By Rob Potter
LAKE HUNTINGTON — March 21, 2006 – The Sullivan West Central School community celebrated a successful 2005-2006 winter sports season with an awards ceremony last Tuesday night in the high school auditorium.
High School Principal Margy Tenbus and Superintendent Alan Derry congratulated the student-athletes, their coaches and families for a stellar season.
“It’s a great program,” Tenbus said of SW Bulldog and Lady Bulldog athletics.
Derry noted that as a former high school and college athlete himself, he understands the benefits that an athletic program and other extracurricular activities can have on a student’s overall education.
“Congratulations to all of our winter athletes and coaches,” he said.
Athletic Director David Franskevicz noted that at 17 weeks, beginning with practices in November and ending with sectional and state competitions in early March, the winter sports season is the longest season of the scholastic year.
He noted that both varsity basketball teams qualified for sectionals, while the Lady Bulldogs won the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV championship. In addition, Franskevicz noted that the indoor track team won the Section IX Class B championship and Sullivan County championship.
Franskevicz then introduced the coaches who were seated on the auditorium stage. They included Tom Clifford – Skiing; Tara Brey and J.P. Lang – Varsity Basketball Cheerleading; George Rose – Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball; Rick Ellison, Cliff Kelly and Bob Menges – Varsity Boys’ Basketball; Thomas Palmer – Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball; Ron Bernhardt and Kurt Scheibe Jr. – Varsity Girls’ Basketball; George Shakelton and Ron Bauer – Varsity Indoor Track.
Each of the head coaches spoke about their particular team’s accomplishments and achievements during the past 17 weeks.
In addition to presenting certificates, athletic letters and/or pins to the members of their respective teams, the varsity coaches also gave out two special awards.
Coach Clifford presented the Lowest Scoring Skier Award to Stefan Levinson and the Most Persevering Skier Award to Kenny Rhodes.
Coaches Brey and Lang presented the Most Improved Varsity Basketball Cheerleader Award to Zafatiima Rabii and the Coaches’ Award to DiAnna Scott.
Coach Ellison presented the Most Valuable Player Award to Kevin Cappiello and the Most Persevering Player Award to Kevin Brewer.
Coach Bernhardt presented the Most Valuable Player Award to April Ackermann and the Miss Basketball Award to Kate Fanning.
Coach Shakelton presented the Most Valuable Indoor Track Female Athlete Award to Chelsie Schadt and the Most Improved Indoor Track Female Athlete Award to Charlotte Peters.
Coach Bauer presented the Most Valuable Winter Indoor Track Male Athlete Award to Donald Cooper III and the Most Improved Indoor Track Male Athlete Award to Colin Seidl.
The members of the 2005-2006 Bulldog and Lady Bulldog teams were as follows:
• Alpine Skiing: Matt DeChristofaro, Stefan Levinson, Patrick Murphy, Adam Nebzydoski, Kenny Rhodes, Kellee Thelman, James Tyles, Justin Ziser and Manager Victoria Tyles.
• Varsity Basketball Cheerleaders: Brittney Geiger, Brionna Lovgren, Ginger Pierce, Roxanne Pierce, Zafatiima Rabii, Dianna Scott, Ashley Smith and Kaitlyn Wingert.
• Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Justin Armstrong, Colby Copp, Kevin Correa, Rich Feeney, Dan Figueroa, Logan Grishaber, Gregory MacArthur, Jon McGibbon, Bradley Reimer, Harold Smith, James Spruill, Chris Story and John Whittaker.
• Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Alan Ackermann, Ross Bernhardt, Kevin Brewer, Kevin Cappiello, Kienan Garn, Derek Hahn, Ben Kleiner, Jonah LaGrutta, Jason Leewe, Kevin Pinkel, Paul Pitz, Bryan Schmidt, Brett Youmans and Managers Adam Kelly, Pete Kelly and Richard Lander.
• Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball: Vicky Argueta, Caralynn Davies, Kristen Drobysh, Mara Gabriel, Katrina Graby, Rachel Gruenke, Melanie Kleiner, Ella MacDonald, Lindsey Murphy, Julie Schultz, Claire Stabbert, Samantha VanDiver, Audryanna Ward and Manager Erica Schmidt.
• Varsity Girls’ Basketball: April Ackermann, Erin Bernhardt, Lauren Ellison, Kate Fanning, Rachel Houghtaling, Donna Kelly, Patti Knack, Sarah Lander, Stephanie Meyer, Jennifer Pitz, Jessica Pitz and Managers Eric Bierstine and Kyle Welch.
• Varsity Indoor Track: Justin Alsdorf, Sara Alsdorf, Jessica Armstrong, Tara Brewer, Eleanor Bryan, Donald Cooper III, Steve Daley, Eric DeLaurencio, Mitch Ellmauer, Rianne Erlwein, Katie Fenshaw, Jonathon Figueroa, Morgan Hawkins, Patrick Knack, Charlie Kreitlow, Joe Layman, Matthew Layman, Ashley Murphy, Charlotte Peters, Anthony Rasmussen, Brittany Reddish, Jonathan Reynolds, Chelsie Schadt, Will Schlott, Colin Seidl, Mike VanWagenen, Jessica Wagner and Amanda Ward.