Bibb County schools recognize top athletes at annual award ceremony

As the Bibb County School District recognized its finest athletes at the annual BIBBSPY awards Monday night, the packed house at Howard High School hooted and hollered when players received their translucent, teardrop-shaped trophies, shouting school slogans with pride.

There were calls of “Triple H!” for the host school. One Rutland video that played during the ceremony declared “We from the Bridge,” a reference to the school’s location off Hartley Bridge Road. Northeast Raider fans shouted “Eastside!,” garnering the crowd response of “Out loud!”

But there was one catchphrase that was heard far more often than the others.

“Whoooooose house?”

“C’s House!”

The Central High School students and fans engaged in that call-and-response many times, as the Chargers won a whopping 16 awards on the night, some individual and others team-based.

“It was an awesome night to be a Central Charger, man, I’m so proud of my student athletes,” Central Athletic Director Andre Taylor said. “They don’t only work hard on the field, they work hard in the classroom, and it showed tonight.”

That trophy haul included one of the top awards: Female Athlete of the Year for the entire school district, which was won by Tacoyia Braswell. 

“I feel like my hard work paid off,” Braswell said. “I put in the practice, I put in the work. I’m able to manage sports with all of my academics. I’m proud and I’m honored. … My favorite memories are just being with my teammates. That’s why I excel, because I have great teammates. Being around such fun people, it drives me to do better.”

Braswell plays volleyball, soccer, softball and flag football. Taylor wishes she could play some other sports, too.

“If you’ve watched her play, you know she deserves the recognition for what she does,” Taylor said. “I always say I wish she could play male sports. That’s how much she puts into it.”

The Male Athlete of the Year represented the host school and was no surprise to anyone who has followed Bibb County sports this year. It was just the latest accolade for Ta’Shawn Poole, a junior football player at Howard who is one of the top prospects in the country at the safety position.

“I’m just happy to be here in this situation representing Howard,” Poole said. “I give a big shoutout to my head coach, Tre Porter, he got me where I’m at.”

Could Poole be shooting to win the same award next year after his senior season on the gridiron? The standout Huskies defensive back might have other priorities.

“The main focus is probably giving back to the community,” he said. “I just want to help people at the Bibb County level. That’s what I think about, career-wise.”

The Athlete of the Year awards were two of the 36 total honors given out by the county at the event, which had the tagline “Night of Champions: An All-Black Affair.” Most of the trophies went to players, although coaches, trainers and entire teams also received some awards.

Athletes, coaches and many attendees sported spiffy all-black outfits — many ensembles were enhanced with dazzling shoes or sharp accessories —  for the occasion. So did Bibb County Athletic Director Kevin Grooms, who encouraged athletes and guests to snap a selfie at the beginning of the ceremony and take pictures on the glitzed-out red carpet area outside the Howard auditorium.

“It’s all about creating an experience for the kids,” Grooms said. “We want this to be something they’re going to remember and take home with them for the rest of their life.”

The evening’s MC, Steven Jones of the school district, said the awards were voted on by community members who sponsored the event. The judges voted on who should win after reviewing the applications without the names of the athletes.

Other notable awards included Offensive and Defensive players of the year for football. Central’s Wyquavis Gaither took home the offensive award, beating standouts like Southwest star Rinaldo Callaway and speedy Northeast wideout Kortnei Williams. Westside’s Paul Risper won the defensive honors.

Southwest star Chase Dupree, unsurprisingly, earned the district’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. Central’s Jamyree Simmons was named the best girls hoops player in the district. Rutland baseball coach Darryl Silas took home the Male Coach of the Year award, while Northeast’s Heavenly Whitehead got the Female Coach of the Year honors.

In addition to the district’s awards, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia also recognized the winners of the Al Lucas Memorial Scholarship. 

David and Elaine Lucas spoke at the ceremony, explaining the scholarship honoring their son. Al Lucas was a football player who died after sustaining a spinal cord injury during a game. The scholarship awards $1,000 to one male and one female athlete from Northeast and one athlete at every other Bibb County school.

Find the complete list of award winners below.

Bibb County’s BIBBSPY winners

• Football Offensive Player of the Year: Wyquavis Gaither, Central
• Football Defensive Player of the Year: Paul Risper, Westside
• Cheerleader of the Year: Eva Ray, Central
• Softball Player of the Year: Caylin Mathis, Central
• Volleyball Player of the Year: Kaylee Reese, Central
• Flag Football Player of the Year: Dominique Billue, Westside
• Girls Cross country Runner of the Year: Keiran Morgan, Howard
• Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year: Isaiah Penney, Howard
• Girls Basketball Player of the year: Jamyree Simmons, Central
• Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Chase Dupree, Southwest
• Female Wrestler of the Year: tZipporah Bulloch, Central
• Male Wrestler of the Year: Tabais Williams – Howard
• Female Tennis Player of the Year: Zoe Johnson, Central
• Male Tennis Player of the Year: Garner Michael, Central
• Girls Soccer Player of the Year: Tacoyia Braswell, Central
• Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Shritham Panda, Central
• Girls Track and Field Player of the Year: Karmen hill, Rutland
• Boys Track and Field Player of the Year: Jason Curry, Central
• Baseball Player of the Year: Matthew “Thor” Griffin, Howard
• Girls Golfer of the Year: Nyla Howard, Northeast
• Boys Golfer of the Year: Nick Battle, Northeast
• Female Athlete of the Year: Tacoyia Braswell, Central
• Male Athlete of the Year: Ta’Shawn Poole, Howard
• Female Scholar Athlete of the Year: Emma Tillery, Central
• Male Scholar Athlete of the Year: Shritham Panda, Central
• Middle School Girls Athlete of the Year: Peyton Wray, Rutland Middle
• Middle School Boys Athlete of the Year: Marcus Brooks Jr., Rutland Middle
• Athletic Trainer of the Year: Brad Miles, Central
• Female Coach of the Year: Heavenly Whitehead, Northeast girls basketball
• Male Coach of the Year: Darryl Silas, Rutland baseball
• Team Stewardship Award: Howard cheerleaders
• Team Scholarship Award: Central girls basketball
• Team Sportsmanship Award: Howard cheerleaders
• Middle School All Sports Award: Weaver Middle
• Middle School AD of the Year: Cameron Prather, Ballard-HudsonHigh School AD of the Year: Latavia Coleman, Howard High School