Awards

Triumphant tribute

Sullivan West spring sports presentation honors outstanding athletes and teams; Lander is this year’s Billy Moran Scholarship winner

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Our lives are marked by seasons that come and go, each defined by the wide spectrum of life’s experiences. Reflecting back on bygone days brings strong emotions to the forefront as we recall our journey through life’s changeable weather.

For Sullivan West spring sports athletes, in particular, its seniors, who have devoted so many years to their endeavors on the courts and playing fields, the spring sports awards ceremony on June 18 marked a time to celebrate what was truly a season to remember.

During the course of the evening, coaches recounted the highlights of their teams’ seasons, prior to allotting awards to the most deserving individuals.

After a welcome by athletic director Dave Franskevicz, who introduced the coaches and lauded this year’s OCIAA scholar athletes, Sarah Lander and Matthew Layman, superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hilton marked the occasion to celebrate the wonderful spring season and the school’s fine athletic and scholarship achievements.

In his introductory remarks, this writer cited the exemplary achievement of Colin Seidl in his recent New York State championship run in the 3000 steeplechase. Seidl’s accomplishment demonstrates how it is possible to make one’s life extraordinary by approaching endeavors with a sense of purpose, commitment and the goal of doing the best, even in the face of severe adversity.

Adhering to such a goal often entails overcoming voices of self doubt or the negative judgments of others and calls for consistency of effort through times of success and disappointment. But in the end, the rewards are great and last a lifetime. Seidl’s gold medal, the first in Sullivan West history, was an inspiration to his fellow athletes and the entire community.

Neil Young’s song, “There Comes A Time,” played as the slide show, which has become a tradition at Sullivan West, chronicled spring sports. Highlights included the boys golf team’s fifth straight Division IV crown, with its streak of 31 straight league-match victories. Cheers and applause greeted each frame as images of beloved athletes and teams flashed across the screen.

Great homage was paid to the girls track and field team that won Division IV by ending Tri-Valley’s 23-year streak of 129 straight dual-meet wins. The final song, “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack, accompanied a visual tribute to this year’s Senior Select Athletes.

But the greatest honors were yet to come as each coach assembled his team on stage and gave out awards to a pair of deserving athletes (see list below).

The latter part of the ceremony was reserved for the senior awards. The first were the Coaches Awards given in recognition of an outstanding male and female athlete.

Softball coach Mike Ellmauer lauded female recipient Jennifer Pitz, whose formal playing career began in first grade. Ellmauer described Pitz as a role model and great competitor through her years in cross-country, basketball and softball.

Boys cross-country coach George Rose had great words of praise for Matt Layman, the boys Coaches Award recipient. Rose described Layman, a competitor in three New York State championship races, as an impeccable role model whose unselfish efforts were already evident in his elementary days while sharing the limelight with others in youth basketball games.

Girls track coach Joe Seidl discussed the criteria for the Milt Gaebel Awards, created in 1995-96 in the former Jeffersonville-Youngsville School District to honor Gaebel’s philosophy, “If what you’re doing is worth doing, you need to give at least 100 percent.” The awards in honor of Gaebel’s determination, perseverance, dedication and loyalty to sports were imparted to Chelsie Schadt and Will Schlott.

In his remarks about Schadt, girls track coach Joe Seidl talked about her heart, perseverance and effort that never abated, even through the pain of injuries. “She gave every ounce of her energy,” Seidl said in describing the team’s inspirational captain and its only senior.

Boys track coach Ron Bauer reiterated the themes of perseverance and effort in his laudatory comments about Schlott, who played on five Section Nine championship teams, two of which were in Class B. Schlott was an All-Star in Section Nine football and in track, where he competed in the state qualifier in both indoor and outdoor. Bauer noted that Schlott gave 100 percent in practice and was a great example to his teammates.

High school principal Margie Tenbus called the female Senior Select Athletes to the stage to receive their plaques. The group was culled by using an extensive point system to evaluate their comparative performances throughout their years of participation from 2002-2008.

This year’s Female Senior Select Athletes included Cara Davies for volleyball, basketball and alpine skiing; Morgan Edwards for soccer, basketball, alpine skiing and softball; Sarah Lander for soccer, basketball and softball; Kristen Niemann for soccer, track and softball; Jennifer Pitz for cross-country, basketball and softball; and Chelsie Schadt for cross-country, winter track and track.

