Sports Banquet

by Maya Pursell

On May 29th, students, coaches, families, and staff gathered for the annual HIS Sports Banquet, a special evening dedicated to celebrating the commitment, teamwork, and achievements of student-athletes throughout the school year.

The banquet brought together athletes from every sport offered at HIS to reflect on a season filled with hard work, growth, and memorable moments. While awards and MVP recognitions highlighted individual accomplishments, the evening served as a reminder that success is built through teamwork, perseverance, and the support of an entire community.

The celebration began with a delicious dinner prepared by the chefs from Little Caesars. This year’s menu featured tacos, giving athletes the chance to enjoy a meal with friends, and share stories from their seasons before the formal program began.

Following dinner, guests moved to the gym where coaches and HIS Athletic Director Mr Rankin reflected on the year’s achievements and recognized athletes for their dedication and contributions to their teams. Awards and MVP honors were presented across all sports, showcasing the talent and determination displayed by HIS athletes throughout the year.

This year’s MVPs included: 

Badminton – Niko Bossaer and Joohye Hwang

Volleyball – Hugo Nishi-Strong and Joohye Hwang

Middle School Volleyball – Ailey Sim

Basketball – Joohye Hwang and Toshi Gotoda

Middle school basketball – Kowa Schlosser and Valerie Lin

Cross Country – Maya Pursell

Middle school soccer – Jotaro Mori and Moe Ishikawa

Hustle Awards: 

Badminton – Maya Pursell and Haru Togashi 

Volleyball – Olivia Maune and Lauri Porthan 

Middle school volleyball – Zion Kim

Basketball – Taylor Kim and Elly-Grace Michael 

Middle school basketball – Grace Vaeth and Zion Kim

Cross Country – Elly-Grace Michael

Middle school soccer – Seth Newton Webb and Sarah Yamamoto 
 

Beyond the trophies and certificates, the Sports Banquet highlighted something even more important: the sense of community that athletics creates. Throughout the year, students learned valuable lessons about leadership, resilience, sportsmanship and supporting one another both on and off the court and field. These values reflect HIS’s mission of developing well-rounded individuals who strive for excellence while making positive contributions to their communities.

For many athletes, the banquet marked the final opportunity to celebrate the season together. New friendships were formed, unforgettable memories were shared, and accomplishments both big and small were recognized.

A senior who won multiple awards and attended her last Sports Banquet states: 

“Throughout the 13 years in HIS, I’ve always been active in some kind of sports here whether it be volleyball, basketball, or badminton.

I think this school really has improved the sports program since I came here, implementing more tournaments and practices. I really appreciate all the teachers and staff who contributed to this improvement, and I am grateful for the opportunity they provided for me, creating the best high school sports environment for me and my peers.

The last sports banquet felt extremely sentimental. The dinner was amazing as always, giving me the time with my teammates and friends for the last time. 

Sports banquets have always been important to me because I value sports and it’s a celebration of it. 

I hope HIS will keep improving the sports program: because it’s the best part ever!!” -Joohye Hwang

The success of HIS athletics would not be possible without the dedication of coaches, staff members, families, and Athletic Director Mr. Rankin, whose support helps create opportunities for student-athletes to compete, improve, and represent the school.

As the evening came to a close, athletes left with more than just awards and photographs. They left with memories of a season filled with challenges overcome, goals achieved, and teammates who became friends. The Sports Banquet served as a fitting conclusion to another outstanding year of HIS athletics and a reminder that the strongest victories are often the ones shared together.