Senior Blake Stitcher (right) and junior Joseph Batrous were presented awards at the recent Briarwood Academy winter sports banquet by Coach Christian Tiller (center) for their outstanding contributions to the 2005-06 varsity basketball team. Four Wilkes County students at Briarwood Academy recently received awards at the school's annual winter sports banquet for their contributions to basketball, cheerleading and twirling.

Junior Joseph Batrous, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Adams of Washington and the son of Joe and Vicki Batrous of Thomson, was the only Briarwood Buc named to the Georgia Independent School Association AA-All State basketball team. He was also named the Offensive Most Valuable Player for the 2005-06 Bucs.

Senior Blake Stitcher, son of Melanie Stitcher of Washington and Cliff Stitcher of Macon, and the grandson of Jimmy and Lucille Blakey and Roy and Jane Stitcher, all of Washington, was named the Most Improved Player for the basketball Bucs.

Senior Britt Edwards, daughter of Benjie and Donna Edwards and the granddaughter of Wade and Ann Palmer, all of Washington, and senior Amy McGee, daughter of Roy and Karen McGee of Lincolnton and the granddaughter of DeLeon and Mary Denard of Washington received awards in both cheerleading and twirling.

Seniors Britt Edwards (left) and Amy McGee were presented awards at the recent Briarwood Academy winter sports banquet by cheerleader coach Amy Hadden (right) for their outstanding contributions to cheerleading and Bucannette twirling during their 13 years at Briarwood. Britt received a plaque for serving as co-captain of the cheerleading squad and another plaque in recognition of her five years of service to the squad.

Amy, who was also a UCA AllStar Cheerleader, received a plaque for serving as captain of the cheerleading squad and another plaqque in recognition of her seven years of service to the squad.

Both Britt and Amy received plaques for serving as team captains of the varsity Buccanette twirling squad, which performed at football and basketball games throughout the fall and winter sports seasons. The two have twirled at Briarwood for 12 years, since they were in the first grade.