Throughout their high school careers, they practiced endlessly, played hard, but always fair, and listened to their coaches.
Whether they enjoyed the thrill of victory or suffered the agony of defeat, they never forgot their Wildcat pride as they represented their school both on the field and in the classroom.
On Monday night, the 94 graduating senior athletes of Oxford High School’s Class of 2007 were honored with plaques from the Oxford Athletic Boosters & Foundation.
Not only is this year’s 51 males and 43 females the largest group of senior athletes in the school’s history, they also earned more varsity letters than any other graduating class prior to them.
During their four years at OHS, the Class of 2007 collected a grand total of 351 varsity letters.
Natalie Lukas earned 11 letters, the most of any male or female athlete in the class. She received four letters in track, four in competitive cheer and three for football cheer.
Right behind Lukas was fellow cheerleader Ashlee-Morgan Eller who earned 10 letters ? four in track, three in competitive cheer and three for football cheer.
The highest honors of the evening were bestowed upon Samantha Bono and Vinnie Ives.
Bono received the Helen Smith Award, which is given to the Best Female Senior Athlete. She lettered in soccer during all four years of her high school career.
Ives was presented the George Prince Award, an honor reserved for the Best Male Senior Athlete. He lettered in football and baseball for three years and basketball for one year.
Both awards were voted on by all the athletes who earned varsity letters during their senior year.