ATHLETIC SHINING STARS

With Clifton Cub & Lady Cubs athletic teams enjoying a banner year, Finney, Humphreys lead 21 seniors honored at Clifton Athletic Awards program

After enjoying a banner 2023-24 year in sports, Clifton High School celebrated a bounty of accomplishments and achievements at the Cub and Lady Cub Annual Athletic Awards Program held last Monday in the Performing Arts Center.

“It really has been a wonderful year,” Clifton ISD athletic director Brent Finney said. “We started in the fall with cross country going to state, volleyball and football in the playoffs. Then both basketball teams in the playoffs and powerlifting won the girls regional title and boys had a state champion. The spring saw softball back in the playoffs and many individuals advancing in spring sports.

“This is just testament to the unbelievable coaching staff we have, and the incredible work ethic and dedication our kids have.”

With the focus primarily on 19 talented seniors, Kate Humphreys drew the prestigious Lady Cubs 110% Award, while Riley Finney received the Aubrey T. Roberts 110% Award.

“Riley and Kate are just two wonderful kids on and off the field/court,” Finney said. “They are both really great people. Both are ranked high in the class academically and are leaders in the classroom. They are very well-rounded individuals with very high standards and expectations for themselves. They are very self-motivated and will be very successful later in life.”

Fall sports award winners included boys cross country MVPs Clay Kennedy and Ray Ochoa along with 110% award recipient Brayden Stone, girls cross country MVPs Camy Barsh along with 110% award recipients Evy Kennedy and Kyndall Hunt, football MVPs Riley Finney and Parker Tunnell along with 110% award recipients Levi Knox and Ervin Rodriguez, and volleyball MVP Kate Humphreys along with 110% award recipient Brianna Gonzalez.

Winter sports award winners include girls basketball MVPs Avary Woosley and Reagan Thomas along with 110% award recipients Laylah Gaona and Kate Humphreys, boys basketball MVP Jacob Wells along with 110% award recipients Andres Devora and Ray Ochoa, girls powerlifting MVPs Lenora Busby and Kate Humphreys along with 110% award recipient Alyssa Santillan, and boys powerlifting MVP Riley Finney along with 110% award winner Levi Knox.

Spring sports award winners include softball MVP Laylah Gaona along with 110% awaqrd recipient Pepper Mayfield, baseball MVPs Clay Kennedy and Ervin Rodriguez along with 110% award recipient Hunter Weir, girls tennis MVP Kenna Williams along with 110% award recipient Chloe Baccus, boys tennis MVP Diosziah Pina along with 110% award recipient Deacon Williams, boys golf MVP Jacob Nickel along with 110% award recipient Kanin Bearden, girls golf MVP Jayde Stinnett and 110% award recipient Gracie Vargas, boys track MVP Ray Ochoa along with 110% award recipient Clay Kennedy, girls track MVPs Alexa Lane and Brylee Heim along with 110% award recipients Camy Barsh and Natalia Cathcart.

“This senior class has provided many years of varsity athletes, boys and girls, many of which have been varsity players all four years of their high school careers,” Finney said. “They have provided lots of stability and leadership along the way and have greatly helped us continue to raise the bar here at CHS.”

Emphasizing the commitment and talent of its student-athletes, Clifton High School also honors a wealth of recipients receiving all-district and all-state academic recognition, as well as numerous Cubs and Lady Cubs receiving the 5-Star and 4-Star awards for earning varsity letters in five and four different sports, respectively.

Despite saying goodbye to a senior class with 41 participating in sports, the Clifton High School athletic department as plenty to look forward to with 42 returning juniors, 46 sophomores and 53 freshmen.

“We will definitely miss the class of 2024, but are also very excited about those returning,” Finney said. “The future is very bright at CHS and it is definitely a great time to be a Clifton Cub.”