PHOTOS OF KALEB AN ABBEY AT BOTTOM OF STORY

Kaleb Jefferson and Abbey Gambrell were recognized as this year's Bluffton High School top senior athletes during the academic awards program earlier this month.

Here's more information about both students:

Kaleb Jefferson
Football: Kaleb was a five-time All-NWC award winner (1st Team Offense and Defense in 2017); 8th all-time scoring in BHS football history (238 points); 3rd longest run in BHS history (94 yards vs Columbus Grove); Finished the 2017 season with 1,327 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns; two-time captain

Basketball: Kaleb averaged 12.35 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game  this past season. He was a 2nd team all NWC selection and scholar athlete. 

Track: Kaleb turned in his best high jump performance of the season. The returning state qualifier tied his personal best of 6’2” as he won the event.

Kaleb plans to attend Siena Heights and play football.

Abbey Gambrell

Abbey participated in soccer and track in high school. She started track as a sophomore year where she ran the 100 and 300 hurdles. In her sophomore year she received third in the NWC meet and fifth at districts in the 300 hurdles. At the end of her sophomore year she was voted the most improved player on the girls' team

As a junior she was second at the NWC meet and fifth at districts in the 300 hurdles.

As a senior year at the NWC meet she was fifth in the 100 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, and in districts was eighth in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles. She will compete in the regional track meet this week.  

Abbey started soccer as a freshman and has played since fifth grade. For the BHS varsity she played defense until the middle of her junior year when she was moved to defensive midfield. She was named to the 2nd team all-NWC as a senior. 

About the Jim “Cappy” Clark Award

At the end of each school year the Bluffton High School athletic department names two students as the most outstanding athletes in the senior class of BHS.

Although not at first, today the award is called the Jim “Cappy” Clark Award.

Clark attended Bluffton High School in the 1940s. During his lifetime, his interest in youth sports was immense. In the 1950s he founded the midget football program in Bluffton. At one time he coached three midget teams: the Pirates, Beavers and Buccaneers.

He retired from coaching the midget Pirates in 1980, after a 25-year career. During that period at least nine of his teams were league champs or playoff contenders.

A student’s selection as a Cappy Clark winner is based upon that student lettering in two or more sports, an accumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and consideration such as sportsmanship, athletic leadership, school leadership and citizenship. Each year’s winners are chosen by the athletic department and coaching staff.

Cappy Clark Award Winners

BOYS

1966 – Bill Swank

1967 – David Burkholder

1968 – Steve Stratton

1969 – Melvin Benroth

1970 – Mike Osborne

1971 – Dean King

1972 – Jim King

1973 – Steve Shaw

1974 – Mark Phillips

1975 – Dave Stratton

1976 – Jeff Shaw

1977 – Jeff Pogue

1978 – Bruce Matter

1979 – Tim Closson/Jeff Alt

1980 – Mardy Herr

1981 – Don Mathewson

1982 – Jeff Swank

1983 – John Tabler

1984 – Mike Yoder

1985 – Paul Shelly

1986 – Bruce Yant

1987 – Jim Armstrong

1988 – Doug Schweingruber

1989 – Curt Garmatter

1990 – Dan Althaus

1991 – Jeff Martz

1992 – Jeremy Herr

1993 – Matthew Derstine

1994 – Matthew Schweingruber

1995 – Jon Osborne

1996 – Eric Smith

1997 – Cam Warner

1998 – Rick Orr

1999 – Lucas Cherry

2000 – Kurt McKibben

2001 – Jon Wietholter

2002 – Ben Wenger

2003 – Ben McCullough

2004 – Jeff Richards

2005 – Justin Shannon

2006 – Kurt Groman

2007 – Andrew Hieronimus

2008 – Jesse Herr

2009 – Tyler Neal

2010 – Matt Suderman

2011 – Drew Luginbuhl

2012 – Jeremy Basinger

2013 – Zach Wilson

2014 – Noah Stratton

2015 – Robbie Stratton

2016 – Joel Siefker

2017 – Trevor Bassitt

2018 – Kaleb Jefferson

GIRLS

1979- Venessa Beach

1980 – Julee Matter

1981 – AAmy Bixel

1982 – Tammy Plaugher

1983 – Amy Osborne

1984 – Mary Steiner

1985 – Julie Shelly

1986 – Wendy Smith

1987 – Cindy Badertscher

1988 – Kris Snyder

1989 – Julie Friesen

1990 – Rachel Hefner

1991 – Angie Butler

1992 – Eliza Jacoby

1993 – Elizabeth Edwards

1994 – Rebecca Reineke

1995 – Crystal Bennett

1996 – Janni Sprunger

1997 -  Ann Stechschulte

1998 – Katie Kantner

1999 – Anna Steiner

2000 – Caity Matter

2001 – Jennifer Romey

2002 – Mollie McCullough

2003 – Carrie Fett

2004 – Kelly Metzger

2005 – Emily Goldsberry

2006 – Ginny Buckingham

2007 – Brittany Buroker

2008 – Amanda Stratton

2009 – Jonica Schmutz

2010 – Sarah Stratton

2011 – Shannon McKamey

2012 – Lydia Guagenti

2013 – Julie  Althaus

2014 – Jill Steinmetz

2015 – Erica Sheehan

2016 – Samantha Fruchey

2017 – Abbie Parkins

2018 – Abbey Gambrell