Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
Graduating seniors Mackenzie Depaoli, Myla Bott, Brandon McCullar , Brady Garrett and Zoe Raible earned Fernley High School’s top athletic awards for the 2022-23 school year.
Depaoli and Bott were the co-winners of the Iron Woman Award, while McCullar and Garrett were the co-winners of the Iron Man Award, and Raible was the winner of the Brian Beaty Award.
In addition, Evven Johnson and Vianca Frias received awards for being three-sport athletes for four years, an Steven Gamsby was voted the Fan of the year.
The awards are presented to graduating seniors each year, but are career awards honoring the entirety of the winner’s high school career.
The Iron Man and Iron Woman awards are presented to the top male and female scholar-athletes who competed in multiple sports. Depaoli played volleyball, basketball and softball, while Bott competed in cross country and track and was a member of the dance team. McCullar played football, wrestling and baseball, while Garrett competed in soccer, wrestling and swimming.
Raible was the winner of the Brian Beaty Award, which goes to the senior athlete who has achieved the most despite limitations or obstacles. It is named after former Fernley football player Brian Beaty, who overcame injuries throughout his career to become a starter and an all-league player as a senior. He was later killed in a car crash. The name Brian Beatty has become synonymous to the words hard work, dedication and perseverance. His legacy is now handed down to those current Fernley High athletes that have shown these qualities.
When Raible was 12, she began experiencing medical concerns including seizures. She was hospitalized, taken out of physical activities, and diagnosed with Todd's Paralysis from her epilepsy. This also detrimentally affected her hearing in one ear, and she now is required to wear a hearing aid. Even though she couldn’t compete, she continued to work hard to regain her strength and still supported her team and attended practices. Two years later she was cleared to begin doing what she loves.
Her junior year she and her family fought through yet more health concerns and setbacks but she continued to work, support, fight, and achieve many things at Fernley High School.
Academically, she was accepted into and completed the CNA program this past year and was recently accepted into Western Governors University to continue her studies in nursing.
Outside of her team duties, she's also assisted with youth camps and clinics during summer months and throughout the seasons. She was a captain on the team for her senior year and led her team to a national qualification and 3rd place National title in 2022 and a National qualification in 2023. Athletic director Paul Sullivan said she is one of the most positive, kind-hearted kids to have gone through the FHS cheer program.
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