Five inducted into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame ceremony Sunday

The end of the 2022-23 high school sports season in the Texas Panhandle has arrived. As such, it's time for end of the year awards and Hall of Fame inductions.

Sunday marked the Texas Panhandle Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Amarillo Civic Center. Five legendary athletes from the area were enshrined after receiving their jackets Saturday.

Former Stinnett cross country runner Fred Cooper, former Wayland Baptist and West Texas A&M men's basketball coach Rick Cooper, former Amarillo High and Nebraska volleyball star Kori Cooper-Clements, former Palo Duro and NFL football player Ziggy Hood, and former Canadian head football coach Chris Koetting made up this year's class. Each was worthy of induction after all they accomplished in their respective careers.

In addition to the five inductees were the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Awards. Individual accolades as well as team accolades were given out at the ceremony on Sunday, spaced out throughout the afternoon.

Texas Panhandle Hall of Fame: Athlete Awards

• The award for baseball player of the year went to Randall's Payton Bush, who was a true triple threat in leading Randall to its first state tournament appearance in 16 years.

• Amarillo High's McKenzie Smith was the basketball player of the year, having also received that recognition from the Amarillo Globe-News. She'll continue her basketball career at the University of Kansas.

• Taytum Goodman of Springlake-Earth was the cross country athlete of the year after winning gold in three different track events last month and dominating the Class 1A circuit last fall.

• Sunray's Armando Lujan was football player of the year, an award the AGN also bestowed upon him after he had one of the top passing seasons of any quarterback in the nation.

• Alyssa Campbell of West Texas A&M was recognized as the golfer of the year after she led the Lady Buffs to the national tournament.

• Pampa's Justin Martinez was the soccer player of the year, the same award the AGN recognized him with, after he finished top 10 in the country in scoring last year.

• AHS' Tatem Pendergraft was softball player of the year after batting bettern .500 for one of the best teams in the area.

• Eleanor Archer of Amarillo High was the winner of tennis player of the year after she led the Lady Sandies to a state championship.

• Canyon's Hannah Stuart won the track athlete of the year after she dominated race after race.

• Jordyn Gove led Randall to a state championship, and Torey Miller led WT to a National Championship this past season. The committee honored them co-volleyball players of the year.

• Caprock's Richard Davila and Tascosa's Andres Suarez were co-winners in wrestling. Both won individual state championships while Suarez also won a team title with the Rebels.

Texas Panhandle Hall of Fame: Coaching Awards

Randall's Cory Hamilton (baseball), Leslie Broadhurst (Basketball), Ben Gilliland (golf), Darby Norman (tennis) and Haleigh Burns (volleyball) all won awards. Burns, Norman and Gilliland each won a state title, Hamilton led Randall to its first state tournament in 16 years and Broadhurst led Randall to its first state tournament ever in boys basketball.

• Kendra Potts, who led WT to a National Title in volleyball, shared the volleyball award with Burns.

• Norman shared the award with Koby Otto of Amarillo High. Otto led the Sandies to a state title as well.

• Ty Hoobler (softball) was another Amarillo High winner after he guided the Lady Sandies to one loss in the regular season and an overall record of 34-5.

• Canyon's Wes Kirton (cross country) and Ray Baca (track) were recognized in their fields after guiding their teams to state titles.

• West Plains had two winners in Adam Cummings (football) and Amberlee Gerald (soccer). The soccer team won a district title and advanced to the regional quarterfinals, and the football team made the area round of the playoffs. Both were in their first year.

• Tascosa's Joe Stafford won the coach of the year award for wrestling. Tascosa won the 5A state championship this season.

• Special achievement awards were given to Vega's Lynlee Spinhirne, Pampa's Trent Loter and Nazareth's Eric Schilling. Spinhirne won a state championship in swimming, Loter has been the Harvester equipment manager for decades and Schilling led the Lady Swifts to a state championship in girls basketball.

Texas Panhandle Hall of Fame: Other Awards

• The Canyon girls track team was recognized as the top team of the year regardless of sport for its dominant state title run.

• Ella Hester of the Randall tennis team won the big game/big play award for her performance in the state championship to earn the Raiders a state title.

• Palo Duro graduate Lo Van Pham was recognized as the local sports person making an impact at the professional level for being named the first Asian-American ref in NFL history.

• Kendra Murray of Tascosa won the award for inspirational athlete after becoming a competitor in the track wheelchair events following a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down.

A detailed list of each winners accomplishments can be found online.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Five inducted into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame ceremony Sunday