Elks Honor Cruser, Hazzard for Athletics
The Rockville Elks Lodge 2471 has selected Katrina Cruser and Brandon Hazzard of Riverton Parke High School as their September recipients of the Bill Graves Memorial Athlete of the Month Awards
Cruser, 17, is the daughter of Staci Cruser of rural Rockville and a senior on coach John Memmer’s Lady Panther volleyball team.
She is a three-time All-Wabash River Conference selection in volleyball and is expected to sign to play Division I volleyball with the University of North Carolina at Ashville. She is second all-time in the WRC in kills and set the Riverton Parke school record in kills, passing up Sara Dickey. She also led the team this year in service points, aces and digs.
“Katrina has been a four-year starter on the varsity,” said Memmer. “She is not only an exceptional outside hitter but she also is a great server and back row player. She has improved her skills each year due to her dedication to playing volleyball year-round. She is the first Division I college volleyball player in school history.”
Hazzard, 17, is the son of Dan and Holly Hazzard of Rosedale and a senior on coach Brad Sander’s Panther football squad.
He set a school record this year by scoring five touchdowns in a game against Indianapolis Shortridge, helping the Panthers to a 49-16 victory. He racked up 163 yards receiving and 38 rushing. Against Fountain Central in a 22-20 win, he amassed 170 yards on the ground with two touchdowns and 14 tackles.
Hazzard is a four-year letterman in football and two-year letterman in basketball.
“Brandon is our team captain and leader,” said Sanders. “He plays every snap with maximum effort and intensity. No matter what the score of the game is, his effort never wavers.”
Nominations for the Bill Graves Memorial Athletes of the Month awards will be judged on the basis of achievement in sports. Schools may nominate a male and female athlete from each sport each month. Applicants should be in grades 9-12 and participate in a varsity sport. They must be nominated during their competitive sports season. Coaches may have repeat nominees, but there will not be repeat winners in the same school year.
