MIAA Names Football Trophy After Spalding's Whittles

If there is one thing that's certain, it's that Mike Whittles will not be forgotten. 

Whittles, the former football coach at Archbishop Spalding, passed away in June after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was honored on Saturday as Gilman High took home the first-ever Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship trophy named in his honor. 

Gilman took home the Whittles Trophy after a 34-32 double overtime win over Calvert Hall, which will now be passed on to the MIAA "A" champion each season. 

Players and coaches gathered around for a special ceremony to receive the trophy, which features an image of Whittles and the names of each of the MIAA "A" champion since 1995. 

Whittles became one of the most respected coaches in Maryland after taking four MIAA "B" titles before reaching the semifinals in Spalding's first year at the "A" level. 

"We all remember Coach Whittles and how much we loved him. It's an honor to win that," Gilman head coach Biff Poggi said.