Jeremy Solano

Senior Shane Arteaga and members of the girls volleyball team finishing the lyrics to a song.

Monday, May 18th, was the date of the 2nd annual ESPYs hosted by Metea Valley Captains Council to honor all varsity teams, plays, and moments from the whole athletic season.

In total, there were 23 awards with hundreds of votes coming from students and coaches, ranging from team of the year to the best duo of the year. It was a night full of applause and laughs.

“I love this event, it really shows inclusion,” senior Shane Arteaga said, winner of the sportsmanship and captain of the year, “it just includes all events, all areas of athletics, from sports photographers to special olympics, it is just a great event for inclusion.”

The awards that were most highlighted were the male athlete of the year, which was one of three awards given to senior Henry Faber for his historic track season. The female athlete of the year was given to senior Julia Hannon for her remarkable skills on the track as well.

“I won the female athlete of the year, and I’m super stoked,” said Hannon, “It just feels like a recognition of all of my hard work paying off, and all of the people who supported me along the way, and I’m very grateful to share it with them.”

Along with the awards, there were funny games like boys and girls water polo trivia, which was hosted by sophomore Kaiden Shah, and finish the lyric with football and girls volleyball, hosted by seniors Trent Sterling and Dylan Bennett-Garza. Both came down to the final question before boys’ water polo would win trivia, and girls’ volleyball would win the finish the lyric game in a “controversial” call.

“This event is rewarding. I don’t know if there’s a better word to put it,” said Athletic Director Matt Fehrmann, “just having the students put this together, seeing them shine, seeing them as Mr. DeBruckyer talked about inclusion, putting everybody into it.”

During the event as well, every sport was highlighted for an achievement that they had, for example, girls’ country making state, and senior Tre Watkins breaking the score record, which was also a moment of the year.

“From the mental health awareness moment, to {Atreaga} with the Sportsmanship Award, bringing up one of the other nominees with him, just everybody having fun, with Trent {Sterling}, bringing some laughter into it,” said Fehrmann, “You peel the layer off of them being in the classroom or on the field on the court, and you get to see them in an environment like this, and it’s just rewarding to see that. So the whole night, honestly, was tops.”

Some other key award winners were team of the year, going to men’s track and field, and play of the year went to Watkins alley-oop dunk against Naperville North. Even the photographer came down to the wire with junior Aksh Raje, better known as Aksh Visuals, going back-to-back in the award.

Underclassmen of the year went to freshman Olivia Linduska, and Special Olympics player of the year went to junior Ryan Fitzgerald. The auditorium filled with applause for everyone throughout the night as every athlete, coach, and even photographer was recognized on a memorable night.

From record-breaking performances to moments of laughter, the second annual ESPYs once again celebrated the athletes, coaches, and memories that helped define another year of Mustang athletics.

Editor’s Note: Junior Ryan Fitzgerald was incorrectly identified as a sophomore in the initial draft of this story. The Stampede regrets this error.