2010 Elks All-Sports Banquet: Matt Gossett is Outstanding Senior Athlete
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin Elks Lodge #884, in a vote by its Sports Banquet Committee, selected Matt Gossett as the 2009-2010 Outstanding Senior Athlete of Du Quoin High School during its 63rd Annual All-Sports Banquet Wednesday night.
Gossett, an all-state choice and four-year letter winner in basketball, was also a two-year football standout while lettering on the baseball diamond three times. He was named to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) All-Academic team for football, where he starred at quarterback. As a junior, he played linebacker while also seeing time at tight end and back-up quarterback. This past fall, Gossett threw for 1.079 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The son of Jeff and Darcy Gossett, Matt will attend Lincoln Land College in Springfield this fall on a basketball scholarship.
Matt Gossett finished ninth on the all-time DHS career scoring list (1,109 points) and helped the Tribe to 68 victories the past three seasons, including three consecutive Class 2A regional crowns.
"This is a great honor and that I am just so proud to receive," he said. "I would like to thank my family. They've always been there and are just tremendous. I feel very blessed."
Matt Gossett is one of 31 seniors who have earned varsity athletic letters during the current school year.
The group has been part of a continued statewide prominence in football and basketball, while also helping produce winning seasons and conference titles in baseball and track.
"This group of seniors entered Du Quoin High School four years ago with the pressure of very high expecations," banquet emcee and committee member Steve Marek said. "I can say now, four years later, they certainly haven't disappointed. They've lived up to those expecations and more. This is a fine, fine group of young men."
Seven other prestigious awards were handed out Wednesday.
Marcus Clarry was the seventh winner of the Darrell Keith Anders Memorial Award.
Named in honor of the storied DHS athlete and arguably the schools best basketball player ever-who passed away as a senior in 1983-this award remembers the spirit, class, enthusiasm talent and pure joy Darrell Anders displayed on the basketball floor. His presence and impact is still felt today as Du Quoin teams play and practice in newly-renovated Anders Memorial Gymnasium.
Former DHS coach Roger Craft presented the award, which is given each year to a senior member of Du Quoin's varsity basketball team.
David Gayton- a track and football letter winner-received the 26th Annual William G. Theobald Academic Award.
It is named in memory of the longtime educator, coach and local sports legend who was instrumental in the establishment of the Elks Banquet. Chairman of the sports committee for nearly 25 years, Theobald was a first-ballot member of Du Quoin's Athletic Hall of Fame. He passed away in 1984. The award is given to the DHS senior athlete with the top overall grade point average.
Alex Heape and Jon Tennyson, who co- anchored a stout offensive line at center and tackle, respectively, shared the 20th Whitey Miller Spirit award.
The Miller award is named in special memory of the late Indians assistant football and head baseball coach.
Each year, members of the Du Quoin football coaching staff select a senior lineman to receive the award. With the Indians top-ranked in the state and preparing for a battle with arch-rival Murphysboro, Miller died tragically in a 1989 traffic accident near Vergennes.
David Rose won the Carroll L. Doerner Memorial Scholarship award. A member of Du Quoin's coaching staff for 23 years, Doerner passed away suddenly shortly after retiring from District #300 in 1994. Varsity football coach Al Martin presented the award. Doerner coached Du Quoin's sophomore gridders for 21 years. Rose was an all-state wide receiver and safety. He's the current holder pf most Du Quoin High School receiving records.
Ella, Janie, Jane and Janice Jeremiah and were winners of the 40th Joe E. Webber Fan of the Year Award. Loyal and longtime supporters of DHS athletics, the mother-daughter-daughter and daughter foursome become the second, third, fourth and fifth winners from the Ginn family.
The girls father-and Jane's wife-the late R.J. Ginn- was the Webber winner in 1987.
2010 marked the fifth presentation of the Justin Willi, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Award. Named in honor of the longtime banquet committee member and star Du Quoin Township High School athlete, Mr. Willi served the committee for 21 years and until just prior to his death in 2005. Clarry was named this year's winner.
Another scholarship award, named in memory of Seth Milam, was established by the Milam family two years ago. The 2010 winner was Gayton, who emotionally deflected credit and praise to his mother, who passed several years ago.
"I keep thinking how proud mom would be of me and these two awards," Gayton said. "That means so much to me." Gayton is a sprinter in track and led Du Quoin in rushing this past season.
Honoring a senior football player, the scholarship is presented to remember Seth Milam, an Indian athlete, who died tragically at age 19 in 2007.
In all, 99 varsity lettermen were honored as special guests during the 92-minute affair.
The entire 2010 senior class athletes receiving special medallions from the Elks were: Jared Albers, Ozzie Britton, Tony Burke, Logan Carson, Alex Carter, Marcus Clarry, Eli Epplin, David Gayton, Matt Gossett, Alex Heape, Josh Heatherly, Ben Hirsch, Patrick Jones, Kyle Kelley, Felipe Meirelles, Josh Morris, Chuck Payne, Jamor Reed, Andrew Riley, Cody Rose, David Rose, Logan Schneider, Andrew Sheehan, Tyler Shelton, Danny Sizemore, Evon Stollhans, Jon Tennyson, Jonathon Trammel, Brett Tudor, Robbie Wagner and Kyle Webb.
Underclass letter winners included 39 juniors, 23 sophomores and 15 freshmen. juniors
Southern Illiniois University football coach Dale Lennon was the principal speaker for the evening.
Fred Huff-the banquet's senior committee member (55 years) and retired emcee-introduced Lennon.
"Dale's threatening to become the most successful football coach in Saluki history," Huff said. "He not only built on the all good things Jerry Kill accomplished but surpassed a lot of it. And in just two years Southern's won 20 of 25 games. That's no small feat. I've grown to know Dale the past two years and SIU has the good fortune to have him here."
Joined by his wife of 27 years, Chris, Lennon delivered a simple message to all.
"We ask our athletes to do just three plain and simple things," he said. "We ask them to do what's best, do what's right and to respect others. And always in life, expect the best from yourself and always carry a positive attitude."
Born and raised in rural North Dakota, Lennon reflected on growing up near the Canadian border. Small-town life remains instilled deep inside Lennon, who compared Du Quoin to his hometown.
"We all still go back for the class reunions," he said. "Like Du Quoin its a small place which takes great pride in its young people. You appreciate that kind of up-bringing. Communitites like this are such a special, special thing. I am still pretty new to this area, but I can tell being here tonight that this is a great community."
Among the estimated crowd of 300 attending were former Outstanding senior athlete award winners: Rich Gilliam (1958), Mike Crews (1964), Alan Porter (1970), Al Martin (1972), Stanley Clarry (1974), Gordy Showalter (1980), John Rainwater (1981), Kent Leek (1983), Steve Marek (1984), Shane Boyett (1989), Jim Cravens (1991), Jason Karnes (1993) and Adam Hill (1994).
Past Joe E. Webber fans-of-the year honorees Carl Campanella (1989), Joe Brewner (2001), Galen Davis (2002) were introduced, along with 2007 winners Kathy and Kenny Scaglione.
Crews, who retired last month after five years as boys basketball coach, was recognized along with his successor, Gabe Sveda.
"These past five years and coming back to coach at Du Quoin High School has certainly been the fulfillment of my career," he said. "This community always has and always will produce yoing people that we all can be proud of.:
Du Quoin honors its female athletes with a banquet May 5 in the commons area of Du Quoin Middle School,
Another well-known SIU coach, women's golf mentor Dianne Daugherty, will be principal speaker.