What a year! Those are the words that can be used to describesports at West Lincoln for the 2003-2004 school year.

The West Lincoln slow-pitch softball team advanced to the SouthState finals for the second year in a row. The girls basketballteam went all the way to State, while the boys team was upset indistrict play. Another football coach bit the dust.

The baseball team made it to the Region 1A finals in post-seasonplay, while the fast-pitch softball team had its best year to date.And who can forget spring sports as Lyndsay Franklin in tennis andDan Allen in golf made it all the way to State 1A. No matter whatkind of Bear fan you were, there was plenty to cheer about thisyear.

On Thursday night, it was a time to look back at the previousyear as West Lincoln athletes were honored at the annual athleticbanquet. This year’s event took place at the Brookhaven/LincolnCounty Multi-Use Facility.

West Lincoln athletic director Andrew Redd served as moderatorfor the event which took place before a reflective audience. Forthe seniors, it was one last time to remember what it was like tobe a Bear athlete. For the other athletes, it was a time to lookback on the year and strive to do better for the next year.

Most Valuable Player awards went to Landon Case in football,Lyndsay Franklin in tennis and Dan Allen in golf. Most ValuablePlayer awards were not given out specifically in the other sports.Special awards for the night included the Lindy Callahan Awardgoing to Lyndsay Franklin and Landon Case. The Scholar AthleteAward and the FCA Award went to Brooks Smith.

West Lincoln Athletic Banquet

FOOTBALL — Most Valuable Offensive Player, Most ValuableDefensive Player, Alan Skates; Team MVP, Landon Case; Most ValuableOffensive Lineman, Philip Jarancik; Academic Award, Bear SpiritAward, Chris Smith; Most Valuable Defensive Lineman, Dan Lofton;Most Valuable Defensive Back, Blake Adams; Most Valuable OffensiveBack, Donovan Carnley; Special Teams, Jake Laird.

TENNIS — Most Valuable Player, South 1A Champ & StateRunner-Up, Lyndsay Franklin; 2004 Bear Award, Tyler Smith.

GIRLS BASKETBALL — Most Valuable Offensive Player, All-District7-1A, Raleigh All-Tournament Team, MHSAA State 1A All-TournamentTeam, Alicia Kennedy; Most Valuable Defensive Player, Miss Hustle,All-District 7-1A, Raleigh All-Tournament Team, Lyndsay Franklin;Most Valuable Rebounder, Monica Price; Best Attitude, BritneeSmith; Most Improved, All-District 7-1A, MHSAA State 1AAll-Tournament Team, Raleigh All-Tournament Team, Eric Shaw; MHSAA1A All- Tournament Team, Alicia Kennedy, Erica Shaw.

BOYS BASKETBALL — Most Valuable Offensive Player, Most ValuableRebounder, Best Attitude, All-District 7-1A, Brooks Smith; MostValuable Defensive Player, Hustle Award, All-District 7-1A, LandonCase; Most Improved, Stephen Jones; Raleigh All-Tournament Team,Tyler Smith; All-District 7-1A, Shane Lynch.

GIRLS FASTPITCH SOFTBALL — Hitting Title, Ashley Palomarez;Most Valuable Offensive Player, Lauren Smith; Most ValuableInfielder, Savannah Palomarez; Most Valuable Outfield, EmilyRichardson; Most Valuable Player, Heather Huff; Best Attitude,Britnee Smith.

GIRLS SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL — Most Improved, April Kennedy; MissHustle, Emily Richardson; Most Valuable Defensive Player, LyndsayFranklin; Most Valuable Offensive Player, Alicia Kennedy; Slugging,Britnee Smith; RBI Leader, Brittani Phillips; Hitting, LaurenSmith; Slowpitch All-State Tournament Team, Alicia Kennedy, LyndsayFranklin.

BASEBALL — Most Valuable Offensive Player, Dan Lofton; MostValuable Infielder, Landon Case; Most Valuable Player, Dan Allen;Most Valuable Outfielder, Weston Young; Most Improved, JoshRushing; Rookie Award, Robby Dees; Mr. Hustle, Shane Lynch.

GOLF — Most Valuable Golfer, Dan Allen.

CHEERLEADING — Captain, Amber Thompson; Co-Captain, BrittanyCarnley.

FCA Award — A Job Well Done Award, Brooks Smith.

SCHOLAR ATHLETE — Brooks Smith.

SENIOR AWARDS — Lyndsay Franklin, softball, girls basketball,tennis; Emily Richardson, fastpitch softball; Dan Lofton, baseball,football; Dan Allen, baseball, golf; Landon Case, baseball, golf,football, basketball; Weston Young, baseball, football; ChrisSmith, baseball, football; Robbie Fauver, baseball, football; KalaShaw, girls basketball; Brooks Smith, boys basketball; AmberThompson, cheerleader; Michelle Petty, cheerleader; AgustinaSanchez, cheerleader; Kim Johnston, tennis; Daniel Leggett,football; Donovon Carnley, football; Blake Adams, football; AlanSkates, football; Drew Smith, football, golf; Garrett Smith,football; Jake Laird, football.