By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — June 8, 2010 — The dozens of Monticello Central School seniors who performed to the best of their abilities on the court, field, ski course and track were honored on Friday night as the school held its annual Senior Sports Awards Banquet.
The evening’s program began in the high school auditorium as Athletic Director Doug Murphy welcomed everyone. He thanked the Board of Education members and administrators for their support of the Monticello athletic program during the 2009-2010 school year.
Murphy also acknowledged the board members and administrators in attendance, including Board of Education President Alyce Van Etten, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Michel, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Support Services Gladys Baxter, High School Principal Arleene Siegel, High School Assistant Principal Virginia Morse and High School Assistant Principal Mark Sutherland.
Murphy thanked all of the parents and coaches for their contributions to the athletic program
“It’s great to have everyone here tonight as we take time to recognize the senior athletes who have brought honor to the Monticello Central School District,” he said.
In his Superintendent’s Address, Michel thanked the parents and community members who helped the Monticello athletes have a successful year. He noted that it wasn’t easy as economic conditions forced some tough decisions and sacrifices to be made.
“Athletics teach our children the lesson of sacrifice,” Michel said. “They learned that to accomplish something great they need to sacrifice.”
Following a powerpoint presentation by Richard Ross of sportsinsightsny.com which highlighted the achievements of Monticello athletes through dozens of photos, everyone walked to the gymnasium to enjoy a buffet dinner catered by Mr. Willy’s.
After dinner, the program began with Murphy presenting a plaque to Kyle Hoar for his 32 years of coaching several Monticello High School teams. Hoar will be retiring when the school year ends later this month.
Later in the program when he was presenting certificates to the seniors on the girls’ golf team, Hoar thanked Murphy and his two predecessors as AD, the late Ed Kennedy and Ken Garry, for allowing him to coach Monticello athletes for more than three decades.
Hoar also presented Coach’s Awards to one member of each varsity athletic team who exemplifies and upholds the highest standard of school service, athletic performance, integrity and sportsmanship.
The Coach’s Award winners included: Anastasia Bowden (girls’ soccer and girls’ basketball), Tre’ Branch (boys’ tennis), Colin Bunce (boys’ soccer), Erica Concors (girls’ nordic skiing), Thomas Gonzalez (boys’ cross country), Kristen Harrington (girls’ indoor track), Lianna Hollander (girls’ cross country), Taylor Knapp (girls’ alpine skiing and girls’ golf), Ian Kolaitis (boys’ nordic skiing), Anagabriele Loor (girls’ track and field), Angelo Niforatos (boys’ golf), Jacqueline O’Rourke (girls’ tennis), Kate Oldfield (volleyball and softball), Serafin Rodriguez (baseball), Brittany Rosario (cheerleading), Michael Snowden (wrestling), Matthew Strong (boys’ basketball), Taylor Thomas (boys’ alpine skiing), David Wilbur (boys’ track and field and boys’ indoor track).
Michel and Siegel presented the Scholar Athlete Awards. Athletes who maintained a GPA of 85 or better for his/her entire high school career earned Principal’s List plaques. Athletes who maintained a GPA of 90 or better for his/her entire high school career earned Superintendent’s List plaques.
The Principal’s List plaque recipients were: Anastasia Bowden, James Buckley, Devin Bunce, Angel Ferrer, Trevor Goldstein, Kenisha Haynes, Lianna Hollander, Jonathan Pacheco, Serafin Rodriguez, Dylan Saunderson, Briana Slutsky, Matthew Strong, Jessica Venditti, Mitchell Waichman and David Wilbur.
The Superintendent’s List plaque recipients were: Denise Allen, Carlye Benson, Simone Bryant, Colin Bunce, Alyson Huffman, Khrysta Garrison, Giuliana Lapiana, Krista Mangabang, Emily Martin, Natalia Montoya, Jacqueline O’Rourke, Kate Oldfield, Ruben Rebolledo, Heather Schnabel, Taylor Thomas and Jared Weiss.
