Oak Harbor High School seniors Dyllan Harris and AnnaBelle Whitefoot journeyed down different paths to receive the same award: Oak Harbor High School Athlete of the Year for 2015-16.

The winners of the award are voted on by the OHHS varsity coaches.

Peter Esvelt was honored as the school’s Coach of the Year.

Harris’ statistics, conference awards and athleticism are “jump-right-out-at-you” impressive.

Whitefoot’s achievements are more subtle; it’s the intangibles of her game that separate her from other athletes.

Dyllan Harris

Harris grabbed headlines throughout his Wildcat career.

The 6’2”, 180-pound Harris earned seven varsity letters (four in basketball and three in football) in two of the most competitive sports.

In basketball, he finished with 1,175 career points, the third highest total in OHHS history, and 435 rebounds, fifth most.

He scored 411 points as a senior and 367 as a junior, which rank ninth and 16th on the single-season scoring list.

His averages for the two seasons, 20.55 and 20.39, are fourth- and fifth-best on the single-season record board.

Harris’ single-game high of 40 points is the fourth most ever scored by a Wildcat. He also scored 36 points in game in which he played only three quarters.

Harris led the Wesco North in scoring his junior year; and was named to the all-conference first team as a senior, second team as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore.

Harris, who has a 3.04 GPA, was the team captain and Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2016.

In football, Harris was a first-team, all-Wesco selection on offense and defense in both his junior and senior seasons, and he was a second-team choice on offense as a sophomore.

As a wide receiver, he led Oak Harbor in receptions and yardage his sophomore and junior seasons. When the running back corps was crippled by injuries after the first game last fall, Harris moved to wing back where he averaged almost 10 yards per carry and 100 yards a game as well as repeating as the team’s leading receiver. In addition, he was the team’s punter and punt returner.

Harris was a team captain and the Most Valuable Offensive Player this past season.

“Dyllan was the ultimate competitor,” head football coach Jay Turner said. “He would do everything possible to help the team win.

“He was also incredibly consistent. He never had a bad game or looked bad on a play. You knew exactly what you were going to get week in and week out, and that was an incredibly talented football player who would do whatever it takes to win the game.”

Head basketball coach John Weston also praised Harris’ competitive spirit, adding, “at times he could take over games and give our team a chance to win.”

Harris also grew into a leadership role as he matured through his career, Weston said.

“He will be missed,” Weston said. “Dyllan…is all over the OHHS record book; you can’t just replace someone like that.”

AnnaBelle Whitefoot

Whitefoot earned 11 varsity letters (four in tennis, four in basketball and three in volleyball), an impressive feat at a 3A high school.

She was rarely the star but always a positive contributor.

Her work ethic, intelligence, attitude and consistency had as much to do with her success as her athletic skill set.

Going into the past basketball season, Whitefoot said, “For the team to be successful, each player has to be a team player. You have to put the greater good above yourself.”

In November, girls head coach Jon Atkins said, “If I had 12 AnnaBelle’s, then we would probably go to state; she is 100 percent heart all the time.”

Volleyball coach Kerri Molitor echoed those comments: “She might not have been the biggest player on the court, but she had incredible heart.”

Whitefoot was voted Most Inspirational on this year’s basketball team and was the Most Valuable Defensive Player as a junior.

In volleyball, she received the Most Improved Award as a sophomore that led to a starting spot the following two seasons.

“We always knew she would be there and do what was needed for the team,” Molitor said. “She was a quiet player, but very focused and committed. Her determination and intelligence made up for any size discrepancy.

“AnnaBelle showed leadership on and off the court. She leads by example (and) is a terrific role model.”

Whitefoot’s greatest success came in tennis where she earned first-team, all-Wesco North honors the past two seasons. She placed fourth in the district singles tournament as a junior and fifth as a senior.

Tennis coach Horace Mells called Whitefoot “one of the best” players he has coached.

“Her on-court performance contributed significantly to the overall success of the team,” Mells said. “AnnaBelle was highly committed to the program and one of a few players I could count on to attend all practices and games, which was key in order to maintain a high level of competitiveness during the absences of other key players.”

Whitefoot also stood out in the classroom, graduating with a 3.75 grade point average.

Peter Esvelt

Esvelt has worked with the wrestling program since 2005 and served as the head coach in 2013-14 and 2014-15. The latter season he had 10 wrestlers place in the top six at the sub-regional and four in the top six at state when the Wildcats finished eighth as a team.

He is also a member of the football staff, coaching since 2005.

One of his greatest contributions to the Oak Harbor High School athletic program is his willingness to work with athletes, regardless of the sport, in training and conditioning outside of the school day, according to Athletic Director Nicki Luper.

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AnnaBelle Whitefoot, top photo below, was the OHHS female Athlete of the Year, and Peter Esvelt received Coach of the Year honors.