Lander was chosen as the Most Valuable Senior Female Athlete. Described by soccer/softball coach Mike Ellmauer as a person who strives for perfection, Lander was part of 25 soccer wins, 80 basketball victories and 45 softball wins in her career. “Her love of team sports was marked by her leadership by diplomacy,” said Ellmauer.

This year’s Male Senior Select Athletes were also derived from their participation from 2002-2008. Jesse Fadis was cited for soccer and baseball; Rich Feeney for his participation in soccer, basketball, winter track and track; Matthew Layman for cross-country, basketball, winter track and track; Jason Leewe for football, basketball, baseball and golf; Stefan Levinson for cross-country, alpine skiing and baseball; Jim Moloney for football, basketball and baseball; Will Schlott for football, winter track and track; and Luke Tonjes for soccer, football, basketball, track and golf.

Baseball coach Kurt Scheibe described Moloney, the winner of the Most Valuable Senior Male Athlete, as the true definition of an MVP. Scheibe noted that Moloney excelled as a three-year starter in football, in which he was named to the All-Section Nine Class C team. Moloney holds school records in passing and touchdowns. He was a third-team honoree on the Times-Herald Record baseball All-Stars. Scheibe described Moloney’s final baseball season as one which began with great expectations but was first marred by an automobile accident. After Moloney fought his way back, his season ended as he made what Scheibe described the best catch he has seen in his career as a coach. Moloney broke his arm but refused to end his season. He came to every game and offered his support and encouragement.

The final award of the night was the Billy Moran Scholarship, presented by Brent Rosenberger. The award was created in memory of Billy Moran, a scholar athlete who graduated from Delaware Valley where he starred in football, basketball and baseball while maintaining the highest standards of academics and character. Moran went on to study engineering at Union College and to play football and baseball there. His life was cut tragically short by a drunk driver in April 1981, while he was on a spring training baseball trip in Daytona, FL. The scholarship, created by his parents, William and Kathleen, was first instituted in 1983. Mike Bauer was its first recipient. The scholarship, which has now become a tradition at Sullivan West following the merger, is currently $2,500. This year’s recipient is Sarah Lander and her name will be added to the plaque that resides in the hallway outside of the gym at the Lake Huntington campus.

After discussing Moran’s short but exceptional life marked by his stellar academics, athletics and impeccable character, Rosenberger turned to Lander to recite a litany of her achievements in academics, athletics and citizenship, both in school and in the community at large.

“Your coaches described you as someone who loved competition and who was unafraid to make the big shot or play,” said Rosenberger, who noted that the girls basketball team compiled a record of 67-20 during her tenure and had the distinction of being the only Section Nine team to dethrone John S. Burke as they captured the Division IV title from Burke and shared it with the Lady Eagles on a second occasion.

Lander took four college-level classes and five Advanced Placement classes. Her extracurricular activities included being president of the National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions, vice president of the Spanish National Honor Society, a member of the American Red Cross at school, a participant in the All-County Music Festival, a participant in the Presidential Classroom and an OCIAA Scholar Athlete.

Lander volunteered her time at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA and as a research volunteer for diabetes. She participated in Operation Shoebox for the troops in Iraq and, as Rosenberger pointed out, she never used her densely packed activity agenda as an excuse. Lander’s weighted GPA was 101.2 and she was offered scholarships at all five of the schools she applied to. She will be attending Fairfield University in the fall where she will be engaged in a pre-med study of biology.

The following spring athletes were recognized for their excellence and received trophies: Colin Seidl, Most Valuable Male Track Athlete; Will Schlott, Coaches Excellence Award Varsity Boys Track; Brad Reimer, Most Valuable Baseball Player; Jim Moloney, Mr. Baseball; Kendra Barker, Most Valuable Female Field Athlete; Morgan Hawkins, Most Valuable Track Athlete; Kristen Niemann, Coach’s Choice Award for Softball; Jenn Pitz, Miss Softball 2008; Justin Armstrong, Golf MVP; Kevin Correa, Most Improved Male Golfer; Jillian Fife, Most Valuable Female Golfer; and Rachel Dickey, Most Improved Female Golfer.

Visit riverreportersports.com for comments by the coaches, highlights of the season and an album of awards ceremony photos.