KFDM COOP Posted January 27, 2008 Report Posted January 27, 2008 Gutsy Ganders celebrate playoff season By Dave Rogers Published January 28, 2008 Offensive lineman Sal Ramirez received the Pi. Yi. Kern Award for guts and determination at Saturday’s Robert E. Lee football banquet. Ramirez, who played the last half of the 2007 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament that required postseason knee surgery, was just one of several Ganders who limped a bit as they made their way to the front of the room to be recognized at the event put on by the team’s booster club at the Baytown Civic Center. But because Lee’s football team, like Ramirez, gutted it out, Saturday night was one of celebration. The Ganders were able to rally for a third-place finish in District 21-5A and their second straight trip to the Class 5A playoffs. “Third place in district and getting in the playoffs,†marveled head coach Dick Olin. “They fought like heck. I couldn’t be any prouder of this group.†Because of injuries, Lee used two dozen different starters on offense, requiring as many as four different starters at several positions over their 11-game season that ended with a 5-6 mark. Head athletic trainer Amy Newell, naturally, was the first to drop the “I†word at the banquet. After recognizing her student trainers, Newell prepared to present her annual “No More Tears†awards, bottles of similarly named shampoo she gives out each year to the players who spend the most time in the training room. “But this year, you may have heard, we had a lot of injuries,†she said, “and since most of them were on offense, I want to give this award to all our offensive coaches.†Olin followed Newell in broaching the subject as he presented letters and letter jackets to his senior class. “Most of these kids played on the varsity as sophomores,†he said. “They were thrown into the fire sooner than we’d like.†The short-on-experience Ganders of 2005 finished 1-7 in a season made further frustrating by disruptions caused by Hurricane Rita. “But as juniors,†Olin continued, proudly, “they were in the playoffs. And this year, they fought through a lot of adversity. “I usually don’t make an issue of injuries. We believe in the ‘next-man philosophy.’ We just fill in with the next man and keep going. But our numbers are not what we’ve had. “Being in the playoffs two consecutive years and winning a district championship (in 2006) is not too bad.†Among the numerous awards made Saturday night was the first Ron Kramer Heart of a Gander Award. Named for Lee’s football coach from 1968-84 and district athletic director from 1985-91 who passed away in 2005, the award winner was chosen by the coaches from among four finalists who best exemplified traits that spell out the school’s mascot: Greatness, Adventure, Nostalgia, Dedication, Excellence and Resolve. Junior linebacker Collin Bieschke edged out fellow nominees Ramirez, Reggie Butler and J.T. Cleveland. Kramer’s widow, Lee High teacher Merla Kramer, presented the winner’s plaque to Bieschke, who, it turns out, is one of her former students. Jesse Luna, a senior receiver who filled in at numerous positions as injuries required, was named the team’s most valuable player, an award voted on by the Gander players. Other awards voted by the players were the Henry Armstrong defensive awards to Butler (secondary and linebackers) and Cleveland (linemen); the Dan Stallworth offensive awards to Kevin Craft (backs and receivers) and Adam Rivera (linemen); the most improved player awards to Tim Smith (offense) and Trent Warren (defense); and the Kern Award to Ramirez. Josh Jones won the James Gay Academic Award for owning the highest grade-point average on the team, and Butler, Craft and Jarvis Moore won $400 Michael Clements scholarship awards for their devotion, honor and loyalty to the Ganders.
Recommended Posts