By Eli Ruiz
MONTICELLO — June 7, 2005 – Monticello senior Erica Kalber is certainly used to lots of physical activity. After all, she has been a member of the varsity soccer, indoor track, and track and field teams since her freshman year,
But even Erica had to be a bit winded from all of her trips to the podium at last Thursday night’s Monticello High School Senior Athletics Awards Banquet.
Monticello High School Director of Athletics Kenneth Garry was emcee for the ceremony
Kalber’s first award was the coaches award for indoor track, presented by coach Peter Wysochanski. The coaches award is presented to athletes who exemplify and uphold the highest standards of school service, athletic performance, integrity and sportsmanship.
Next up for her was the scholar athlete award, which is given to seniors who have maintained a 3.5 GPA for their entire high-school career while being a varsity letter winner a minimum of three times. Her next award was the Doctor of Sport Award, presented to athletes with at least nine varsity letters. She has 10.
She then took home a senior award for participating in varsity track and field for four years.
Finally, Kalber walked away with the night’s biggest honor, the Mayor’s Cup, an award initiated by former Monticello Mayor John Duiguid in 1991. Current Monticello Mayor Jim Barnicle presented the award to her.
Kalber then thanked the entire Monticello High School coaching staff for implementing in her and others the values of hard work, dicipline, and sportsmanship.
“These are lessons that we will not only use on the athletic field, but we will carry with us through life, Kalber said. “Without the disipline you all have instilled in us we wouldn’t be where we are now”
Another of Thursday night’s big winners was Laura Ferranti. She recieved a coaches award, scholar athlete award, senior award and a Master of Sports award for her eight varsity letters.
Wrestler Christopher Ng also won multiple awards. He won a coaches award, scholar athlete award, senior award, and a Bachelor of Sport award for his four varsity wrestling letters. Ng had a very successful wrestling career at Monticello High. He recorded 94 wins, which is second most in school history.
Other award recipients were as follows:
• Masters of Sport – Victoria Carter, Robert Macedonio and Ryan Meddaugh.
• Bachelors of Sport – Cono Cirone, James Conway, Devin Jackson, Natalia Magalhaes, Benjamin Newburg, Taqiyya Robinson, Jesus Rodriguez, Janessa Shaw and David Berson.
• Coaches Awards – Richard Biggness – boys’ tennis, Jeffery Brink – baseball and boys’ soccer, James Conway – boys’ golf, Brendan Devine – indoor track, Brendan Ference – boys’ track and field, Kayla Gager – girls’ track and field, Meredith Levine – girls’ golf, Liila Mack – girls’ basketball, Luis Paredes – boys’ basketball, Corey Price – boys’ cross country, Pollyanna Palhano – volleyball, Taqiyya Robinson – cheerleading, Janessa Shaw – girls’ tennis, Janelle Slutsky – girls’ cross country and nordic skiing, Constance Stofko – softball, Kristen VanHage – girls’ soccer and William VanHage – alpine skiing.