Cougar basketball awards

After a 19-7 (8-1 WBL) season that included sectional and district championships and a trip to the Division IV regional semifinals, the Van Wert boys basketball program held its annual awards program Tuesday night. Show above, left to right, are: Kaiven Welch: “Pride Award”; Keaten Welch: Third Team All-WBL; Cohen Bragg: Second Team All-WBL, Honorable Mention All-Northwest District; Zach Crummey: “Chairman of The Boards”, Second Team WBL, Honorable Mention All-Northwest District; Xavier Kelly: “Cougar Award”, First Team All -WBL, Second Team All-Northwest District, Second Team District 8, Honorable Mention All-Ohio; Griffin McCracken: “Claw Award”, Third Team All-WBL, and Caden Collins: “Grit Award”, Honorable Mention All-WBL. Photos submitted

Van Wert coaches presenting the District Championship trophy and game ball to the seniors: Coach Helm, Coach Best, Griffin McCracken, Kaiven Welch, Coach Shindeldecker, and Coach Altimus.

Members of the “Sweet 16” team, consisting of members of both the cheerleading and basketball teams, received commemorative plaques from Coach Best and Cheer Coach Jacque Welch.