Winter sports

Westies’ winter winners

Sullivan West winter sports awards highlight great individual and team efforts

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Sullivan West’s winter sports athletes were celebrated in words, pictures and music in the Winter Sports Award Presentation held on March 13. Following a welcome by high school principal Margy Tenbus, who complimented the fine efforts of this past winter’s teams, this writer spoke briefly about the long-range benefits derived by the fine winter athletes, who are supported by a community of excellent coaches and supportive parents.

A musical slide show chronicling the season was presented prior to the coaches and teams taking the stage. Athletic director Dave Franskevicz celebrated the winning efforts of the girls winter indoor track team for their Division IV and Sullivan County titles. They were the Section Nine Class B runner up. In addition, Franskevicz lauded the girls basketball team, this year’s Co-Division IV champion.

Alpine ski coach Tom Clifford praised his team’s fine season. Five skiers qualified for sectionals. Kassie Thelman made it to states and was awarded as the Lowest Scoring Female Skier for her fastest times. Hannah Feinman was named the ski team’s Most Improved Skier. Senior Stefan Levinson was the Lowest Scoring Male Skier and Alex Lander was the Most Improved Male Skier.

Junior varsity boys basketball coach Bruce Nober praised his freshmen and one eighth grader. “It’s not easy to play hard when you’re not winning,” he noted, citing the team’s consistent effort.

Varsity boys basketball coach Cliff Kelly discussed how a rebuilding year turned into a near sectional entry. “We love these kids,” he said, “and I hope they take away as much as we learned from them,” he averred.

“Early in the year, we won games we weren’t supposed to win,” he added, talking about victories over Port Jervis and Monticello. Although the team came up one game shy of sectionals, Kelly reminded his young charges, “There’s always next year.”

Junior Brad Reimer was named the team MVP. He averaged 16.5 points per game and scored 325 points this season. “He’s one of the top athletes I’ve coached in 25 years,” said Kelly, who had told Reimer during the season, “Take us as far as you can.” Chris Story, the team’s lone big man, garnered the Coaches Award.

Girls winter indoor track coach Joe

Seidl illuminated the team’s quantum leap from a year ago when there were only 11 girls. The team improved from its prior year mark of 6-3 to go 9-0 in the Division and 15-0 overall to capture the Division IV title from perennial victor Tri-Valley. They moved up from fifth to second in Section Nine and won the Sullivan County championship, which was captured a year ago by Class A Monticello. Citing a great work ethic, fine sportsmanship and enthusiasm, Seidl went from celebrating the team to discussing his two award winners.

Sara Alsdorf was named the Most Valuable Girl Indoor Winter Track Athlete. Alsdorf won two gold medals at the Sullivan County championship and was first in the division in the 55 hurdles. She won silver medals at the Section Nine championships in the 55 in the 800 relay. She long jumped 15-2 and tried her hand at the shot put.

Senior Chelsie Schadt was awarded for Commitment to Excellence for her indoor track leadership and drive. The team captain modeled relentless effort and passion. Following the division championships, she waited in the darkening Gillis Field House at West Point to learn if her team had bested Tri-Valley. This season, Schadt set a school record in the 1500 with a time of 5:14.

Boys winter indoor track coach Ron Bauer had only three returnees from last year’s Section Nine Class B championship team, which had won two consecutive years. This year, the Dawgs finished second in Division IV and won numerous medals at the Suffern Invitational. Colin Seidl was named the Most Valuable Winter Indoor Track Athlete. He won the 3200 and the 1600 at the Section Nine championships and garnered a silver medal in the 3200 relay with Russell Bryan, Dallas Ripley and Mitch Ellmauer. Seidl, Will Schlott and Mark Tesseyman were also state qualifiers.

Schlott was named the Most Valuable Boys Winter Indoor Field Athlete. Bauer cited Schlott’s commitment and his ability to lead by example. “He’s been an athlete on my teams since he was in seventh grade,” said Bauer of the stalwart senior.

Junior varsity girls basketball coach Jeff Molusky praised his team’s 12-7 record and their concern for a player from another team who had suffered a seizure during a game. Molusky thanked varsity coach Ron Bernhardt for helping him navigate his first year at the helm.

Bernhardt called up his Co-Division IV champion Lady Bulldogs and expressed his thanks for the opportunity to coach them. Bernhardt, who just finished his 32nd year of coaching, had much to say about this past season. He thanked junior varsity call ups Brianna Kline and Cindy Szeflinksi for helping to fill out the squad to make practice more productive.

He applauded the fans’ fervor, especially late in the season, and thanked his wife, Cindy, for helping him through a tough year. Seniors Sarah Lander and Jenn Pitz garnered special praise. Lander started for the past four years and the team had a record of 65-20 in that stretch. Other than the sectional losses to Highland and Marlboro and losses to monolithic Burke, the Dawgs never lost to Class B schools in that run. All of the other losses came against Class A or AA schools. Last summer, they beat both Kingston and Rush Henrietta, teams in the state Class AA final four.

Lander scored 961 points in her career and would have easily topped 1,000 were it not for a high ankle sprain that sidelined her for part of last season. She was named a Section Nine Division IV All-Star for the second straight year.

Jenn Pitz was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Pitz, who completed her three-year tenure, ran the point this year. “She raised her level and kept it there. She brought her ‘A’ game every night as she dominated the backcourt,” said Bernhardt. “She’s a great leader and didn’t care what role she was asked to take. If I could take her attitude and bottle it, every coach would spend a fair share of his budget to obtain what she has to offer. She made her teammates better,” added Bernhardt, talking about the team’s only true guard. “She played unbelievable defense.” Pitz was also a Billy Moran All-Star.

Rachel Houghtaling was named the Best Defensive Player. Bernhardt described her as the most irreplaceable player and cited her rebounding on the defensive glass. Ultimately, Sullivan West’s loss of a winnable game at Burke in this year’s sectional semifinals was decided by Burke’s rebounding edge. They grabbed 19 offensive boards and scored on eight of them.

Houghtaling’s ability to wrench the basketball from opposing players became her defensive trademark and her ability to score reminded Bernhardt of Magic Johnson. He would love to see her develop her three-point shot so that teams have to honor her more from the perimeter.

Houghtaling was named a Division IV All-Star.

Bernhardt reminded the audience that the Lady Dawgs were the only Section Nine team to beat Burke this year. “We pushed Burke to the limit,” he noted. Bernhardt lauded the team’s two wins over S.S. Seward and it’s second division title in the past three years. Overcoming issues of divisiveness at times, the team learned that the “biggest lesson is in the journey, not necessarily in the destination.” Bernhardt preached a “play to win” mantra to his team. “Obstacles are meant to be overcome,” he noted.

His team certainly did that, as did the other fine athletes of Sullivan West’s winter teams.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of awards ceremony pictures.