Colby Sullivan shakes hands with 2021 Beacons Male Golf Athlete of the Year Brandon Eyre as he accepts his 2022 Male Golf Athlete of the Year award at the Elsinore Theater on Saturday, June 18. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
Three McNary Celtics were named Athlete of the Year at the Salem-Keizer Beacon Awards on Saturday, June 18, at the Elsinore Theater.
Quarterback Tyler Copeland started the night off right for the Celtics, taking home the first award of the evening, Football Athlete of the Year. It should come as no surprise as Copeland was named the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year as well.
Of the three McNary winners, Copeland, a senior, is the only one not set to return next year. The other two Celtic award winners were juniors this past season.
Pitcher Lacey Vasas helped lead the Celtics to the semifinals of the 6A state playoffs.
Men’s Golf Male Athlete of the Year winner Colby Sullivan finished fourth at the state tournament.
Also honored at the Beacon Awards was former McNary head baseball coach Vic Backlund. Backlund was the McNary recipient of the Beacon Award, an honor given to recognize a difference maker from each of the area’s six high schools.
The Beacons is an annual awards show sponsored by the Salem-Keizer High School Sports Booster Clubs.
2022 Beacons Football Athlete of the Year Tyler Copeland receives his award. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
Former McNary baseball head coach Vic Backlund stands on stage at the Elsinore Theater after receiving his Beacon award from Gib Gilmore at the 2022 Beacon Awards on Saturday, June 18. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
Pitcher Lacey Vasas poses with Jamie Smith-Ellis after accepting her 2022 Beacons Softball Athlete of the Year award. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)