STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Top athletes, good sports The Port Aransas High School Athletes of the Year, Ryan Phillips, left, Hannah Jones, second from left and the Millie Wise Sportsmanship Award recipients, Abby Kenigsberg, right, and Joseph Schrier, second from right, received their awards at the Marlin Athletic Booster Club’s Athletic Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 20, at the Port Aransas Civic Center. PAISD Athletic Director Steve Reaves, center, presented the awards. Port Aransas High School athletes were honored during the Marlin Athletic Booster Club’s annual banquet on Wednesday, May 20.

Ryan Phillips and Hannah Jones were named Athletes of the Year, and Joseph Shrier and Abby Kenigsberg were selected as recipients of the Millie Wise Sportsmanship Award.

Phillips was selected on the basis of his participation in basketball, baseball, track and golf.

In basketball, he was named to the second team All-District team and he was named to the Academic All-State team.

Phillips was selected first team All-District pitcher and Defensive Player of the Year in baseball. He was an area qualifier in the high jump, and was named the team’s Outstanding Golfer.

Other nominees were Zack Merrill and Joseph Shrier.

Jones was a second team All-District pick in basketball, an Academic All-District team member and recipient of the Team Heart Award.

She earned a place on the first team All-District team, and was selected for the Team Leadership/Sportsmanship Award in softball.

She was a state qualifier in golf and chosen as her team’s Most Improved Golfer.

Jones was a regional qualifier in track, and was awarded the team’s Sportsmanship Award.

Other nominees were Kenigsberg and Emily Scott.

In presenting the Millie Wise Sportsmanship Award to Kenigsberg and Shrier, Athletic Director Steve Reaves said the award, as far as the coaching staff is concerned, “is the most prestigious award we give.”

Every athlete has an equal chance of winning the award, as opposed to the Athlete of the Year awards that focus on athletic ability.

The sportsmanship award goes to athletes who are excellent teammates who do whatever they can to help their teammates, are always encouraging, handle themselves appropriately in all situations throughout the year, whether in practice or in games, and who represent the school with class.

Other nominees for the award were Jason Ardoin, Shannon Bundy, Christian Collins, Jones and Kevin Sikes.

Awards were presented for each sport.

In cross country the Outstanding Male Runner was Kasey Reed, the Outstanding Female Runner, Reba Armanovs.

For Lady Marlins basketball, the Most Valuable Players were Emily Scott and Katelin Dupnik. The Heart Award went to Hannah Jones, and the Most Improved was Kelsey Ortiz.

In Marlins basketball the Most Valuable Player was Zack Merrill. The Heart Award went to Jason Ardoin, and Most Improved were Ben Scott and Thomas Winton.

For Marlin track, the High Point Male was awarded to Ryan Phillips, the High Point Female to Emily Scott.

In Marlin baseball the Most Improved went to Thomas Winton and Mac Owens and the Most Valuable Player Offensive was awarded to Kevin Sikes. The Most Valuable Player Defensive was Ryan Phillips.

In Lady Marlin softball, the Most Valuble Player was Jordan Butterfield the Defensive Player of the Year, Kelsey Ortiz, and the Sportsmanship/Leadership award went to Hannah Jones.

For golf, the Outstanding Male was Ryan Phillips, Outstanding Female, Kelsey Ortiz.

In tennis the Most Improved Boy was Connor Collins, the Most Improved Girl, Abby Kenigsberg. Most Valuable Player Boy was David Thrasher, the Most Valuable Player Girl, Charlotte Lucke.