By Rob Potter
LIBERTY — Scores of Liberty Central School student-athletes were honored for their accomplishments this school year and during their careers last Wednesday evening at the annual Block “L” Athletic Awards Banquet.
Following dinner in the high school cafeteria, the student-athletes joined their family members, coaches, administrators and staff members in the high school auditorium for the presentation of awards.
In his welcoming remarks, Superintendent Michael Vanyo noted that he spent 12 years as a high school soccer coach and teacher and therefore appreciates all of the hard work the members of the Indians and Lady Indians sports teams put into the classrooms and playing fields this year.
Athletic Director Jason Semo said that during the past two school years, Liberty student-athletes have represented the district very well.
“You should be proud of your academics and proud of your athletics,” he said to the dozens of athletes sitting in the auditorium.
“We’ve brought back some Liberty pride to our athletic program,” Semo added. “We’ve had some great leaders for our younger athletes and we appreciate all of the seniors for that.”
The awards presented included:
Team Awards
Boys’ Soccer (Coach Anne Ramos): Most Valuable Player – Saeed Robinson; Most Improved Player – Patrick Murphy; Coach’s Award – Jacob Kleinberger
Girls’ Soccer (Coach Ashlea Prouty): Most Valuable Player – Jasmine Walizadeh; Offensive Player of the Year – Rebecca Scherer; Defensive Player of the Year – Taylir Lorino
Cross-Country (Coach Ralph Bressler): Boys: Most Valuable Player – Trevor Tate; Most Improved Player – Malcolm Strother
Girls: Most Valuable Player – Kim McKay; Coach’s Award – Kristen Sarno
Girls’ Tennis (Coach Les Pomerantz): Most Valuable Player – Jill Lieberman; Most Improved Player – Alana Ehrenberg
Football (Coach Jim O’Connor): Most Valuable Player – Trevor Tompkins; John O’Hearn Most Improved Player – Abi Rubio; John O’Hearn Most Improved Player – Justin Katz; Offensive Player of the Year – Joe Ruiz; Defensive Player of the Year – Justen Mills; Co-Rookie of the Year – Connor Hinton; Co-Rookie of the Year – Tony Hernandez
Football Cheerleading (Coach Audra Santillo): Most Valuable Player – Brittany Houghtaling; Most Improved Player – Angelee Santillo
Alpine Skiing (Coach Cindy Ellmauer): Boys’ Most Valuable Player – Kurt Ramos; Boys’ Most Improved Player – Jacob Kleinberger
Boys’ Basketball (Coach Jason Semo): Most Improved Player – Justen Mills; Offensive Player of the Year – Dashawn Williamson; Defensive Player of the Year – Ivan Rivera
Girls’ Basketball (Coach Tommy LaGattuta): Most Improved Player – Lisandra Villalobos; Offensive Player of the Year – Ceara Williams; Defensive Player of the Year – Kristen Sarno
Basketball Cheerleading (Coach Audra Santillo): Most Valuable Player – Amanda Torres; Most Improved Player – Rebecca Scherer
Boys’ Indoor Track (Coach Hazel Yaun): Most Valuable Player – Matt Arielly; Most Improved Player – Tim Burgio; Coach’s Award: Scott Kaplan
Girls’ Indoor Track (Coach Debbie Simpson): Most Valuable Player – Kim McKay; Most Improved Player – Sabrina Mastrogiovanni; Coach’s Award – Dawn Baron
Wrestling (Coach John Lennon): Most Valuable Player – Ian Irwin; Most Improved Player – Hector Torres
Baseball (Coach John Wilhelm): Most Valuable Defensive Player – Abi Rubio; Most Valuable Offensive Player – Evan Kirsch; Most Improved Player – Trevor Tompkins
Softball (Coach Maggie Novello): Most Valuable Defensive Player – Kristen Sarno; Most Improved Player – Kristen Heindel
Golf (Coach John Napolitano): Most Valuable Player – Josh Goldstein; Most Improved Player – Austin McVicker
Boys’ Track & Field (Coach Hazel Yaun): Co-Most Valuable Player (Track) – Saeed Robinson; Co-Most Valuable Player (Track) – Malcolm Strother Most Valuable Player (Field) – Tim Burgio; Most Improved Player (Track) – Trevor Tate; Most Improved Player (Field) – Brandon Tompkins
Girls’ Track & Field (Coach Ralph Bressler): Most Valuable Player (Track) – Jessica Dunnigan; Most Valuable Player (Field) – Kim McKay; Most Improved Player (Track) – Jasmine Walizadeh; Most Improved Player (Field) – Tricia Gerwer
Boys’ Tennis (Coach Les Pomerantz): Most Valuable Player – Calvin Henry; Most Improved Player – Roothland Medina
Semo noted that 11 Liberty teams earned the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Scholar Team Award during the 2007-2008 academic year. Those teams included: Football, Girls’ Basketball, Golf, Boys’ Track and Field, Girls’ Track and Field, Baseball, Softball, Girls’ Indoor Track, Boys’ Indoor Track, Boys’ Soccer and Girls’ Soccer.
Trophy Presentations
Ivan Richards Award (MVP for Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball) – Dustin Van Lieu and Ceara Williams
Buchal Award (MVP for Baseball and Softball presented by Charlie Buchal) – Justen Mills and Ceara Williams
Fred Planica Award (presented by Baseball Coach John Wilhelm) – Chris Lake
Goodstein Award for Wrestling Perseverance (presented by Coach John Lennon) – Justin Katz
Ross Award for Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Scholar-Athlete (presented by Coach Ashlea Prouty) – Kelley Lockwood and Michael Dunnigan
Rattner Award for Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Scholar-Athlete (presented by Coaches Jason Semo and Tommy LaGattuta) – Trevor Tompkins and Kelley Lockwood
Kavleski Award for Boys’ and Girls’ Track Scholar-Athlete (presented by Andy Kavleski) – Matthew Arielly and Alana Ehrenberg
Senior Trophy Presentations
Charlie Barbuti Baseball and Softball Sportsmanship Scholarship Trophy (presented by Charlie Barbuti Jr.) – Justin Katz and Katie Baxter
Bo Gill Perseverance Award (presented by High School Principal Jack Strassman) – Pedro Alvarez and Danielle Johnson
Elizabeth “Betty” Totten Sportsmanship Award (presented by Paul Gatta) – Justen Mills and Alana Ehrenberg
Tom Kelly Award for Outstanding Senior Athlete (presented by Adam Birkett) – Trevor Tompkins and Kim McKay.