Awards

Ski slope scholars

98.29 average by Monticello girls skiers is tops in state; girls indoor track team and boys ski team

are scholar athletes as well

By RICHARD A. ROSS

richrardross@riverreporter.com

MONTICELLO, NY — To the ancient Greeks, a sound body and sound mind were of equal importance. Clearly that notion of striking a balance between one’s athletic and academic endeavors is a guiding precept of the Monticello girls Alpine and Nordic ski teams, which posted a stunning 98.29 average among its top seven academic standouts to earn this year’s State Scholar Athlete award.

For a team to be honored as scholar athletes, its top seven members must have a combined average of 90 percent or better. For each sport, those teams reaching that standard are ranked in order and the top team is the winner of the award and the banner. The banner for the state’s top Alpine/Nordic girls ski team scholar athletes will now hang in the Monticello gym, along with 29 others won by the school in the past. Monticello’s girls indoor track team and the boys combined Alpine/Nordic ski teams were given certificates for having surpassed the aforementioned standard in their sports.

The girls ski team, which finished as Section Nine runner up to Onteora on the slopes, bested the 35 teams across the state when it came to academic excellence. The top seven in that regard were Jamie Breen, Erica Concors, Devine Dupuy, Charlotte Ference, Kaitlyn Fisher and Amy Heins. The team was coached by Jim Bates and Scott Fitchett. Other team members included Haley Heins, Maria Pavese, Shannon Thomas, Rachel Kline, Taylor and Brittany Knapp.

Introduced by Monticello’s director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Doug Murphy, the seven, along with the rest of the Alpine/Nordic skiers, received an enthusiastic round of applause at the Monticello school board meeting held on April 3.

Section Nine Coordinator James Osborne, who is also a representative of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), presented a banner to the team. Osborne congratulated the team on its award. NYSPHSAA has been giving such awards for the past 17 years. This was the 11th state award for the girls ski team.

The girls indoor track team, coached by Pete Wysochanski, was honored for its state scholar athlete achievement. The team’s top seven scholars posted an average of 94.13, earning recognition by NYSPHSAA as being among the state’s finest. The team was comprised of Marisela Acevedo, Emma Cohen, Rebecca Concors, who turned in a perfect 4.0 GPA, Jessica Fingers, Lianna Hollander, Anagabriele Loor, Emily Martin and Danielle Schnitzer, who also had a 4.0 GPA.

Also recognized for its academic excellence and scholar athlete achievement was the boys combined Alpine and Nordic ski team, which was this year’s Alpine Section Nine champion. The team showed its fine merits in the classroom as well with an average of 94.24 among its top seven scholars. This year’s team was comprised of Daniel Braunstein, Skylar Glick, Ryan Heins, Ian Kolaitis, Kyle Lounsbury, Erik Mayberg, Patrick Ripa and Matthew Thomas. Steve Duarte and Fitchett coached the team.

Visit riverreportersports.com to see those recognized at the school board meeting that included other noteworthy personae from the staff and student body.