Awards

Indians immortalized

Liberty’s Block “L” Athletic Awards laud tribe’s best

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIBERTY, NY — As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child and certainly the same can be said for Liberty’s athletic program as it continues to return to its former glory.

Under the energetic direction of athletic director Jason Semo and the united efforts of the school administration, the board of education, an immensely supportive community and a cadre of fine coaches and athletes, Liberty took another step forward in 2008-09.

As Semo noted in his opening remarks at the Block “L” Athletic Awards Banquet on June 10, “Three years ago, we talked about returning a sense of pride. Last year, we talked about participation and the power of being involved.” With 200 varsity athletes participating this year, that goal is being actualized.

“Now we must ready ourselves for the next challenge and begin to better understand how to compete. We will be great,” he predicted. And given the fine performances that would soon be described in words and pictures before the night was over, that prediction seems certain to come to fruition.

Superintendent Michael Vanyo noted the immense physical improvements including the new gym floor finish, raising of championship banners, renovations to the track, fences, the building of a steeplechase pit, new locker rooms and more. “We are making strides,” he said.

Earlier, people feasted on a delicious dinner in the school cafeteria. Semo honored retiring cafeteria maven Evelyn Davis for her years of dedicated service.

Coaches lauded their teams and gave out awards. People anxiously anticipated the senior trophy presentations and the finale, a chronicled musical slide show of the entire year presented by this writer.

The poem “If,” by Rudyard Kipling, was used by this writer to address life’s challenges.

Trophy presentations:

Ivan Richards Award?MVP Boys and Girls Basketball were presented by coaches Semo and Tom Lagattata to Dashawn Williamson and Ceara Williams. Williamson led his team in nearly every scoring category. A leading rebounder, an outstanding defensive player, A Section Nine All-Star and the only Class B, C or D player chosen as such, he was also named as the Section Nine Class B Player of the Year and one of BCANY’s top 50 players in NYS. Williams was one of the top 10 scorers in the OCIAA.

The Buchal Award for the MVP in Baseball and Softball was presented by Charlie Buchal to Paige Richard Franke and Paige LaPolt. The Fred Planica Award for Baseball was given by coach John Wilhelm to Michael Bayer. The Goodstein Award for Wrestling Perseverance was awarded by coach John Lennon to Amandalyn Agapito, the team’s sole female wrestler.

The Ross Award for Boys and Girls Scholar Athletes were presented by coach Anne Ramos to Roothland Medina and Jasmine Walizadeh. The Rattner Awards for Boys and Girls Basketball Scholar Athletes went to Calvin Henry and Paige LaPolt.

The Kavleski Award for Boys and Girls Scholar Athletes was given to Adalberto Ponce and Jasmine Walizadeh. The Charlie Barbuti Baseball and Softball Sportsmanship Scholarships were presented by Charlie Barbuti to John Maxwell and Paulina Kleinberger

Liberty Pride Awards went to Shirley Weigand, whose 19 years at Liberty included being athletic director and as an assistant principal, and to Ron Schulte, who began his career at Liberty in 1972. He was named the Most Outstanding Teacher by the Sullivan County School Boards Association. Schulte coached cross-country, baseball, track, skiing, wrestling and football. Semo described him as an illustrious educator.

Senior Trophy Presentations

The Bo Gill Perseverance Award recipients were Roothland Medina and Rebecca Scherer. The awards were presented by high school principal Jack Strassman.

The Elizabeth Betty Totten Perseverance Award was presented by Debbie Simpson to Sam Heinle and Brina Cohen.

The Tom Kelly Award for the Outstanding Senior Athletes was presented by Cliff Hamlin to Chris Lake and Jasmine Walizadeh.

Team Awards

Boys soccer coach Anne Ramos presented the Coaches Award to Tim Burgio; Most Improved Player to Sam Heinle; Defensive Player of the Year to Michael Scherer; and Most Valuable Player to Kristopher Ramos.

Girls soccer assistant coach Jen Bull presented the Defensive Player of the Year to Paulina Kleinberger, the Offensive Player of the Year to Jasmine Walizadeh, the MIP to Olivia Baum and the MVP to Rebecca Scherer.

Cross country coach Ralph Bressler awarded the MIP to Brandon Froelich and Lisandra Villalobos. The MVPs were Herman Drayton and Kristen Sarno. Girls tennis coach Maggie Novello presented the MIP to Brittany Panagakos and the MVP to Jill Lieberman.

Football coach Jim O’Connor is stepping down so he can be involved with his sons’ careers at Sullivan West. Football awards went to: John O’Hearn Most Improved Player, Steve Hewlett; Defensive Player of the Year, Connor Hinton; Offensive Player of the Year, Chris Lake; and MVP, Brandon Tompkins.

Football cheerleading awards included MIP Lauren Rufrano and MVP Amanda Torre.

Alpine skiing awards were presented by Cindy Ellmauer. The MIP was Sam Heinle and the MVP was Kris Ramos.

Boys basketball coach Jason Semo presented the Coaches Award to Matt Hersh. The MIP was Chris Lake. The Defensive Player of the Year was Brandon Tompkins.

Girls basketball coach Tom Lagattuta awarded the MIP to Paige LaPolt; the Defensive Player of the Year was Kristen Sarno and the MVP was Ceara Williams.

Basketball cheerleading coach Audra Santillo presented the MIP to Zanada Reynolds and the MVP to Rebecca Scherer.

Boys indoor track coach Heather Yaun lauded her team ( 21-0 in its division and Section Nine runner up). Matthew Strother qualified for states in the high jump. Gregory Castro was MIP and Malcolm Strother and Tim Burgio shared MVP status.

Girls indoor track coach Debbie Simpson presented the MIP to Amanda Bertholf and Christine McCarthy. The MVP was Jasmine Walizadeh.

Wrestling coach John Lennon presented the MIP to Vinny Webbe and the MVP to Dylan Blackwell.

Baseball coach John Wilhelm awarded the MIP to Paulino Casiano, the Most Valuable Defensive Player to Jordan Fedun and the Most Valuable Offensive Player to Chris Lake.

Softball coach Matt Stoddard noted that the team was a scholar athlete award winner. Arbra Kukaj was MIP and Rebecca Scherer was MVP.

Golf coach John Napolitano awarded the MIP to Scott Franke and MVP to Tom Fix.

Boys track and field was undefeated in its division and sent Malcolm Strother, Greg Castro and Ethan Meadow to states. Coach Hazel Yaun presented the awards: Coaches Awards, Sam Miller, Erick Cuellar, and Shawn Goggin; MIP track, Dontrea McLaurin; MIP field, Ethan Meadow; MVP track, Tim Burgio; and MVP field, Brandon Tompkins.

Girls track and field coach Ralph Bressler presented the Coaches Award track to Tricia Gerwer, the Coaches Award field to Amanda Bertholf, the MIP track to Samantha Kellerher, the MVP track to Jessica Dunnigan and MVP field to Jasmine Walizadeh.

Boys tennis coach Steve Colman noted that his team went 7-2. MIP was Josh Lieberman and MVP was Jacob Kleinberger.

NYSPHSAA Scholar-Team Awards: boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis, girls basketball, boys indoor track, girls indoor track, boys track and field, girls track and field, boys tennis and softball.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of photos from Block L.