The 2016 Group 4A state football champions were honored with a banquet at Salem High School last week, and several special awards were presented to Spartan players.
Riley Fox became the 40th annual Spartan Bell, presented to the player deemed the hardest hitter by the Salem High coaches. The award has been sponsored by the Salem Times-Register since the first year of Salem High School, which opened in 1977.
Fox is a senior who will attend the College of William & Mary and play football for the Tribe next fall. Ironically, the Spartans won this year’s state championship on William & Mary’s field, and Fox scored the winning touchdown.
The “Lead Mule Award” went to all-state offensive lineman Josie Staples. That award was presented by Salem’s Lee Eubanks.
Other awards went to Patrick Croke as the Spartan Silk Screen Scholar Athlete, Vincent Pinello won the Bob Barnette Hustle Award, Shemar Terry was the Roger Surber Senior Award winner and Grey Wolfe won the Iron Spartan Award for hard work in the weight room.