Looney, Rice receive coveted CCHS awards

Hank Looney received the Bernie Saggau Award, and Saige Rice received the Kim Bishop Award during the athletics portion of the Creston Community High School awards ceremony May 8.

(See separate articles in the News Advertiser for coverage of the CCHS Outstanding Female Athlete and Outstanding Male Athlete award winners.)

The Saggau award is named for the retired executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, who devoted much of his life to building high standards of character and leadership in Iowa high school athletics.

Looney, a varsity athlete in football and track and field, is also an outstanding student. He received the award that states: “Presented annually to the graduating student who best exemplifies a patriotic spirit, with strong religious and moral convictions, living and professing the qualities of honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship; believing that both games and life should be conducted by the rules.”

Looney lettered three times in both football and track.

Rice received the award in honor of the late Kim Bishop. A standout student at Creston High School, Bishop was also an all-around athlete and gymnast. The award is presented annually to a CCHS female athlete who displays outstanding citizenship and sportsmanship.

When Rice completes her senior softball season, she will have four letters in that sport along with two each in basketball and track, and one each in volleyball and cross country. She missed much of her junior season of athletics with shoulder surgery and rehabilitation.

The Athletic Citizenship awards went to Sadie Green, Kesia Stewart, Laura Weis, Kendall Crawford, Brenton Barber and Payton Pryor. Athletic Sportsmanship awards were presented to Breanna Ross, Sophia Schuler, Rachel Wignall, Mark Waigand and Tanner Amos.

Also, Brielle Baker — winner of the Oustanding Female Athlete Award — was presented the 4x4 Award for four years of participation in four sports.