baseball team’s pitching staff, were named co-most valuable players.

Grant McDonald also won the Cougars’ soccer team’s best defensive player award. As a goal keeper, he had 13 saves.

Coach Betsy Flowers received an appreciation award for 15 years of service.

The McDonalds and T.J. Carlisle, who was named best defensive baseball player, all batted over .400.

Taylor McDonald also received the Cougars’ cross country team’s Christian Character Award. Brent Warr received the baseball Christian Character Award.

Bailey named MVP

Honorees from the Lady Cougars basketball team were were led by most valuable player Brock Bailey, who had a big night Friday, January 28 at the Lady Cats annual homecoming game at Perry Memorial Gymnasium. She scored a game high 20 points to help the Lady Cougars defeat the Highland Lady Eagles 51-19 and later was crowned homecoming queen.

Bailey was also honored for joining the Cougars 1,500 point club. She scored her 1,500th point against the Central Christian School Saints from Robersville, Ala., in the championship game of the Panhandle Christian Conference Final 4 Tournament Saturday, February 19 at Aletheia Christian School in Pensacola, Fla.

She scored her 1500th point in the first quarter of the game, which was eventually won by Central 60-56.

Bailey was also the Lady Cougars’ cross country team’s rookie of the year and Lady Cougars’ volleyball team’s Heart and Soul Award winner. She won the softball team’s Leadership Award as well.

Other Lady Cougars basketball honorees were best defensive player Rachel Harrell, most improved player Christy Colvin and Christian Character Award winner Abbey Smith.

In volleyball, Bailey was named tournament most valuable player while helping the Lady Cougars win the Saturday, August 28 Enterprise, Ala., Patriot Games Tournament championship and she and Emma Heard, who won the Warrior’s Heart Award were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Harrells receive multiple awards

Sydney Harrell, who won the volleyball Coach’s award, received the Tournament Director’s Sportsmanship Award at the Enterprise tournament. She also won the most valuable cheerleader award.

Melissa Mills won the volleyball Christian Character Award and Emma Heard won the volleyball Warrior’s Heart Award. Heard was softball co-offensive player award winner with  Kelsey Harrell. Kaitlin Adams won the softball Christian Character Award.

Abbey Smith won the girls’ cross country and cheerleading Christian Character Awards. Sloane Wiggins won the cheerleading Cougar Heart Award.

Perra Harrell was the runner of the year in girls’ cross country. She finished a strong eighth in a time of 14:05.20 in the 106-runner girls field at the Saturday, September 25  Thomasville High School Quail Trail Invitational Cross Country Run. Abbey Smith received the Lady Cougars cross country teams Christian Character Award and the cheerleading Christian Character Award.

Harris receives multiple awards

The boys’ cross country runner of the year was Kyle Harris who finished 23rd in a time of 18:14.37 in a strong 183-runner field at the  5,000-meter, 3.1-mile season opening Panhandle Christian Conference Jamboree Saturday, September 11 at the Marianna, Fla., Sports Complex. His brother, Chase Harris, was 48th in a time of 19:28.61.

Kyle was also the Cougars basketball team’s most valuable player. He scored 22 points in a victory over Open Bible School in Valdosta, Ga.

The most improved boys cross  country award winner was Jackson Harrell.

The Cougars’ soccer team, with award winners leading the way, posted a 6-0 shutout over Byne Christian School of Albany in their first home game of the season Tuesday, September 14 at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA soccer field.

Cougars most valuable soccer player Kyle Harris set up T.J. Carlyle for a goal against Byne with a pass in the 40th minute. For the season, Harris had 17 goals and 3 assists.

Soccer Breakout Player Award Winner Bryce McQuaid added goals  in the 54th and 58th minutes. McQuaid was also the Cougars basketball teams most improved player.

Tad Young won the soccer Christian Character Award. The cheerleading Cougar Heart Award went to Sloane Wiggins.

The Cougars basketball team’s hustle award went to Tyler Jones and their Christian Character Award went to Jackson Harrell.

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