Morse and Sutherland presented the Senior Plaques. The Bachelor of Sport was awarded to athletes who earned at least three varsity letters, including senior year. The Master of Sport was awarded to athletes who earned at least six varsity letters, including senior year. The Doctorate of Sport was awarded to athletes who earned at least nine varsity letters, including senior year.
The Doctor of Sport honorees were: Anastasia Bowden (10 varsity letters), Colin Bunce (11), Thomas Gonzalez (11), Lianna Hollander (11) and David Wilbur (11).
The Master of Sport honorees were: Trevor Goldstein (six), Kenisha Haynes (seven) and Kate Oldfield (six).
The Bachelor of Sport honorees were: Denise Allen (three), Kyle Bennett (four), Simone Bryant (three), Anthony D’Abbraccio (five), Angel Ferrer (five), Khrysta Garrison (four), Andrew Gunther (three), Alyson Huffman (four), William Latimer (five), Jesse Levine (three), Emily Martin (three), Natalia Montoya (three), Jacqueline O’Rourke (three), Jason Pabon (four), Dorentina Rraci (four), Michael Ruggiero (four), Briana Slutsky (five), Michael Snowden (four), Jessica Venditti (three) and Jordan Wilson (five).
The coaching staff then presented Senior Awards to athletes who have received a varsity letter for three, four, five or six years, including the senior year. Members of the coaching staff include: Katie Alvarez, Karen Atack, Jim Bates, Matt Buddenhagen, Brian Caruso, Ryan Cunningham, Matt Daly, Shannon Dietrich, Steve Duarte, Justin Fenichel, Scott Fitchett, Urvashi Gupta, Amanda Hinkley, Kyle Hoar, Kelly Keesler, David Linton, John Maranzana, Michael Marra, Steve Matuszak, Dan Orlan, Richard O’Neill, Matt Quick, Chris Russo, Josef Seidl, William Stento and Pete Wysochanski.
The Senior Award recipients included: Anastasia Bowden (girls’ soccer, three years; track and field, four years), Colin Bunce (boys’ soccer, four years; alpine skiing, five years), Jason Pabon (boys’ soccer, four years), Michael Ruggiero (boys’ soccer, four years), Jacqueline O’Rourke (girls’ tennis, three years), Briana Slutsky (girls’ tennis, three years), Thomas Gonzalez (cross country, four years; indoor track, three years; track and field, four years), Lianna Hollander (cross country, four years; indoor track, three years; track and field, four years), David Wilbur (cross country, three years; indoor track, four years; track and field, four years), Kate Oldfield (volleyball, three years; softball, three years), Trevor Goldstein (alpine skiing, four years), Kyle Bennett (wrestling, four years), William Latimer (wrestling, four years), Dorentina Rraci (girls’ basketball, four years), Khrysta Garrison (cheerleading, three years), Anthony D’Abbraccio (baseball, three years), Jesse Levine (baseball, three years), Jessica Venditti (softball, three years), Andrew Gunther (boys’ tennis, three years), Denise Allen (track and field, three years), Simone Bryant (track and field, three years), Angel Ferrer (track and field, four years), Kenisha Haynes (track and field, four years) and Jordan Wilson (track and field, three years).
While presenting the Senior Awards, the members of the coaching staff also spoke about the highlights of their respective sports seasons.
“It really was a banner year for sports here at Monticello,” Murphy said. “That is a testament to all of our athletes and the entire coaching staff.”
The final award of the evening was the Mayor’s Cup Trophy. As he introduced Monticello Mayor Gordon Jenkins, Murphy noted that this is the 20th year the Mayor’s Cup has been awarded.
“It is an honor for me to be with you tonight,” said Jenkins, who noted that he is a 1977 Monticello Central School graduate. “I am proud of all the athletes here tonight. I am proud to be a Monticello graduate and I am proud to be the mayor of Monticello.
“It is my honor to present this award,” Jenkins added.
He then announced that the 2010 winner of the Mayor’s Cup Trophy was David Wilbur.