Maranatha Basketball
Letter Winners Honored at Banquet
Sixteen athletes who competed this
past season on the Maranatha Christian Academy and
Ames Vision basketball teams were honored on Monday at
a banquet at Heartland Baptist Church. “We wanted to
set aside a special time to honor our student-athletes
who did such a great job representing Maranatha this
past winter,” said administrator Bill Nichols.
In a program following dinner, administrator Bill Nichols
spoke on the quality of perseverance as it pertained to
athletics and life. Nichols contrasted genuine perseverance
based on trust in the character of God, with giving up, as
exemplified by the character Pliable in John
Bunyan’s The
Pilgrim’s Progress. “Pliable was all for pursuing the kingdom
of God when he heard things which made him happy and
pleased his carnal desires, but when things got difficult,
he gave up and turned back,” said Nichols.
Following the devotional message on perseverance,
student-athletes were honored individually with coach Nick
Nickerson givings words of encouragement to each one as he
presented them with an athletic award certificate
recognizing their participation. Then Bill Nichols
surprised the athletes by presenting each one with a block
letter ‘M’ with ”Maranatha” embroidered across the middle
of the letter. Athletes honored for competing on the boys
Maranatha basketball team were Brandon Windus, Ian Nichols,
Sam Long, Zach Sloter, Alex Sloter, Joe Long, Steven
Younkin, Kyle Younkin, Michael Carney, J. D. Abell, and
Matt Bruce. Girls who competed on the Ames Vision team were
also honored, as Maranatha continues to make plans to add a
girls team next year. Maranatha certificates and letters
were given to Kayley Bruce, Hannah Nichols, Hannah Long,
Caroline Held, and Irene Nickerson.
Nick and Judy Nickerson were honored for starting the
Maranatha program and guiding it through its first season.
“I am a strong believer in Christian education,” said
Nickerson. “That is why I want to help this school in every
way that I can.”
Following the presentations athletes, parents, and guests
enjoyed a DVD presentation of highlights of the season with
video clips from a number of Maranatha and Vision games
included.
A ten-minute highlight video
from the 2007-2008 season was shown at the Maranatha Awards
banquet. Above is the slideshow portion of the
presentation.
Coach Nick Nickerson and his wife Judy were honored at the
banquet for starting and directing Maranatha's Basketball
Program.