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Cheaney, Gayman honored with Bradham award
Nevada Daily Mail
Nevada High School freshmen Emma Cheaney and Clay Gayman were bestowed with the 2014-15 Kelly Bradham Memorial Award, Monday afternoon at the NHS Media Center.
The award is dedicated to the memory of longtime Nevada Daily Mail Sports Editor Kelly Bradham who died in 2008.
The award is voted on by NHS head coaches, and then presented to the male and female student-athletes who have made the most significant contribution as first-time letter winners on any varsity team.
During the awards presentation, Nevada High School Athletic Director John McNeley said it was a rarity to have two freshmen take home the honors.
Cheaney and sophomore Jaiden Cherry captured first-place in doubles at the 2014 West Central Conference Tournament in Warrensburg in late September.
Cheaney and Cherry would later advance all the way to the semifinals of the district tournament, before falling to Warrensburg.
Cheaney said she was thrilled to have received the award.
"I think it's really neat," she said. "I was glad that my coach (Samantha Short) nominated me. I didn't expect it, and I was really excited when I found out."
Short said she enjoyed coaching Cheaney during her freshman season.
"She caught on very quick and was very coachable on what needs to be done on the court," Short said.
Cheaney said her mother, Allison Fast-Cheaney, has played a major role in her tennis career.
Fast-Cheaney was a 1994 NHS graduate and two-time state tournament qualifier.
"You can tell when a girl comes in and has got some play underneath her belt," Short said.
Cheaney said she hopes to improve her game over the summer, as she plans on working with NHS assistant tennis coach and trainer Ron Del Rosario.
The male recipient of the Bradham award, 6-foot-4 freshman Clay Gayman, made immediate contributions to head coach Shaun Gray's Nevada basketball program.
"Clay made a huge impact on the varsity team," Gray said. "In a sport where it's hard for underclassmen to come in and do that."
Gayman scored 24 points against Warrensburg Dec. 19, helping the Tigers to their first ever West Central Conference victory.
"Clay was as good of big man as we saw all year," Gray said. "He has a great ability to score inside. He has a 6-foot-7 wingspan and defends the paint and rim like he's 6-7.
"Sometimes you see guards come in as underclassmen and make an impact, but rarely do you see big men be that good that young. He's very deserving of the award."
Gray said while Gayman does have excellent size for a freshman, it's more about his skill level and feel for the game.
"He has the motor, and the passion and the drive that a varsity athlete has," Gray said. "A lot of kids don't have that as freshman coming in. That, combined with his size is what helps make him so good."
Gayman was named to the 2015 All-West Central Conference team.
After heavy roster turnover from a year ago, first-year coach Gray said he was most concerned with replacing his departed post players.
"Clay's ability to step right in helped us to be competitive each and every night," Gray said.
Gayman said he was pleased to have received the award.
"This is a great honor," he said. "My first year here at Nevada has been a blast."