By Craig Brown
Dillon High School honored their 2015 division 2A state championship football team, coaches, cheerleaders and team assistants Saturday night at the DHS gymnasium awarding 105 rings to the players and coaches and beautiful pendants for the cheerleaders.
Special awards were also given to team managers and ball handlers.
Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Jackie Hayes opened the ceremony welcoming all in attendance. Coach Jason Gunter gave the invocation.
Coach Hayes returned to the podium and stated that a championship team needed special people behind them and he gave his personal thanks to Ethel Taylor, Burt Rogers, Mike McRae, Alex Lewis, Famon Whitfield, Kenneth Bethea and Earl Gleason, Jr. of Dillon School District Four. Dillon County School Board members, Richard Schafer, Tim Faulk, John S. Best, Sylvia Griffin, Robert Abson, Jr., Jimmy Sweat, Jr., Nancy G. Finklea, James C. McRae and Betty Joe Johnson, The Marching Cats Band Directors Adrian Wright and Kevin McLellan, The Teachers and Staff of DHS, Resource officer Sgt. Marion Ford, Booster Club President, Ronnie Herring, Booster club members, Michele Britt, Dawn Bailey, Glen Wagner, Shannon Berry, Valerie Graves, Larry German, Martha German, James Roberts, Kevin Scott, Kim Scott, Lonnie Turner, Shawn Hamilton, Bridget Elvington, Lynn Bowman and Kathy Brown, bus driver Lee Connie Manning, Chain and tunnel crew Jimbo McLellan, George Shelton, Alex Lewis, Steve Zander, Gene Hill and Roger Cox, fire-works crew Jerry Douglas and Bobby Meekins, broad cast booth and statistics Lonnie Turner, Jimmy Bohachic and Charles Lane, Tuesday football meals Bobby Lee and Kathryn Thompson, team parents Martha German and Maurice Bethea, field consultants Todd Hayes, David Strickland, Kevin Scott and Burt Rogers, stadium helpers, Vernon Grimsley and Larry German, stadium maintenance Keith Newell and Dillon Four Maintenance, video and website Coach Jamie Norris and videographer William Epps and a special thanks to Superintendent D. Ray Rogers. Coach Hayes praised his wife Mandy for standing by him with her love and support. Coach Jamie Norris presented a highlight video of the season that was received by cheers from those in attendance. After the video presentation Coach Hayes talked about the team and stated that this was the best team he had coached in his career. Coach Hayes stated that two athletes not only excelled on the field but also in the classroom.
Rising senior Jermaine McDaniel has an offer from Harvard and rising senior J.T. Melton has an offer from Brown. It is rare for any school in DHS size to have two students with offers from Ivey League programs and almost unheard of for two athletes to get offers. We also have nine athletes receiving offers to play at the next level added Coach Hayes. Coach Hayes added that he gets questioned often about the large number of team members he has. Coach Hayes stated that that the answer to this question is that any student that goes out for the team and does what they are told to on the field and in the classroom will be a part of his team.
After giving praises to the coaches, players and parents Coach Hayes said it is now time for the awards. The DHS cheerleaders received their pendants first.
Coach Hayes brought Assistant AD Robbie Brown to the podium and announced that Coach Brown would be leaving the Wildcats after 29 years with the program. Coach Brown is excepting a new position with Purnel Swett High School near Pembroke, North Carolina. Coach Hayes presented Coach Brown with his championship ring and a gold watch. Coach Brown will be missed and hard to replace. He always greeted me with a smile and offered his assistance. All the coaches came up to receive their rings beginning with 47-year veteran Jason Gunter followed by defensive coordinator Marty McIntyre. Coach McIntyre’s defense was ranked number one in the state. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Roller was next followed by assistants, Allen McLaurin, Kevin Roberts, Jamie Roberts, Lee Page, Chris Ray, Splinter Spivey, Norman Quick, Twin Lester and Zack Hayes followed by volunteer coaches Maurice Bethea and Ronald German.
Now it was time for the big moment. The excited players exited in an orderly manner and made their way to the stage to hear their names called out and receive their hard earned reward.
After the players made their way back to their seats Coach Hayes called the team managers to the stage to receive special awards. All seniors were ask to stand and be recognized.
With a smile Coach Hayes added that the Wildcats had won four straight championships and has gone 37 games without a loss. Coach Gunter gave the benediction. After the ceremony
Coach Hayes was ask what he thought about all the states sports reporters rating the Wildcats as the top 3A team for the coming 2016 season. Coach Hayes did not shy off and stated with confidence that the Wildcats will be ready. Coach Hayes ended by saying how proud he was of this team and the coaches.
The Dillon Wildcat State Championship Team was honored at a ring ceremony held on Saturday night. Below is a photo gallery from the event. More details will be in the Tuesday issue of The Dillon Herald.
PHOTOS BY JOHNNIE DANIELS/THE DILLON HERALD
Click once on a photo to bring it into a single screen and then again to enlarge.
