On Thursday, April 23, 2026, New Way Academy hosted its annual sports banquet. This event is meant to celebrate all of the sports players who played on a New Way sports team this year. It is also meant to celebrate the Most Valuable Players, Most improved, and team leaders of every single New Way sports team this year. The sports that got recognized this year were Flag football, Girls JV volleyball, Cheer, both fall and winter Esports, track and field, chess, and boys Jv volleyball. They all got celebrated in, and we all got playcads for Dave and Busters, which, in my opinion, made it very fun in general. On top of that, we got to eat food there, which helped me fill up, but I generally think it was amazing overall, and I think that New Way should continue to do the sports banquet every year.  What I think was the most important part was where the students who won awards at the banquet, from cheer to volleyball, heard who all of the award winners were.  

First well start with girls’ volleyball, which was their very first season in our school’s history, so congratulations to them. Let’s start with the first award, the most improved player, which went to Lyniah Booker. Congrats to her for being the most improved of the New Way girls’ volleyball team. Next, the award for the girls’ volleyball team was the Bulldog Spirit Award. This went t to Keke Dirkmaat. Congrats to her for being the most improved on the New Ways girls’ volleyball team. Now, for the final awards for the girls’ volleyball team, we have MVP, or most valuable player. This award went to Georgia Skerven. Congratulations to her for being the MVP on our girls’ volleyball team.

Now lets move on to flag football. Who made the play in torment but fell short of clinching a playoff spot still had a very successful season, though. First, the most improved player award went to  Grady Galloway. Congratulations to you, Grady, for winning the MIP Award.  Next, the flag football bulldog spirit award, which went to Teddy Hill, congratulates Teddy for being the recipient of the bulldog spirit award, and finally, for flag football, the MVP, which went to Jack Williams. Congratulations on winning the flag football MVP. 

Now lets move on to Track and field. This was their first year in a while, but that didn’t stop them from cooking. Now, let’s get into awards. The Bulldog Spirit award was split between 2 Bulldogs, Maddy and Delilah. Neat! Congratulations to those 2 girls for splitting the Bulldog Spirit Award. Now, for the most improved, it went to Angel Flandes. Congratulations to him for winning most improved. And now for MVP for Track, this went to Nate Ballentine. Congratulations to you, ate 

Moving on lets go to Fall cheer, which cheered on the flag football for their entire season.
Let’s start with the MIP Award, which went to Grace Johnstone. Congrats to her for winning the most improved for the Bulldog spirit award for fall cheer, which went to Isley Hinchey. Congrats to her and for MVP of Fall cheer, Congrats to Lundin Brown, Congrats to her for winning MVP.

Next lets talk about winter cheer, which cheered on basketball for a new way this year, both variety basketball. For the Bulldog MIP Award for winter cheer was Addy Chiari. Congratulations to her for winning Most Improved Player for the Bulldog Spirit Award for winter cheer, which went to l Layla Kendrick. Congratulations to her for winning MIP and finally for winter cheer MVP, which went to Georgia Skerven. Congratulations to her again for her 2nd MVP.  

Next Junior Varsity basketball, who had a decent season though missing the playoffs, still, they showed fight. The most improved for JV basketball goes to Davis Carter. Congratulations to him for winning most improved for the Bulldog Spirit Award, which went to Jackson Pesch. Congratulations to  Jackson for winning the Bulldog Spirit Award and for JV basketball MVP. That goes to Davis Carter. Congratulations to him for winning MVP  

Next, Varsity basketball, which also didn’t reach the playoffs, unfortunately, though they still had a good season. The Most Improved Player went to Cole Bloomer. Congratulations to Cole for winning the MIP for varsity basketball for the Bulldog Spirit Award, which went to Nate Bergma. Congratulations to Nate for winning the Bulldog Spirit Award and for MVP for varsity basketball, which went to Alex Seckler. Congratulations to Alex for winning MVP for Varsity basketball

Next, I would like to cover e-sports.  Who almost won there started champion coming up as the runner up, what a season first for MIP. That award goes to Gio Rodeles, congrats to him for Bulldog spirit. That award goes to Connelly Round. Congratulations to him, and for MVP for esports, Congratulations to Isaac Schwartz for winning MVP  

Next, Chess, who had a pretty decent season overall, was competitive and played great

For MIP on the chess team this year, that went to Paul Palmier. Congratulations to Paul for winning MIP. Next, for the Bulldog Spirit Award, there were 2 Rhys Patterson/Simon McAvity. Congratulations to those 2 for winning Bulldog Spirit Awards, and to Kayson Bowles for the chess MVP. Congratulations to you, Kayson, for winning the chess MVP

Now, boys volleyball, who have their best season ever at 4-6, congrats to them 

For most improved on the team that went to Ryan Slagle, congratulations to Ryan Slagle for the Bull Spirit Award. That went to Darryl Reeves. Congrats on winning the Bulldog Spirit Award at last. MVP for Volleyball Boys was Kai Taplin. Congratulations to Kai for winning MVP 

Now, for our last sport, golf, the bulldog MIP went to   Angel Flandes. Congratulations to him for a 2nd time for the Bulldog Spirit Award that went to Harrison Alvey. Congrats to Harrison for the Bulldog Spirit Award and to Ruben Salazar for the MVP. Congrats to Ruban for winning MVP

For the final 2 awards, we have Rookie of the Year going to Grady Galloway. Congratulations on winning RotY! And the big award, the Bulldog Athlete of the Year, went to Alex Seckler. Congrats to Alex for winning the Bulldog Athlete of the Year.