Taccoa Moyer got three "Heart of a Mustang" awards in girls basketball, cross country, and winter cheer at the North Nodaway Athletic Banquet Wednesday night. She was awarded for her hard work and dedication to the programs that she has participated in so far.
The Cross Country team, coached by Nathan Schoonover, had two boys and five girls out, which allowed the girls to compete as a team and not just individually. Members were Draven Rader and Luke Clements for the boys and Casey Wray, Taccoa Moyer, Zoey Phillips, Eliza Clements, and Trynzlee Ebrecht for the girls. The girls managed to put a team on the fields despite three jugging cross country and volleyball.
The Golden Shoe award went to Draven Rader for the boys and Casey Wray for the girls. The Most Improved went to Luke Clements, who went from running 22.50 on a two-mile course in junior high to 22.50 on a three-mile course at the high school level. The Heart of a Mustang award went to Taccoa Moyer, who Coach Schoonover said understood the meaning of sacrifice. All seven team members were members of the Academic All-State squad.
The Volleyball team, coached by Jody Newman, is in her fourth year. Last year, they won the second most sets in school history. They had three players go over the 500+ dig mark and they found something positive to talk about after every game.
Team members were Zoey Phillips, Eliza Clements, Savannah Rucker, Lily Blane, Lacy Riley, Taccoa Moyer, and Lainey Turner. The Most Improved was Savannah Rucker, who came out after not coming out the previous two years. The Newcomer of the Year award went to Eliza Clements, who was second on the team in service aces. The Defensive Player of the Year went to Lily Blane. She led the team in serve efficiency and service aces and was first team all 275. The Heart of a Mustang award went to Lacy Riley. She was the first in the gym during practices and the last out. She led the team in assists, was second in digs, and led in solo blocks. Making the Academic All-State squad were Lacy Riley, Addalea Barcus, Lily Blane, Lainey Turner, Eliza Clements, and Zoey Phillips.
The Football Cheer squad was coached by Bethney Pedersen. Squad members were Zoey Phillips, Eliza Clements, Taccoa Moyer, Trynzlee Ebrecht, Pyper Smith, Lainey Turner, Monica Castillo, Mya Wray, Tequila Miller, and Lily Blane. Newcomer awards went to Zoey Phillips and Eliza Clements. Captain awards went to Tequila Miller and Lily Blane. The All-Star award went to Lainey Turner, who coach Pedersen said never complained and always showed up ready to go.
The Color Guard squad was coached by Emily Higgins. Squad members were Pyper Smith, Kaleah Edington, Lainey Turner, Savannah Rucker, Lena Richards, Aryanna Jimenez, and Jaycie Edington. Jaycie Edington and Lena Richards were the Newcomers of the Year. Savannah Rucker got the Most Dedicated award for having perfect attendance at practices. The Outstanding Performer award went to Lainey Turner. The Coaches Choice award went to Aryianna Jimenez, who went out of her way to step in and lead the squad when Coach Higgins unexpectedly had her baby early.
The Basketball Cheer squad was coached by Ashley Marriott. Members were Pyper Smith, Taccoa Moyer, Savannah Rucker, Jaycie Edington, and Monica Castillo. The Most Improved award went to Jaycie Edington. The Most Enthusiastic award went to Pyper Smtih; Coach Marriott said she never had to tell Pyper to smile or show spirit. The Right-Hand Man award went to Savannah Rucker. The Mustang Proud award, her second of the night, went to Taccoa Moyer.
The Girls Basketball team, coached by Sami Jackson, consisted of Jackie Wray, Lacy Riley, Lily Blane, Taccoa Moyer, Trynzlee Ebrecht, Pyper Smith, Eliza Clements, and Zoey Phillips. Despite a rough season, Coach Jackson said they would always show up to practice ready to go each day.
The Offensive Player of the Year went to Lily Blane, who battled through sickness and injury to average 9.6 points per game. Coach Jackson said that she would never come out of a game unless she made her. "We go as she goes," she said. For her efforts, Lily was named to the Second Team All-275 Squad.
The Defensive Player of the Year award was a close call, but the award went to Jackie Wray. Coach Jackson said that her guards were much more aggressive on defense because they knew she would have their backs if they got beat. She said there was never a dull moment with Jackie Wray around; she said that this year, when she was chewed out, she would nod her head and say, "You're right, buddy!"
The Most Improved award went to Eliza Clements. She had never shot threes before, but all of a sudden started shooting them. So coach Jackson had her practice on them, and towards the end of the year, she started making multiple triples. She also improved her assist totals as the season progressed.
The Hustle Award went to Lacy Riley, who recovered the most 50/50 balls on the team.
The Heart of a Mustang award went to Taccoa Moyer. Coach Jackson said she always came to practice and did everything she was asked regardless of her playing time, and always with a smile. She said it said a lot about her character when three different coaches independently gave her the award.
The Boys Basketball team was led by Coach Jake Hoy. They only won seven games, but Coach Hoy said that didn't reflect how hard they worked every practice and every game. It started with a freshman, Owen Coleman, who would show up for practice at 5:30 am for a 6 am practice. After the second practice, the rest of the squad followed his lead. There were plenty of other stories to share about this year's squad:
--Little-used Draven Rader coming off the bench against North Harrison and immediately grabbing three defensive boards in a row;
--Hayden Marriott coming off the bench and providing a spark in the first DeKalb win;
--Kaeden Nave going toe to toe with Ian Saunders, one of the top guards in the area;
--Weston Alexander spinning, doing a drop step, and finishing in a junior varsity game against North Andrew;
--Robbie Forney coming off the bench to spark the Mustangs against East Harrison;
--Blaine Clements relentlessly crashing the boards in the Stanberry game. He was missed when he reinjured his hernia down the stretch.
--Marek Stevens setting a new school record with seven triples in the win over Tri-County.
--Jackson Keho losing the ball while driving against Union Star in the Gilman City Tournament, recovering it, passing out to a teammate, who missed the shot. But Ridge Clements came charging in from half-court, grabbed the board, and put it in at the third quarter buzzer to turn the game around in a game that had all the intensity of a district or sectional contest instead of two teams desperate for a win.
--Jordan DeLeon sweating off five pounds every night jockeying for position in the post, running the floor, and saving teammates turnovers by chasing after errant passes.
The Heart of a Mustang award went to Kaeden Nave, who always showed up ready to go and always tried to make himself better each practice and each game. The Defensive Player of the Year was Blaine Clements, who was all over the floor on defense and was a shot-blocking presence. The Offensive Player of the Year was Jordan DeLeon, who occupied defenses and freed up everyone else.
The Senior Dedication award went to eight different Mustangs who stuck with a sport or activity for all four years. Eight Mustangs got that award, the most since it was instituted a few years ago. They were Casey Wray (Cross-Country), Jackie Wray (Basketball), Lacy Riley (Volleyball, Basketball), Kaeden Nave (Basketball), Jordan DeLeon (Basketball), Ariyanna Jimenez (Flags), Trevyn Wyllie (Basketball), and Blaine Clements (Football, Basketball).
