January 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Senior Ari White was named Most Valuable Player of the 2023 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile, Ally Fuller, a Senior received the Most Valuable Football Cheerleader Award.
The trophies, sponsored by Liberty State Bank, were presented to White and Fuller respectively by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller, Ally’s mother.
Meanwhile Junior Ty Webb was announced as the winner of the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award. Members of Edwards’ family presented the award to Webb including son Abram Edwards and Abram’s mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs along with Abram’s wife, Shannon and children Emmie Edwards, Carleigh Clay Edwards, and Harmony Edwards.
Although MVP Ari White made his mark on defense for the Tigers and was awarded the Region’s Most Outstanding Linebacker, Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said he was often used in other positions because of his athletic talent and versatility.
“It meant something to this young man to be good for the people around him. It wasn’t a selfish thing. He was a big time leader for us. I have been playing him since he was a sophomore. I had to get him on the field because he was so good. I had to put him at defensive line because we knew he was going to be the next middle linebacker. He came in and played running back when Malachi Trapp was hurt and he did a good job for us. We used him at tightend. He would always do what you asked him to do. He graduated early. It has been a pleasure to coach him. I watched him play in Junior Pro and at the Middle School and couldn’t wait for him to get to the high school level. When he got here he did not disappoint. I am super proud to be able to say that I coached this young man and super proud to announce that this year’s Liberty State Bank Most Valuable Player is Ari White,” said Coach Trapp.
In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller talked about her daughter Ally’s work and leadership in this program.
‘The girl receiving this award tonight has waited her turn and worked so hard to lead the team. I always tell them (cheerleaders) to be a good leader you need to prove that you can be a good follower. She has shown respect to her former captains and has equally shown compassion and love to the freshmen on the team this year, I determine our captain each year based on seniority and score. I also consider their attitude, dedication to the team, and the input of my assistant coaches. Most will never see all that a captain does for the team and the pressure they feel their senior season when so much is on their shoulders and they care the most about the team and the results. This girl has been around the DCHS football cheerleading program her entire life. She has been cheering since she was six years old. She has genuine crowd appeal and makes it all look natural and easy. She has participated in gymnastics and competition cheer, and now works as a tumbling instructor at Infinity Athletics, She has been an NCA All-American nominee every year in high school and she made the All-American team last year. She has looked up to so many amazing cheerleaders over the years and now she has become the one that many young people look up to. She is so very precious to me. She makes me proud every day. I wish I could be more like her. The 2023 Most Valuable Cheerleader Award goes to Ally Fuller,” said Coach Fuller.
Individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year- Malachi Trapp
Offensive Lineman- Chris Pulley
Offensive Back- Briz Trapp
Receiver- Jordan Parker
Defensive Player of the Year- Ty Webb
Defensive Lineman- Wil Farris
Linebacker- Andrew Dakas
Defensive Back- Trace Hamilton
Special Teams Player- Adrian Prater
Most Improved-Bryson Arnold
MVP- Ari White
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Ty Webb
Scout Team Player of the Year: Kobe Roller
Newcomer of the Year: Kevin Ahlgard
Nine DCHS Football players have earned 2023 All-Region honors. These awards are voted on by coaches in the region.
The local award winners recognized at the banquet Saturday night are as follows: Most Outstanding Linebacker-Ari White; Most Outstanding Running Back- Malachi Trapp; Most Outstanding Returner -Ryon Lyons; 1st Team – Wil Farris, Ty Webb, and Briz Trapp; and 2nd Team – Jordan Parker, Chris Pulley, and Andrew Dakas.
Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Most Valuable Cheerleader- Ally Fuller
Most Spirited- Macy Anderson
Best Dancer- Addyson Swisher
Best Stunts-Annabella Dakas
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility- Jade Mabe
Best Jumps-Landen Tubbs
Best Motions: Elaina Turner
The DCHS Tigers closed the book on their 2023 football season Friday night, November 3 falling to the Red Bank Lions 30 to 0 on the road in the 1st round of the TSSAA Class 4A Play-offs.
The TSSAA awards schools and individual football players who have excelled academically in their grade point average for the last semester. Coach Trapp said the 2023 DCHS football team will receive the TSSAA’s Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award for attaining a team GPA of 3.28. This award is given by TSSAA to teams with a GPA of 3.25 or above.
Twenty nine members of the DCHS program including football players and managers receiving TSSAA Individual Awards for a GPA of 3.5 or greater for the last semester are Bryson Arnold, Hunter Buchanan, Colin Dickens, Jerett Hamilton, Jon Hendrix, Jordan Parker, Conner Talley, Aiden Turner, Ari White, Blaine Atnip, Wyatt Carter, Wil Farris, Aaron Hatfield, Brownie Johnson, Adrian Prater, Briz Trapp, Tucker Webb, Chase Young, Hunter Ballew, Andrew Dakas, Jesse Foutch, Caiden Hecker, Jaxon Kleparek, Kobe Roller, Bryson Trapp, Ty Webb, Shelby Driver, Abby Cross, and Sadie Moore. Fourteen of them had a GPA of 4.0.