Heading the list of highlights at this years banquet was the news that Cougar head coach Keith Graham was named Co-Coach of the Year in Region 1 District 2. Also, seniors Kevin Phelps and Blake Newton received All-District honors for their work this past season.
Graham explained to the assembly that teams that do not make the playoffs are limited to two All-District selections, but said that the improvement of the Cougar program could be seen by the nine team members chosen for All-District Honorable Mention. These players are chosen by the coaches around the district and represent players who have impressed those coaches enough to mention them after the season. Those Cougars gaining honorable mention included: Adam Phelps, John Mike Ramsey, Brandon DeWitt, Anthony Smith, Matt Meyers, Ben Beeler, Houston Hodge, Brian Sandlin and Gavin Logsdon.
First-year lettermen included: Michael Decker, Nick Dunkelberger, Josh Elmore, Joey Elmore, Michael House, Aaron Mudd, Kyle Paris, Brian Sandlin, John Tilford, Matt Thurman, Kenny Williams and Bruce Gordon.
Second-year letterman included: Ben Beeler, Cody Brooks, Brandon DeWitt, Scott Harris, Ryan Hodges, Kory Fulkerson, Timmy Langley, Gavin Logsdon, Adam Phelps, Caleb Sanders, Anthony Smith and Jared Smith.
Third-year lettermen included: Kevin Phelps, Blake Newton, Houston Hodge, Matt Meyers and John Mike Ramsey.
K-105 general manager Mark Buckles presented awards to the players who had been named the K-105 Player of the Game during the season. Those players included Brandon DeWitt, Kevin Phelps, Blake Newton, Brian Sandlin, Ben Beeler, and Houston Hodge. Phelps, Newton, Beeler and Sandlin all were named twice during the year.
Buckles announced the amount of money raised during the year for the Future Designs Vocational Scholarship Fund. Future Designs donates $25 for each touchdown scored during the season, and with 35 touchdowns scored by the Cougars, $875 went into the fund this year. The scholarship is presented at the end of the year to a deserving Grayson County vocational student.
The Cougars present special academic awards to those students who maintain a 3.5 or better grade-point average during the season. Graham said he was very pleased with the number of players receiving this award and said that overall, the Cougar players did well in the classroom this year. Academic awards went to players: John Mike Ramsey, Anthony Smith, Ben Beeler, Kevin Phelps, Timmy Langley, Blake Newton, Scott Harris, Josh Elmore, and Joey Elmore. Academic awards were also presented to team manager Brittany Taylor and to student trainiers Samantha Bigelow and Rebecca Bratcher.
Graham concluded the proceedings by saying he was proud of the way his players responded this season and of the fact that they had backed up the promise he made at last year's banquet when he predicted this team would end the 15-year losing-record streak. He said Grayson County would always face an uphill battle to be successful as it is one of the smallest schools playing 4-A football in the state, but said that was offset because Grayson County has some of the best and hardest working kids in the state.
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