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DAYTON–Bulldog footballer Kaylub Prather received an armload of plaques and honors during the Bulldog Fall Sports Awards, held November 30 in the H.S. Auditorium. Dayton High's volleyball team, cheer squad and football team were honored by coaches for their efforts in the recently completed season.
Prather was the only Bulldog to be named to an All-League honor, making the S.E. B-8 Second Team twice–as defensive linebacker and offensive running back. Prather also received plaques for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and a Top Dog (Captain's) Award.
Peyton Dobbs and Peyton Benavides both garnered a pair of awards as standouts on the Lady Bulldog Volleyball Team. Benavides was named Most Valuable Player and received a Captain Award along with teammate Elsie Mann. Dobbs shared Most Inspirational honors with Wyntr McCauley, and also received the Most Improved Player plaque.
Cheerleader Laney Crow received the Captain's Award for her efforts on the Cheer Squad. Cheerleaders Vela, Skylar McCann, Kinsey Fuller and Laney Crow received varsity letters. Not present were Lillian Fortier, Julianne Bowen, and Ashlyn Thornhill.
Other players on the football team received awards. Offensive Lineman of the Year was presented to Will Durham, and Defensive Lineman of the Year went to Solomon Brenner.
Most Improved Players were Jordan McCowen on the offensive side of the ball, and Tristan Rennaker on defense.
The All Hands Plaque went to Denver Hutchens for the Bulldog tight end's ability to make catches in difficult situations.
Rookie of the Year was presented to Raymond Yutzy.
A new award is the Foundation of the Team which went to Byron Collier.
Top Dogs (Captain Awards) were Nolan Korslund, Prather, Collier and McCowen.
Jack Zanger received the Coaches Award but was not present.
Head Football Coach Lucas Collier said the season started with 19 players and by the end of the season, the team had gelled; most of the players had not played football, and four had never played. "By the end of the season, win or lose, I wanted the boys to hold their heads up high," Collier said.
Football letters went to Sawyer Brenner, Solomon Brenner, Byron Collier, Silas Czapka, Will Durham, Beau Hazelbaker, Denver Hutchens, Nolan Korslund, Jordan McCowen, Duane Moore, Tristan Rennaker, Raymond Yutzy, Adrian "Boom Boom" Ramirez, Kaylub Prather and Jack Zanger.
Volleyball Head Coach Des Jones praised the team for committing to a "building year."
"We knew we were building a program from the ground up," Jones commented. "We knew it wouldn't be easy but these girls showed up every day. Our win-loss record doesn't accurately reflect the season."
Letter recipients were Lucy Trump, Alexa Jones, Peyton Benavides, Marissa Tupling, Brooklyn Laughery, Peyton Dobbs, Wyntr McCauley, Grace Trump, Samantha Boggs, and Elsie Mann.
Volleyball Assistant Coach Tamira Culley presented J.V. certificates to Jaelynn Chapman, Skyla Johnson, Jersey Slack and Grace Baker.
Bulldog football had the highest average G.P.A at 3.38, followed by cheer at 3.37 and volleyball at 3.15. Scholar-athletes, who maintained a 3.25 or better G.P.A., on the football team included Solomon Brenner, Nolan Korslund, Tristan Rennaker, Jordan McCowen, Byron Collier, Jack Zanger and Raymond Yutzy. On volleyball, Elsie Mann, Grace Trump, Wyntr McCauley, Peyton Benavides, Lucy Trump, Alexa Jones and Brenna Sinkbeil. On cheer, Laney Crow, Kinsey Fuller, Skylar McCann, Lillian Fortier andAshlynn Thornhill.
Athletic Director Sam Korslund pointed out that last year, six Dayton athletes turned out and this year the number was 46. The national average of percentage of high-school population turning out is 34% while Dayton was just under 50%.