Metea celebrated all their athletes on Monday in our school’s first annual ESPY Awards Night. With players and coaches from all sports in attendance, the auditorium was packed with excited athletes awaiting the results of over 700 votes cast by Metea Valley students. Teachers dressed in sparkly gold not only to show their pride for the school, but also to honor the amazing event about to unfold. From buzzer-beating wins to record-breaking performances, the ESPYs honor not only athletic excellence but also the heart, hustle, and resilience shown by our teams and individuals. The awards marked a momentous moment for the school as well, adding another amazing tradition to look forward to for many years to come.
Varsity soccer star Cameron Leys was named Male Athlete of the Year, and Ariana Hammons was named Female Athlete of the Year for her outstanding skills and leadership on the basketball court, both awards being among the ESPYs’ top honors. Their commitment and talent set the tone for excellence in their respective sports. For the final Athlete of the Year award, Patrick O’Toole was recognized as Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, bringing the crowd to its feet in a standing ovation. His determination and heart were truly inspiring.
The process for this event was something new brought to the school this year, created by the minds of Metea’s Captain Council, a group of student athletes who promote unity, strengthen the culture of Metea athletics, and build leaders on and off the field. The Council posted a Google Form for students throughout the school to allow everyone to have their voices heard and cast their votes.
“The process was an inclusive event and allowed every person to cast their opinion,” Junior Shane Arteaga said. He was also later awarded the Sportsmanship of the Year award.
Among the many notable awards was the Strongest Athlete award, which was won by Senior Okikiolatan Oyekanmi, along with Sports Couple of the Year, which was given to Chole Birch and Jake Nosek. Whether they won an award or not, every nominee was given a special Metea Valley certificate, giving everyone involved a keepsake. One of the most competitive awards was between the three nominees, Sebastian Martinez, Aksh Raje, and Timmy Miller, for Sports Photographer of the Year. All the amazing photos we see throughout the Mustangs’ social media sports pages are due to the amazing work of these three talented and skillful photographers. After a very close voting tally, Aksh came out with the award, highlighted by his spectacular photos of the Warriors’ Hockey Win at the United Center in early March.
Students were not the only ones honored that night, with the coaches getting recognition as well. Boys and girls soccer coach Rachel Bostcik secured the award for Assistant Coach of the Year.
Every sport has its spectacular plays and season-defining moments. Whether it’s a buzzer-beater win on the basketball court, a state championship win for the Warriors Hockey, or a perfectly placed penalty to win the shootout in a Mustang soccer game, choosing the Sports Moment of the Year award was very difficult for many. This past school year was filled with too many amazing sports moments to count. Yet when the name was announced, Metea football came out on top.
After an amazing win for Metea football earlier this season, overrun with excitement, the student section rushed the field to celebrate with their friends, teammates, and inevitably show pride for the black and gold.
Whether you play a sport or not, there’s nothing better than seeing your school succeed. Whether it’s on the turf, court, or ice, the ESPY award show is the perfect way to highlight Metea’s athletic department and all who are involved. It will be a tradition that is loved by players and fans alike and an event that will become better and better in the years to come.