PHOTOS OF KALEB AN ABBEY AT BOTTOM OF STORY
Kaleb Jefferson and Abbey Gambrell were recognized as this year's Bluffton High School top senior athletes during the academic awards program earlier this month.
Here's more information about both students:
Kaleb Jefferson
Football: Kaleb was a five-time All-NWC award winner (1st Team Offense and Defense in 2017); 8th all-time scoring in BHS football history (238 points); 3rd longest run in BHS history (94 yards vs Columbus Grove); Finished the 2017 season with 1,327 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns; two-time captain
Basketball: Kaleb averaged 12.35 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game this past season. He was a 2nd team all NWC selection and scholar athlete.
Track: Kaleb turned in his best high jump performance of the season. The returning state qualifier tied his personal best of 6’2” as he won the event.
Kaleb plans to attend Siena Heights and play football.
Abbey Gambrell
Abbey participated in soccer and track in high school. She started track as a sophomore year where she ran the 100 and 300 hurdles. In her sophomore year she received third in the NWC meet and fifth at districts in the 300 hurdles. At the end of her sophomore year she was voted the most improved player on the girls' team
As a junior she was second at the NWC meet and fifth at districts in the 300 hurdles.
As a senior year at the NWC meet she was fifth in the 100 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, and in districts was eighth in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles. She will compete in the regional track meet this week.
Abbey started soccer as a freshman and has played since fifth grade. For the BHS varsity she played defense until the middle of her junior year when she was moved to defensive midfield. She was named to the 2nd team all-NWC as a senior.
About the Jim “Cappy” Clark Award
At the end of each school year the Bluffton High School athletic department names two students as the most outstanding athletes in the senior class of BHS.
Although not at first, today the award is called the Jim “Cappy” Clark Award.
Clark attended Bluffton High School in the 1940s. During his lifetime, his interest in youth sports was immense. In the 1950s he founded the midget football program in Bluffton. At one time he coached three midget teams: the Pirates, Beavers and Buccaneers.
He retired from coaching the midget Pirates in 1980, after a 25-year career. During that period at least nine of his teams were league champs or playoff contenders.
A student’s selection as a Cappy Clark winner is based upon that student lettering in two or more sports, an accumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and consideration such as sportsmanship, athletic leadership, school leadership and citizenship. Each year’s winners are chosen by the athletic department and coaching staff.
Cappy Clark Award Winners
BOYS
1966 – Bill Swank
1967 – David Burkholder
1968 – Steve Stratton
1969 – Melvin Benroth
1970 – Mike Osborne
1971 – Dean King
1972 – Jim King
1973 – Steve Shaw
1974 – Mark Phillips
1975 – Dave Stratton
1976 – Jeff Shaw
1977 – Jeff Pogue
1978 – Bruce Matter
1979 – Tim Closson/Jeff Alt
1980 – Mardy Herr
1981 – Don Mathewson
1982 – Jeff Swank
1983 – John Tabler
1984 – Mike Yoder
1985 – Paul Shelly
1986 – Bruce Yant
1987 – Jim Armstrong
1988 – Doug Schweingruber
1989 – Curt Garmatter
1990 – Dan Althaus
1991 – Jeff Martz
1992 – Jeremy Herr
1993 – Matthew Derstine
1994 – Matthew Schweingruber
1995 – Jon Osborne
1996 – Eric Smith
1997 – Cam Warner
1998 – Rick Orr
1999 – Lucas Cherry
2000 – Kurt McKibben
2001 – Jon Wietholter
2002 – Ben Wenger
2003 – Ben McCullough
2004 – Jeff Richards
2005 – Justin Shannon
2006 – Kurt Groman
2007 – Andrew Hieronimus
2008 – Jesse Herr
2009 – Tyler Neal
2010 – Matt Suderman
2011 – Drew Luginbuhl
2012 – Jeremy Basinger
2013 – Zach Wilson
2014 – Noah Stratton
2015 – Robbie Stratton
2016 – Joel Siefker
2017 – Trevor Bassitt
2018 – Kaleb Jefferson
GIRLS
1979- Venessa Beach
1980 – Julee Matter
1981 – AAmy Bixel
1982 – Tammy Plaugher
1983 – Amy Osborne
1984 – Mary Steiner
1985 – Julie Shelly
1986 – Wendy Smith
1987 – Cindy Badertscher
1988 – Kris Snyder
1989 – Julie Friesen
1990 – Rachel Hefner
1991 – Angie Butler
1992 – Eliza Jacoby
1993 – Elizabeth Edwards
1994 – Rebecca Reineke
1995 – Crystal Bennett
1996 – Janni Sprunger
1997 - Ann Stechschulte
1998 – Katie Kantner
1999 – Anna Steiner
2000 – Caity Matter
2001 – Jennifer Romey
2002 – Mollie McCullough
2003 – Carrie Fett
2004 – Kelly Metzger
2005 – Emily Goldsberry
2006 – Ginny Buckingham
2007 – Brittany Buroker
2008 – Amanda Stratton
2009 – Jonica Schmutz
2010 – Sarah Stratton
2011 – Shannon McKamey
2012 – Lydia Guagenti
2013 – Julie Althaus
2014 – Jill Steinmetz
2015 – Erica Sheehan
2016 – Samantha Fruchey
2017 – Abbie Parkins
2018 – Abbey Gambrell
