At the annual senior sports banquet held on May 18 at Sam’s Anchor Cafe, senior athletes gathered alongside parents, coaches and peers to celebrate the accomplishments and futures of the Class of 2026.
Once attendees filled into Sam’s, they were able to socialize with their teammates and enjoy the buffet. The ceremony began with speeches by Principal Dr. Barnaby Payne and Athletic Director Jessica Piesch, after which seniors were recognized for their athletic achievements and contributions to the school community.
One of the award winners was flag-football and softball player Gia Meyers, who received the Benchwarmers Award, recognizing her excellence in both athletics and extracurricular involvement outside of sports.
“I sat towards the back, so when I heard my name called, it was really fun to have to walk to the stage and see everyone smiling,” Meyers said. “I didn’t realize that they had taken into account what we did out-of-school, so it was cool to be recognized for those achievements.”
The atmosphere of the banquet was very loud and buzzing with excitement due to the large turnout from athletes and family members.
“I feel like everyone was so happy there,” Meyers said. “Everyone was with their friends, and it was cool to see so many athletes and so many people there. All the parents were there too, so it was really cute and fun.”
Kitty White was one of the recipients of the Don Kreps Award, as well as being recognized as the 2026 girls basketball Marin County Athletic League Player of the Year. During the banquet, White announced that she will be continuing her basketball career at California State University, Monterey Bay.
“I’ve always been so proud to go to Redwood and being recognized for what I have done as an athlete is an honor,” White said.
For White, personal recognition is an honor, but the legacy she leaves behind within the basketball program is her proudest achievement.
“The thing I will remember the most is the things we have achieved that haven’t been done before in Marin and Redwood,” White said. “We won [the] North Coast Section (NCS) title for the first time in Redwood history in my sophomore year, then, in my senior year, we were the first basketball team in Marin to win NCS Division I.”
The banquet served as both a celebration of athletic achievement and a final gathering for many seniors before graduation, highlighting the community and friendships that are built through athletics.
