Scholarship recipients are (seated, L-R) Will Martin, Katrina Crankfield, Zenario Shuler and Shawndre Sheffield. On Thursday morning, May 6, friends and family gathered at the new Pirate Gymnasium to watch the signing of scholarships by three Pirates and one Lady Pirate. It was awesome to watch these athletes as their parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters looked on so proudly.

Senior Point Guard, Katrina Crankfield, daughter of Steve and Vevelon Crankfield, was named to the First Team All- Region 1-A Basketball Team. Crankfield was the leader of the Lady Pirates, averaging 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game. Katrina’s future looks very bright as she signed with Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Ala. Also Katrina was voted MVP of the Middle Georgia Shoot-Out High School All Star Game which was held in Lumpkin, Georgia. The drive for Katrina will only be about two and half hours away, so she can come home when she can.

Senior point guard, Will Martin, son of Tim and Bonnie Martin, averaged 17 points and six assists per game and became the first Miller County Pirate athlete in basketball history to score 1,000 points in his career. He will be leaving Miller County High, holding the school record with a total of 1,316 points. Will also was voted MVP at the Middle Georgia Shoot-Out High School All Star Game up in Lumpkin as well. Will ends his high school career here at Miller County and starts his college career up in Atlanta at Atlanta Metropolitan Community College, where he will major in business and continue to play the game of basketball.

Now the other two athletes could not part ways with one another, so, therefore, they both will be going to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma.

First, senior running back Shawndre Sheffield, son of Lawanda Green and Shawn Sheffield, is one of the most outstanding Class A running backs in the state of Georgia. Sheffield gained 1,209 yards on only 162 carries which averaged 7.46 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns to end his senior year. During his four year starter career here at MCHS, Sheffield gained more than 4,000 yards. What a memory to hold onto and to take with you. Shawndre stated, “I plan on majoring in sociology.”

Next, Zenario Shuler, son of Pamala Spencer and Terry Levatte, is one of the toughest and quickest defensive backs that has ever played the game of football. Shuler knows how to cover and tackle. Shuler made over 26 solo tackles, had nine assists, picked off two interceptions, and recovered four fumbles this season. This kid is quick as lightning and always has a smile on his face! Zenario plans on a career in sports medicine.

Both Sheffield and Shuler made All Region 1-A Players their senior year and have been best of friends since the eighth grade. Their dreams were to continue playing football together somewhere. Shuler did not want to leave Sheffield, and Sheffield did not want to leave Shuler. Because they are best friends, when Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers made the deal with Sheffield and Shuler, they knew they could not resist.

Congratulations go to all these fine athletes and their parents. We are so proud of each one of you.