Nansemond River held its Fall Sports Awards Night on Tuesday evening, celebrating 12 different JV and varsity seasons.

The most emotional presentation of the night was from varsity field hockey coach Darryl Yandle as he had two reasons why the night was particularly memorable.

First, he had the chance to recognize his daughter, Katelyn, who was one of three seniors on this year’s Lady Warrior team, as well as recognize a team that despite losing nine seniors, all starters, from their ’05 team, and despite having a losing record at times during the regular season this season, still finished second in the Southeastern District Tournament and reached the Eastern Region Tournament for a second straight year.

&uot;Every year we have the summer league,&uot; began Yandle, &uot;I went to watch them play as much as I could during the summer, let me honestly say, I was mortified.&uot;

&uot;But this is all a credit to these young ladies.

I don’t know how we made it to regionals,&uot; said Yandle.

Having a freshman goalkeeper, Stephanie Tarafas, become an honorable mention all-district player helped a great deal.

A lot of other underclassmen got all sorts of experience this season for Yandle, and that bodes very well for upcoming seasons.

But most of all, the three seniors, Amy Shinault, Heather Proffit and Katelyn Yandle, were honored by the district (Shinault – 2nd team, Proffit – 1st team, Yandle – 1st team and 1st team all-region) and praised by their coach on Tuesday.

Fighting his emotions the whole time while talking about the three seniors, it was especially difficult for coach/dad by the time he got to Katelyn.

Katelyn played four varsity seasons for NR, all for her dad as head coach.

&uot;I want to apologize to her for this always being a tough situation,&uot; said Yandle.

&uot;I’m sorry, I’m sure you put up with too much complaining and criticism after games.&uot;

The team voted Katelyn as the season MVP and Yandle said that, although there is no official record keeping of this, that if Katelyn’s goals and assists were added together, she’d probably have the school record for that combined number.

The River varsity cheerleading squad also had a very memorable season during the fall.

NR placed third in the district, getting them into Eastern Region competition for the first time in school history.

Head coach Vickie Stewart said, &uot;I’m amazed at the group of ladies I get every year, but we had more freshmen on this year’s team than ever, so that makes this more amazing.&uot;

Ashley Smith and Kristina Fontenot were honored as the two co-captains and the two four-year letter winners on the team.

About Smith, Stewart said, &uot;she has taught me so much and she is such an asset to the squad.

Her leadership skills are beyond saying and she’s a great young lady.&uot;

Stewart has coached Fontenot for five years, since eighth grade, &uot;so she has an incredible attachment to my heart.&uot;

&uot;She is a great cheerleader, a great leader and a great teacher,&uot; said Stewart.

Nicolle Fetherston was given the Spirit Award and Tiffany Bass received the Coach’s Award.

On why Bass deserved her award, Stewart said, &uot;she was robbed, right before camp started she fractured her hand.&uot;

&uot;She still cheered at games, but she couldn’t participate in competition.

She still found ways to be an amazing asset to the squad.&uot;

Other individual Warriors honored at Nansemond River’s Fall Sports Awards Night were:

Cross Country

Girls MVP – Katelyn Shirmir

Boys MVP and four-year letter winner – Malik McBride

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Four-year letter winner – Shannon Andy

Varsity Boys Volleyball

Four-year letter winner and Most Outstanding Player – Mark Brown

Golf

MVP – Rashad Hunt

Most Outstanding Player – Calvin Mason

Football

Defensive Player of the Year – Joseph Benneth

Offensive Player of the Year – Jamar Jarrell

Coach’s Award – Chris Thomas

Student-athlete of the Year – Justin Topping