Awards

Comets glow

Fallsburg celebrates its finest athletes

By RICHARD A. ROSS

FALLSBURG, NY — Emanating a celestial glow, the Fallsburg Comets lit up the audience with smiles and immense pride at the annual athletic awards banquet on June 11.

In celebration of fine young men and women who have represented themselves, their families, the school and the community with the utmost class, character and sportsmanship, the awards presentation was a fitting tribute in words and images to much that was positive in the 2008-09 school year.

Following a scrumptious dinner, the audience adjourned to the auditorium to hear athletes extolled, inspiring words from keynote speaker Barry Davis, to watch an uplifting slide show that chronicled the school athletic year and to hear of the teams and individuals who made this past year a success.

Athletic director Tim Bult welcomed the audience, thanked the school administration, board of education, the coaches, parents and athletes who all contributed to this year’s resurgent athletic spirit. Superintendent Ivan Katz noted that the evening was special and that athletics represent an important part of a life, a chance to give one’s all and to show perseverance.

Trained in martial arts and later excelling as a weightlifter representing the United States around the world, Katz reflected on how powerful the sports experience was for him. Katz encouraged the athletes by saying that “great things were yet to come.”

Bult introduced Davis, the keynote speaker who graduated from Fallsburg in 1976. Davis was the Times-Herald Record Basketball Player of the Year. He later had the opportunity to vie against players who went on to the NBA, including Bill Cartwright. Davis just missed out in his tryouts to become a pro but went on to take the civil service exam in 1990 and has been a parole officer ever since.

Davis cited his Fallsburg experience as key in building a foundation toward success.

Bult gave Fallsburg Athletic Appreciation Awards to the school maintenance staff and to the Fallsburg Comet Booster Club. Winnie Foertsch was named Fallsburg Fan of the Year. This writer spoke briefly about bearing witness to many positives in Fallsburg sports and the opportunity to persevere and build something enduring in oneself by doing so. A musical slide show followed, which drew accolades from the audience.

Senior Trophy Awards:

Bult presented the OCIAA Scholar Athlete Awards to Wesley Castillo and Stefanie Benjamin. Michael Weiner, adviser to the student government, gave out the organization’s Perseverance Award, based on a student’s sense of commitment, patience, bearing up under difficulties and staying focused on goals. This year’s recipients were Samuel Ingber and Generosa Canales.

The Fallsburg Comet Booster Club Award for Sportsmanship was given to Stefanie Benjamin and Jeffrey Wakefield. Wakefield participated in tennis and track and field. Benjamin lent her energy to volleyball and softball. Jim Bertholf described the award as one given to deserving seniors who put ego aside and evinced good behavior and kindness towards others.

High school principal Mike Williams talked about the Outstanding Senior Athlete Awards. “Winners can run the gamut from MVPs to those who aren’t necessarily the best players on the team. Every coach votes on the candidates who demonstrate dedication and sportsmanship. This year’s choices were Colin Conway-Whitaker and Joanna Blanchard.

Coaches awards:

Girls soccer coach Amanda Biccum presented these awards: MIP, Kathleen Orlan; Roland Allen Sportsmanship Award, Tonye Freeman; and MVP, Joanna Blanchard. Blanchard was the team’s top scorer and has played soccer for five years.

Girls tennis was one of Fallsburg scholar athlete teams with a cumulative G.P.A. of 95.136. The team sent three to the OCIAA tourney and one went on to sectionals. The Roland Allen Sportsmanship Award was given to Olivia Yaple.

Girls volleyball coach Andrea Millas gave the Roland Allen Sportsmanship Award to Christine Justiniano. The MIP went to Jamie Parker and the MVP was Stefanie Benjamin.

Boys basketball coach Pete Dworetsky talked about the positives of the season. “Twelve guys remained academically eligible for the second straight year,” he noted. The Sportsmanship Award went to Michael Melko, the MIP was Daniel Seletsky and the MVP was Colin Conway-Whitaker.

Girls basketball coach Daniel Raymond called the season one of “transition and triumph.” The team has a bright future. The Sportsmanship Award went to Joanna Blanchard; the MIP was Myana Patterson-DaCosta. The MVP was Keyshawn Kennedy, who led the team in scoring. Kennedy had 24 points against Liberty.

Cheerleading coach Kiffanie Rodgers-Sanchez awarded the Sportsmanship Award to Brynn Bertholf, the MIP to Vanessa Piselli and the MVP to Cherise Pinder.

Wrestling was not a varsity sport this year but participation awards were given as the team came in first in sectionals at the junior varsity level and second at the varsity level. Volunteer assistant Al Feldman commended the following individuals: Nicholas McLean, Steve Teri and Kristopher Williams.

Boys and girls Alpine skiing coach Janet Carey’s team is a combined venture with Tri-Valley. It had eight seniors. The boys finished 41-15 and the girls were 32-16. The teams were scholar athlete winners. Eight skiers went to sectionals and two went on to states. The boys and girls finished fourth out of 20 teams this year. The Girls Sportsmanship Award went to Stefanie Benjamin and the Boys Sportsmanship Award went to Uddhava Stowell. The boy MIP was Wesley Castillo.

Baseball coach Mike Weiner noted his team’s determination and work ethic. Beating arch rival Monticello, a team that has been a foe for 50 years, was a great event. The Sportsmanship Award went to Steven Teri. The MIP was Mariza Javed and the MVP was Colin Conway-Whitaker.

Boys golf coach Darren Kenney presented The Sportsmanship Award to Aaron Schmidt. The MIP was Michael Scuderi and the MVP was OCIAA qualifier Richard Elliot, who missed sectionals by a single stroke.

Girls golf coach Russ Alger presented The Coaches Award to Brooke Rappaport and the Sportsmanship Award to Sophie Marsden. The MIP was Melissa Melko and the team MVP was seventh grader Danielle Stratton, who led the team in every match. Stratton shot an impressive 49 at the Villa Roma.

Boys and girl track coach Tara James-LaMonica lauded her team’s efforts. This year, the boys won two meets and the girls won one. The boys track Sportsmanship Award went to GodDyhu Anthony. The MIP was Victor Pacheco and the MVP was Ethan Herrera, who did the 110 hurdles, the 200, the 4x100 relay and moved into prominence in the triple jump.

The girls Sportsmanship Award went to Samantha Fontano. The MIP was Ruth McCoy and the MVP was Generosa Canales. She ran the 400, the 200, the 100 and the 4x100 and never missed a practice or a meet.

Boys tennis coach Carey gave the Sportsmanship Award to Jeffrey Wakefield and co-MIPs to Michael Levy and Kristopher Williams. The MVP was Sebastian Sarmiento.

Softball coach Kate Yaun presented The Sportsmanship Award to Megan Gerow. The MIP was Maranda Barisch and the MVP was Rebecca Courtney.

Boys soccer coach Kenney stressed the valuable lesson of how every minute matters.The Sportsmanship Award went to Chris Elliot. The MIP was Elias Vasquez and the team MVP was Colin Conway-Whitaker. He was a three-sport MVP this spring.

Fallsburg will return to Class C next year and the future looks bright.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of photos from the Comets’ awards banquet.