The City of Lenoir City Council honored the Hibriten High School Men's Soccer Team last week during the City Council meeting.
Mayor Joe Gibbons presented a resolution to the team during the City Council meeting Monday, April 19, 2021, and congratulated them on a successful season and for making it to the state championship game. Read the resolution below.
RESOLUTION HONORING HIBRITEN HIGH SCHOOL 2021 SOCCER TEAM
WHEREAS; the hard work, dedication, sportsmanship, and talent of the 2021 Hibriten High School Men’s Soccer team led these student athletes to finish their season 18-1-0; and
WHEREAS; the Panthers went undefeated, 14-0-0, in the Northwestern Foothills 2A where they won the conference championship for the third consecutive year; and
WHEREAS; Hibriten Men’s Soccer won the Western Regional Championship for the first time since 1989 taking the team to their second appearance in a North Carolina High School Athletic Association Men’s Soccer State Title game; and
WHEREAS; the Panthers scored 122 goals and allowed only 13 goals all year, with 14 shutouts in 19 games, and the team ranks 16 in the nation, second overall in the state, and first in the 2A division of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS; winning the regional championship and playing in the state championship game brought honor and recognition to Hibriten High School on the local and state level; and
WHEREAS; Head Coach Jim Blanton, the entire coaching staff, team parents, faculty, and the student body were integral in supporting the players and guiding the team to victory all season long;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I, Mayor Joseph L. Gibbons, on behalf of the City of Lenoir City Council and all our citizens, do hereby recognize and congratulate the 2021 Hibriten High School Panthers Men’s Soccer Team on their successful season, their Western Regional Championship Victory, and their journey to the 2021 State Championship Game.
This the 19th day of April 2021.
Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor
Pictured left to right, front row: Mayor Joe Gibbons, Assistant Coach Mark Henderson, Allen Meza, Simon Hawkins, Head Coach Jim Blanton, Mack Waters, David Franquiz, Athletic Director Derek Reeves, and Principal Courtney Wright. Back row, Councilmembers Todd Perdue and Ben Willis, Mayor Pro Tem Chrissy Thomas, Councilmember Ike Perkins, City Manager Scott Hildebran, and Councilmember Jonathan Beal.