By Nathan Mayberg
KIAMESHA LAKE — June 8, 2004 – Monticello High School honored dozens of scholar athletes last Thursday night at the annual Senior Athletic Awards Banquet at Fibbers in Kiamesha Lake.
The star of the night was Ashley Bloom, who took home the top honor of The Mayor’s Trophy, as well as honors for Doctor of Sport, Superintendent’s List, Principal’s List and Coach’s Award. Her varsity letters included four years for girls’ basketball and six years of girls’ tennis.
Ashley Morse was honored with the other winner of the Doctorate of Sport, for receiving more than nine varsity letters during her high school athletic career. She spent four years on the girls’ soccer team, three years on girls’ indoor track team and was a member of the girls’ track and field team for three years.
Eric Shulman earned eight letters, the most of any male athlete. He was honored with the Master of Sport Award. His letters included four years on the boys’ track and field team and three years on the wrestling team.
Christa Billias, Scott Kaplan and Paul Meddaugh were the other student-athletes to receive Master of Sport Awards. Meddaugh compiled seven varsity letters while competing for the boys’ tennis and boys’ alpine ski teams. Billias and Kaplan each finished their high school careers with six letters.
It was an emotional night for some of the coaches and students as they said goodbye to each other. Many of the students received lavish praise from their coaches for their hard work and leadership over the the years.
“You will always have a place in my program,” Coach Dick O’Neill said to Dwayne Booth, David Davila, Darryl Mann and Luis Paredes, who were his four honorees from the boys’ basketball team. “And you will always have a place in my heart.”
Bachelor of Sport plaques were given to the seniors who earned at least three varsity letters. Those honorees included: Jenna Boyce (four), Jesse Bulaga (three), Daniel Catalano (five), Sara Colacurcio (three), Erin Goodman (four), Justin Gray (four), Francine Kaiser (four), Tyler Laufersweiler (three), Lisa Manz (three), Tara Mullen (three), Matthew Russo (three), Phillip Sicuro (four), Allyson Strong (four) and Jenna Widmann (three).