Awards

Bears beyond the pale

Tri-Valley athletic awards celebrates team and individual excellence

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Glowing words of praise, an inspirational message and a cavalcade of slides were part and parcel of Tri-Valley’s Spring Athletic Awards Night on June 9, as coaches extolled their teams and awarded individual players trophies for their outstanding contributions.

Exemplary character and fine scholarship, as well as fine athletic endeavors, were subjects for discussion as coaches talked about their teams’ fine deportment, good sportsmanship and academic success. Athletic director Joe Iatauro mentioned that six of Tri-Valley’s 13 teams in 2008-09 were named as scholar athletes for having a G.P.A. of 90 percent or better.

Iatauro has long aspired for Tri-Valley to become one of the Distinguished Schools in NYS that has every team awarded a Scholar Athlete designation. Iatauro mentioned that only about 12 schools out of 800 have achieved such a milestone.

Iatuaro began the evening by thanking superintendent Thomas Palmer, the board of education, the parents and community, who have rendered their support for the Bears’ stellar athletic program.

Coaches took turns calling their teams to the stage and lauding their efforts. Each coach had affirming comments to make about the overall team effort and the contribution of individuals as well.

Varsity softball coach Mary Feusner talked about the lack of numbers this year, as her team ended up with only 12 players. That included call ups Erin Smith and Brittany Rennison. “We made it work the best we could,” said Feusner. Having senior first timers volunteer to play helped the cause. She presented Gabby Calabrese and Lyn Forget with the Coaches Appreciation Award for their participation and effort.

“This season was a process,” Feusner said.

The girls placed second in the Benny Chesnick Tournament.

Top awards:

Freshman Rachel Adriaans, who played in all 17 games, was named Most Improved Player (MIP) in softball.

Karyn Sheeley and Lauren Jones were named softball MVPs. Sheeley, the most experienced player on the team, was lauded by opposing coaches. She had 55 assists or put outs, struck out only three times all season and scored the most runs on the team. Feusner called her “a leader among rookies.” Jones was the team’s number-one pitcher. She allowed just five hits against Tuxedo and registered a .914 fielding percentage.

Varsity golf coach Andy Taggart talked about his team that went 8-3-1 in their division and 10-6-1 overall. The record was impressive given the fact that John Bernstein, the team’s number one golfer, was sidelined with a knee injury that he incurred during ski season.

Taggart said the team was “a pleasure to be around and they displayed impeccable behavior.” The golf team was designated as scholar athletes. This season, they won their 100th match since the program was resurrected in 1988. Awards were as follows: Jimmy Bernstein, the team’s top scorer, was awarded MVP status. He lowered his stroke average from 11.8 to 8.9. He qualified for the OCIAA championship. The MIP was Ryan Mickelson, who went from being the number-six golfer to number two. He also qualified for the OCIAA tourney and was 9-7-1 against other teams’ number two players this season.

Taggart spoke highly of John Bernstein who, despite his injury, came to every practice and match. He started in seventh grade and would likely have been a sectional contender this year again and perhaps even more.

Varsity baseball coach John Rusin noted that his team was 9-11-1 overall and 3-2-1 in its division. Rusin felt that the team trip to Myrtle Beach was valuable in forging a team identify and preparing for the rigors of the season. Most memorable moments included the 16-all tie versus Tuxedo when the Bears stormed back from a 9-0 deficit and again later in the game to tie the score and hold the Tornadoes scoreless in late extra innings. The game was called on account of darkness.

Leading Millbrook by three runs going into the bottom of the seventh, Tri-Valley lost a tough game to a team that just put hits together in the clutch. The Outstanding Offensive and Outstanding Defensive Player awards were given to Tim Martin. Martin played every position except first base and the outfield. He had an on-base percentage of .554. The MVP was Andrew Yager. He batted .357 and had three home runs, two of which were grand slams. He had 29 RBI.

Iatauro noted that boys varsity track had turned in a fine season. They finished third in their division and 16th overall in the Orange County League. They came in fourth in Section Nine Class C. Bob Fiedler was the OCL Throwers Pentathlon champion. He is a national qualifier in the hammer throw. Iatuaro apprised the audience that 2007 graduate Ryan Loughney just finished second in the nation in Division II.

The MIPs for the boys track team were Logan Ackerley and Brian Edwards. The MVPs were Fiedler, Jeremy Kinney and Jesse Boncek.

The girls track team won its third consecutive Section Nine title. Freshman Sarah Heikennin, sophomore Kaitlin Connor and eighth grader Mareena DiMilia were named as MIPs. Heikkenin won the Section Nine 3000 and DiMilia competed in a multitude of events. She came in fourth in the pole vault and sixth in the 100 in sectionals. Connor did fine work in the long jump.

Five girls shared MVP honors. They included Tehnyat Khan, who won the shot put and discus at sectionals and qualified for states in the shot put. Kaitlin Torres was fourth in the long jump, fifth in the triple jump and second in the 400 relay at sectionals. Caroline Bertholf was second in the steeplechase. Rachel Sanborn finished third in the 800, third in the 1600 relay and 3200 relay and fourth in the 1500.

Iatauro praised each and every member of the team. Kaitlin Exner won the Section Nine hammer throw title.

Following the awards, this writer spoke to the audience about the long-term value of engaging adversity. A slide show followed, with an array of action pictures from all spring sports.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of photos.