The Canby High School Athletic Department held its first-ever virtual award ceremony this past week, honoring multi-sport athletes for their achievements on the court, field, gridiron, track and in the pool throughout the school year.
For the purposes of the event, spring sports — which were canceled just as their first games were scheduled to begin — were treated as if the season had been completed.
“A multi-sport athlete is a well-rounded athlete,” CHS Athletic Director Ben Winegar said. “They’re ones that compete in many different areas of their body, strength and mind. Different sports, different coaches, so many different things. And they’re active year-round.”
The ceremony included awards for multi-sport student-athletes chosen for their achievements in athletics, academics and overall excellence, as well as special acknowledgments for every senior who had participated in multiple sports, which included pre-recorded messages from their coaches.
Those honored for their contributions in multiple sports throughout their high school careers included Brent Patterson, Halle Adair, Cayden DeLozier, Logan Doman, Arika Evans, Naarai Gomez Rodriguez, Katie Mull, Allyson Odell, Thomas Diggles, Natlie Doman, Ronan Gay and Danielle Netter.
Gay was also named Senior Male Athlete of the Year by Canby coaches.
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Congratulations to Class of 2020 Senior Athlete Award winners Ronan Gay and Ruby Kayser! #CanbyProud pic.twitter.com/e8Nn3cwtcz
“To wear the No. 4 in honor of A.J. Schlatter on the football field here in Canby is one of the highest honors a player may receive,” head football coach Jimmy Joyce said in the video. “In my first year, there was no player more deserving of that than Ronan Gay.”
Gay announced this week that he will be following in Schlatter’s footsteps in another way: He accepted a Preferred Walk-On offer to continue his football career at Portland State University.
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Thankful and blessed to have received and accepted a PWO to continue to play the sport I love at Portland State University #GoViks pic.twitter.com/maZMgzxmL4
Schlatter also began as a walk-on for PSU, but had soon earned a scholarship and a starting role as a linebacker. His promising career was cut tragically short in January 2016, when he died of sudden and unexpected complications from surgery at only 20 years old.
Ruby Kayser was named Senior Female Athlete of the Year. Her volleyball coach, T.J. Schlatter, called her a “relentless competitor.”
“I cannot stress enough the impact Ruby has had on our program,” she said. “She was the driving force, leading our team to its highest placing in the state tournament ever, much to the disappointment of my two daughters, who finished fourth at state in 2008. Her impact has been — I can’t even explain it.”
The Cougars finished third in the state tournament last fall — one spot higher than the 2008 team.
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Congratulations to Class of 2020 Scholar Athlete Award winners, Matthew Powell and Naarai Gomez Rodriguez! #CanbyProud pic.twitter.com/RgI18DMPGy
Matthew Powell and Naarai Gomez Rodriguez were named Scholar Athletes of the Year, an award that is also nominated by coaches but judged based on a variety of criteria including GPA and volunteer involvement.
Finally, Thomas Diggles and Katie Mull were named the winners of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Award of Excellence, which recognizes student athletes for their sportsmanship, ethics and integrity.
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Congratulations to Canby High Class of 2020 NFHS Award of Excellence winners, Thomas Diggles and Katie Mull! #CanbyProud pic.twitter.com/sDKngin2JQ
Though individual achievements were the focus, several teams also gained notice for their prowess in the classroom. The Canby High wrestling team had the second-highest cumulative GPA in the state, at 3.67. Girls’ track and field was fourth among their peers, at 3.75, baseball was fifth, at 3.61, football was fifth at 3.31 and baseball was 10th at 3.63.
“On behalf of all of our staff at Canby High School, I say, ‘Thank you’ to the Class of 2020 for everything you’ve done for your school and your community,” Winegar said. “You are leaving it in a better place than when you got here, and I know we’ll be back playing in the future and honoring you even more.”