Top athletic awards recognized during CPA graduation

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By CINDY CROSBY

cindyc4@yahoo.com

Colleton Prep Academy presented the top female and male athletic awards during commencement exercises held Thursday June 18 in the Colleton Preparatory Academy Gymnasium.

“These two awards are the highest presented in the Colleton Prep Athletic Department,” said Greg Langdale, CPA athletic director. “To be eligible for these awards, student athletes must excel in the classroom and on their sports venues. These student athletes must also demonstrate school spirit, high character, positive attitudes and a great love for Colleton Prep Academy. Both recipients tonight demonstrate all these qualities and exemplify everything we look for in a Colleton Prep student-athlete.”

Senior Heather Davis was presented the Debbie Powers Award honoring the late Powers, 1987 graduate of John C. Calhoun. Powers died in a tragic traffic accident while traveling with the Converse College Ladies’ Basketball team during her freshman season.

“Debbie Powers was not only known for her great success on the basketball court but also for her love of John C. Calhoun,” said Langdale. “She was involved in many sports and extra-curricular activities and was known for being all in on everything she did and for her school.

“Heather Davis was a multi-sport athlete at Colleton Prep and excelled in each sport,” said Langdale. “She has been awarded multiple awards in each sport throughout her career. She gave 100% regardless of the situation. Her coaches have described her as a hard worker and a true leader, both on and off the fields of play. She has been involved in multiple extra-curricular activities during her time at CPA. She is a player who never misses practice and is always willing to do the extra work. She also excelled in the classroom and was a student and a teammate you could always count on. She exemplifies everything we look for in a Colleton Prep student-athlete.”

Gabe Barnes was honored as the 2020 recipient of the Joe Carroll War Hawk Award.

“Our second award tonight is very special and takes on a little extra meaning this week,” said Langdale during the graduation ceremony. “This award is given in honor of Joe Carroll who died this past weekend. Joe Carroll was known around Colleton Prep as ‘superfan.’” I know he is looking down and is immensely proud of tonight’s recipient.”

“This year, we had a lot of male student athletes that were eligible for the Joe Carroll War Hawk Award,” said Langdale. “We had many excellent student athletes to choose from that would have all been great choices and someone Colleton Prep could be enormously proud of. So, for this young man to rise to the top of all these great choices really says a lot about just how special he is.

“Gabe Barnes was a multi-sport student athlete at Colleton Prep,” said Langdale. “He excelled in the classroom and has a natural love for CPA. He has great character and always has a positive attitude. Over his athletic career at Colleton Prep, he has won a long list of awards in each sport. One coach described him as the hardest worker they ever coached. Another coach said, ‘I wish I had 10 of him every year.’ I have had the opportunity to coach this young man and the best way I can sum him up is this: When I have a young student-athlete ask me what to do, no matter what it is, I point to this young man and say watch him, and whatever he does — do that.”