Craven Wins “Tough Guy of Year” Award

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s massive offensive lineman Nick Craven this week was named the Atlantic Physical Therapy “Tough Guy of the Year” after collecting the weekly award twice during the Seahawks’ outstanding 2010 campaign.

Most of the accolades in football at any level are reserved or the glamour guys, the golden-armed quarterbacks and fleet running backs who put the points on the board and thrill the crowds, but the weekly “Tough Guy” award is handed out to the Decatur player who best exemplifies the spirit of Seahawk football. Started seven years ago by Atlantic Physical Therapy president and CEO Bob Hammond, the “Tough Guy of the Week” award acknowledges the efforts of an individual player, or sometimes a unit on the team, that do the little things to help the team win that don’t necessarily show up in the box score.

After every Decatur game, Hammond presents a trophy to the award winner throughout the season. At the end of the year, ATP and Hammond recognize the “Tough Guy of the Year” winner. This year, Craven collected the honor during an awards banquet at Seacrets on Monday. Craven won the weekly award twice this year, after a week three loss to North Caroline and a week 10 win over county rival Snow Hill in the regular season finale.

Other winners this year included John Lewis, who won the award after a week one loss to Rising Sun; D.J. Kee after a week two win over Washington; D.J. Johnson after a week four loss to North Caroline; Kyler Clifton after a week five loss to Kent Island; James Mapp after a week six win over Bennett; Johnson again after a week seven win over Easton; Luke Bargar after a week eight win over Parkside; and Markell Purnell, after a week nine win over Wicomico.