By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — June 15, 2001 – The final Delaware Valley Athletic Awards Dinner was held at the school Monday night.
Since DV is now a part of the combined Sullivan West Central School District, its student-athletes will be honored at future awards dinners along with student-athletes from the SW/Jeffersonville and SW/Narrowsburg campuses. Beginning in September, all of the athletic teams will be combined and compete as Sullivan West Bulldogs. (During the 2000-2001 school year, only a handful of teams, such as the varsity football team and varsity boys’ soccer squad, were combined Bulldog teams.)
For that reason, each DV student athlete honored at Monday’s banquet received a “D” letter as a momento.
After recognizing the members of each modified and junior varsity squad – and everyone who helps with the athletic program, including school administrators, teachers, custodians, bus drivers and parents – Athletic Director Debbie Owen and the varsity coaches presented some special awards.
While most of those awards went to the school’s student-athletes, Ron Bauer was lauded for his 34 years of coaching with the Outstanding Service Award. After accepting the award from Sullivan West Assistant Superintendent David Rowley, Bauer, who is also a teacher at the SW/DV campus, reminded the crowd of some of the qualities good athletes share.
He noted that they “give 110 percent and commit themselves to a goal.”
“I really appreciate all of the efforts made by the kids I’ve coached over those 34 years,” Bauer said. “The kids really worked hard and believed in themselves.”
The prestigious Billy Moran Scholarship was presented to William “Bill” Reichmann by his father, Bruce Reichmann, and Brent Rosenberger – both of whom were friends of Billy Moran. Since 1981, the Moran Scholarship has been presented in honor of Billy Moran, an outstanding student-athlete and member of the Class of ’81 who was killed in a hit-and-run accident two decades ago in Florida.
Before handing the scholarship plaque to Bill Reichmann, Rosenberger noted his accomplishments. They included being named the Class of 2001 Salutatorian, playing football, basketball and baseball and being a member of the school’s National Honor Society and Sullivan County Interacademic League (SCIL) team.
“You are a quiet leader on the field and the court,” Rosenberger said to Bill Reichmann. “You also like to joke around and are very caring of your family and friends. And you have an infectious smile that makes everyone around you feel good. Billy had those qualities, too. I can’t think of a more fitting recipient of the Billy Moran Scholarship than you.”
Bill Reichmann graciously took the plaque as Rosenberger noted that Bruce Reichmann had named his son after Billy Moran.
“It’s a great honor,” Bill Reichmann said of earning the Moran Scholarship.
He plans to attend King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. this fall and major in math. In addition, he plans to play for the King’s baseball team.
Reichmann, who has a 3.9 g.p.a., was also one of three winners of the National Scholar Athlete Award. The two other students to receive that accolade were Erika Long and Alicia Peters.
Long, whose g.p.a. is 3.8, was a member of the soccer, basketball and softball teams and participated in other activities such as SADD and the National Honor Society (NHS). Peters, whose g.p.a. is 3.95, was a member of the soccer, basketball and softball teams and participated in the NHS and several other extracurricular activities.
The DV Outstanding Athlete Awards were presented to one boy and one girl from the graduating class and one undergraduate boy and one undergraduate girl. Each recipient must have earned at least one varsity letter, competed in a sport this school year, be an outstanding member of a varsity team and demonstrate strong personal attributes such as leadership, sportsmanship and having respect for others.
Class of 2002 member Emmanuel Toledo was named the Outstanding Male Undergraduate and there was a tie for the Outstanding Female Undergraduate award. Juniors Megan Moran and Calley Sander shared the honor.
Bill Reichmann earned the Outstanding Male Athlete plaque and Alicia Peters was recognized as the Outstanding Female Athlete.
Several team awards were also presented to one or two student-athletes on a given team – although a few were given out in other ceremonies for the already merged athletic teams. Those presented at the DV banquet were:
Girls’ Soccer: Erika Long and Alicia Peters (co-MVPs)
Boys’ Basketball: Bill Reichmann (MVP)
Girls’ Basketball: Calley Sander (MVP)
Softball: Christina Head (MVP), Erika Long (Coaches’ Award)
Golf: John Streever (Most Improved)