SPOTLIGHT: Night of Scholars and Champions names top male and female athletes of year
More than three dozen of the top area athletes — and several of most of the successful classroom scholars — gathered en masse Monday night at the Bartlesville Community Center for a well-deserved salute.
The Night of Scholars and Champions honored 70 area students, capped by the naming of a Student of the Year and Patriot Auto Group, represented by owner Tatton Manning, awarding him a new car (See article on A1).
Related: Bartlesville senior drives away with Student of the Year award
For the sixth-straight year Patriot Auto provided a new car for the chosen student and also served as a title sponsor.
Earlier in the evening, the Athletes of the Week, named throughout the school year, gathered together on stage to be recognized with well-deserved accolades.
Approximately 40 athletes, representing nine area schools,
shared the spotlight.
From the pool of Athletes of the Week, the Male Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year were chosen from among the seniors.
Caney Valley multi-sport standout Daniel Barham took home the Male Athlete of the Year Award, which included a $1,000 scholarship.
Barham starred for three different Trojan teams this past school year.
With him playing an important role on each one, the team’s amassed a cumulative 39-23 record (Football, 6-4; boys basketball, 16-11; and baseball 17-8).
This was just the second winning record in approximately 30 years for Trojan football. And the basketball team advanced for the first time in a decade or more to the area round of the playoffs.
He locked in with multiple 30-point games for the Trojan basketball team and contributed as both a pitcher and position player/batter for the baseball team.
Bartlesville High No. 1 singles tennis player Maddie Shelley harvested the Female Athlete of the Year Award.
Shelley surged to a 21-0 record prior to losing a close decision in the Class 6A state championship meet.
She was one of the few state finalists in Lady Bruin net history.
Shelley bounced back from an upper body injury that had cost her most of her junior season (2021) and limited or postponed her training.
She won the championship in every regular season tournament and in the regional.
As a freshman, Shelley had finished third in state. But, the COVID spring sports shutdown deprived her of her sophomore campaign and the injury sidelined her as a junior.
She is headed to play college tennis at Washburn.
The choices for both the male and female athletes of the year were grueling ones.
There were nine finalists, representing several area schools, on the girls side, and a high number of final candidates, as well, for the boys honor.
Painted Horse Bar & Grille catered the banquet.
Patriot Auto Group sponsored the Athlete of the Week articles throughout the school year. DSR sponsored the Senior Spotlight, of which there were approximately 70.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Focus on Night of Scholars and Champions
