Team Awards Banquet 2025

Last night we held the 2025 Chestatee XC Team Awards Banquet at the Family Church in Gainesville to help sum up the 2025 Cross Country season with family & friends present.  We first had a recognition for our Senior Runners that were able to attend.

Thank you all for choosing to spend your Senior Year with Chestatee Cross Country!





The evening moved on to recognizing our athletes that also push the limits in the classroom towards academic success.  We then moved into the running awards, some were voted by the athletes, some were selected by the coaching staff, and some were decided on their performance alone. 

We are very proud of our War Eagle athletes and look forward to next summer to start the 2026 Cross Country season!

SCHOLARLY ATHLETE AWARDS

Scholarly athlete need at least a 3.5 GPA to qualify.  For Freshmen, you need all A's and no more than one B.

Men's Scholar Awards
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Israel Alcantar
  • Easton Chaffin
  • Zachary Smith
  • Kevin Martinez
  • Colton Blackburn

Women's Scholar Awards

  • Izzy Wintermantel
  • Kayleigh McBride
  • Reyna Palacios
  • Alison Aguilar
  • Briana Aguilar
  • Leilani Moreno
  • Leslie Cruz
  • Melanie Ceballos
  • Vanessa Valdez
  • Beberly Domingo
  • Kylor Stewart
  • BryAna Reyna
  • Emma Dobson
  • Isabella McClenathen
  • Harper Irvin
  • Paola Salazar
  • Alexa Rodriguez

VARSITY LETTERS

Runner must have competed in at least 6 Varsity XC races in 2025 to qualify.

Men's Varsity Letters 
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Roger Vasquez
  • Easton Chaffin
  • Romeo Vazquez
  • Jefferson Sibrian
  • Pedro Pedro-Martin
  • Colton Blackburn
  • Miguel Valdez
Women's Varsity Letters
  • Izzy Wintermantel
  • Kayleigh McBride
  • Alison Aguilar
  • Leilani Moreno
  • Natalie Menjivar
  • Vanessa Valdez
  • Crystal Vaca
  • Kylor Stewart
  • Emma Dobson
  • Isabella McClenathen

MOST VALUABLE RUNNER AWARD**

The Most Valuable Runner (MVR) award goes to the runner on the team that made the biggest impact on the program.
  • Emma Dobson - Women's Varsity
  • Harper Irvin - Women's JV
  • Jonathan Smith - Men's Varsity
**voted by teammates

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD**

The Rookie of the Year Award goes to a new member of the team that has made the biggest impact on the team's success.
  • Emma Dobson - Women's Varsity
  • Harper Irvin - Women's JV
  • Jefferson Sibrian - Men's Varsity
**voted by teammates

TRUE TALON AWARD**

For the athlete who embodies the core of what it means to be a Chestatee War Eagle — resilient, supportive, and fierce.
  • Kayleigh McBride - Women's Varsity
  • Melanie Ceballos-Benitez - Women's JV
  • Zachary Smith - Men's Varsity
**voted by teammates

WAR EAGLE HEART AWARD**

Honors the runner who gives everything for the team, leading with heart and by example.
  • Kayleigh McBride - Women's Varsity
  • BryAna Reyna - Women's JV
  • Jonathan Smith - Men's Varsity
**voted by teammates

MOST IMPROVED AWARD

The Most Improved Runner Award goes to the athlete who has shown the greatest growth and progress in performance over the season.
  • Crystal Vaca - Women’s Varsity
  • Alexa Rodriguez - Women's JV
  • Jefferson Sibrian - Men's Varsity
  • Jose Romero - Men's JV

COACH'S AWARD

  • Crystal Vaca - Women's Varsity
  • Abilene Sanchez - Women's JV
  • Pedro Pedro-Martin - Men's Varsity
  • Zach Smith - Men's JV

TEAM CAPTAIN(S) RECOGNITION

  • Jonathan Smith - Men's Varsity
  • Easton Chaffin - Men's Varsity
  • Kayleigh McBride - Women's Varsity
  • Izzy Wintermantel - Women's Varsity

ALL-REGION RECOGNITION 

  • Emma Dobson - All-Region 6-3A, 1st Team
  • Kayleigh McBride - All-Region 6-3A, 2nd Team

NEW SCHOOL RECORD RECOGNITION

  • Emma Dobson broke the school record twice this year that was previously set in 2014 by Lindsey Grater.  The Women's XC is now set at 18:31.52, which she ran at the North Oconee Invitational.  She originally broke the record with an 18:41.52 at the Pickens & Grinnin' Invitational the week prior.

ALL-AMERICAN RECOGNITION

In order to qualify for All-American, a female athlete needs to run a 5K in under 19:00.  For males, a time under 16:15 would qualify for All-American recognition.
  • Emma Dobson received All-American recognition from the National High School Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (NHSTFXCCA) for her 5K time of 18:31.52. Emma ran 3 All-American qualifying times this season.

COACH WES YOO-HOO AWARDS

This award has been coveted by Chestatee runners for the past 21 years.  This award is given for not only success in competition, but also effort and great things that happen in practice, workouts, and at school...but you have to impress Coach Wes as he keeps the score on this one!
  • Varsity Girls Team for their 5th place finish at State
  • Zach Smith

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