Point Loma High’s football team, coming off a 9-3 season, gathered one final time to present team awards, honor all-league accomplishments and pass out letters.
Head coach Mike Hastings and his staff joined players and parents at Phil’s BBQ last week for a lunch banquet honoring players for their contributions to the team’s success.
These Pointers reached the CIF Div. I quarterfinals before being eliminated by eventual runner-up Madison.
Hastings described a group of young men who came together after the 2013 season (and a 5-6 record) and decided they weren’t satisfied. With leadership from within, they determined to work together, support each other and work tirelessly, which led to a greatly improved showing in 2014.
Players honored were:
Team Captains: Seniors Gavin Grady, Dan O’Beirne and Tim O’Brien.
Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year: Senior Alejandro Grande.
Staff Sgt. Jimmie Howard “Semper Fi” Award: O’Brien.
Coach Bennie Edens “Pointer Pride” Award: Grady.
“Iron Jockstrap Award” (for toughness): Senior Jacob Ehm.
Bob Hammes Award for Most Improved Academically: Senior Malik Riddle.
Coach Bill Hastings Specialist Award: Junior Jaime Medina.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Senior Sergio Gallegos.
Steve Horrow Award: Junior Kimo Katashima.
Most Inspirational Player: O’Beirne.
Jimmie Howard, deceased, is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner who became an assistant coach at PLHS. Edens, deceased, is the legendary former Pointer coach, and Bob Hammes is a volunteer who works with players with classroom or attitude issues. Bill Hastings, deceased, is the father of the Pointer head coach and a longtime former coach himself. Steve Horrow, deceased, was a longtime member of the PLHS coaching staff and a popular figure in Peninsula youth sports and scouting programs.