Local Students Make the Ken Hubbs Team

COLTON >> This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the Ken Hubbs Award Banquet, named after the Chicago Cubs Second Baseman who passed away in a plane crash in 1964. The banquet was held on May 9 at 6 p.m. The banquet was put on by Ron and Karen Doty, who, along with the Ken Hubbs Foundation directors, raise money each year to pay for the awards to give to the outstanding athletes who have worked hard and done their best in the areas of athleticism, school, leadership, and outstanding character. According to Foundation Director Ron Doty, “the whole foundation functions on donations.” The athletes come from 25 area high schools and represent different sports. Female athletes were added to the ceremony in 2012. When the foundation first started there were only four schools, and they are now up to 25 schools. This year's banquet honored one male and female athlete from each of the 24 schools and the top male and female athlete received the overall award of being the Athlete of the Year. The top winners this year were Kayla Washington of Cajon High School and Alexander Mattison of San Bernardino High School. Kayla was a star basketball player for Cajon and Alexander was a multi-sport athlete that included football, wrestling and track and field at San Bernardino. Kayla was the first Cajon winner in the five year history of girl’s awards being handed out and Alexander was the first overall winner from San Bernardino since Richard Murrell won in 2005. Alexander said, “When I first heard about this award in my sophomore year, I felt I could be a contender and I made it my goal to work hard to try to accomplish what is happening tonight. I was very humbled by what Keith Hubbs (Ron’s brother) said tonight about his brother.” Alexander has earned a football scholarship to play for Boise State next year. Kayla Washington has signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Washington State and she concluded her school career at Cajon by leading the Cowgirls to a CIF State Division II basketball championship in March. She also repeated as the Sun’s Player of the Year and was named second-team all-state. Washington says, “She is so honored that the Foundation picked her and she had four wonderful years at Cajon.”