By Rob Potter
LAKE HUNTINGTON — November 20, 2007 — Dozens of Sullivan West athletes were honored for their performances on the soccer pitch, cross country course, volleyball court and football field during the recently completed fall sports season at an awards presentation on Thursday night at the Sullivan West High School in Lake Huntington.
Scores of parents, grandparents and siblings filled the auditorium and then cheered as each coach called all of the members of his or her team up to the stage to be recognized.
In his opening remarks, SW Superintendent Ken Hilton noted that he “enjoyed programs like this honoring young athletes during my many years of coaching soccer.”
He then congratulated all of the players, coaches and parents who made this autumn another successful season for the SW athletic program.
Junior varsity girls’ soccer Coach Mike Mahoney then reviewed his team’s season. He noted that the Lady Bulldogs finished with a 7-4-2 record.
Mahoney said that many opposing coaches praised the Lady Bulldogs for “playing tough and for playing good soccer.”
The team members included: Rachel Dickey, Angela DiSanto, Katerina Gaebel, Vanessa Grisafe, Melissa Hahl, Morgan Hawkins, Samantha Knecht, Lynette Lacek, Ashley Mahoney, Regina Nicoletti, Madeline Paciga, Catherine Peters, Heather Puerschner, Kayla Rivera, Joanna Trujillo, Kim Yewchuk and Jessica Zaccari.
Coach Mike Ellmauer and Assistant Coach Ken Uy then called the members of the girls’ varsity soccer team up on stage.
Ellmauer noted that the team “had a tough schedule and played bigger teams, but we worked hard.
“We had a great ride at the end of the season,” he said. “We won our last six games to qualify for sectionals.”
He then presented the Most Improved Player award to Jillian Fife and the Most Valuable Player award to Sarah Lander.
Members of the Lady Bulldogs varsity soccer team included: Sara Alsdorf, Lindsey Bauer, Colleen Chudik, Morgan Edwards, Jillian Fife, Katrina Graby, Shelby Grishaber, Gabrielle Humleker, Sarah Lander, Lindsey Murphy, Kristen Niemann, Kayla Olsen, Brittany Reddish, Sarah Shirdon, Claire Stabbert, Kellee Thelman and Audryanna Ward.
Football Cheerleaders Co-Coaches Tara Brey and Nina Verderber noted that this season’s cheerleading squad consisted of 10 girls. They said based on numbers, the squad was smaller than in past seasons but noted that these 10 girls were very dedicated.
“This squad worked very hard,” Verderber said. “Coach Brey and I really appreciate everything you girls did this year.”
Verderber and Brey then presented the Most Improved Cheerleader trophy to Casie Lebron and the Coaches Award to Michelle Dresch.
This fall’s football cheerleaders were: Michelle Dresch, Brianna Kline, Casie Lebron, Janine Neumann, Ashley Niero, Lauren Ritz, Jessica Santos, Crystal Talmadge, Victoria Tyles and Kimberly Verderber (cheer mascot).
Junior varsity football Coach Anthony Durkin and Assistant Coach J.P. Lang recognized the 21 members of their team.
Durkin noted that the team was very young, with 16 freshmen and five sophomores.
“I had a great season with these guys,” Durkin said. “They worked hard, had fun and played good football.”
He said that one of the season’s highlights was when the Bulldogs scored 27 points during a 17-minute span in the second half of a game against Tri-Valley.
Members of the JV football team included: Ryan Alsdorf, Keith Baumann, Bryan Brennan, Jeremy Degori, Mike Durkin, Eric Leewe, Eric Lovgren, Ryan Lowe, Alex Manzi, Chris Murphy, Anthony Nicoletti, Kevin Nicoletti, Jimmy O’ Connor, Lotti Rabii, Mike Sandler, Mark Schwartz, Nick Scott, Shawn Taylor, John Toogood, Brandon Wagner and Kyle Welsch.
Varsity football team Coach Ron Bauer noted that “this group of seniors won three Section IX championships.
“And we were the Section IX Class C runner-up this year,” added Bauer, who guided the Bulldogs with the help of Assistant Coach Matt Buddenhagen and Assistant Coach Kurt Buddenhagen. “These guys worked hard all season and did a great job.”
Bauer then said he had two awards to give out: Most Valuable Back and Coaches Award.
Bauer presented the Most Valuable Back trophy to senior quarterback Jim Moloney. This season, Moloney completed 69-of-120 passes for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 606 yards and eight touchdowns.
Bauer then presented the Coaches Award to senior running back/linebacker Will Schlott.
“He never complained, he just went out there and did his job,” the veteran coach said of Schlott. “He gave 110 percent when he was on the field.”
Members of the Bulldogs varsity football team included: Ben Creegan, Austin Erlwein, Dan Figueroa, Gabriel Lagrutta, Jason Leewe, Thomas Lynch, Jim Moloney, Nick Mootz, Artie Norden, Mike Pomes, Bradley Reimer, Vaughn Schlott, Will Schlott, Mike Schmidt, Steven Steffens, Mark Tesseyman, Luke Tonjes, Tyler Wagner and John Whittaker.
Junior varsity volleyball Coach Cliff Kelly noted that the players “really worked hard to improve” this season.
“They had fun and stayed on a positive note,” he said.
Members of the Lady Bulldogs’ JV volleyball team included: Michele Birney, Jessica Goins, Alessandra Imbesi, Amanda Kehrley, Jackie Parsons, Morgan Pretty, Jessica Ramirez, Hannah Rettoun, Ruby Wheaton and Nora Yelekli. The team’s manager was Reise Gieger.
Kelly also served as Coach of the Lady Bulldogs’ varsity volleyball team.
“We had a great season,” he said of the varsity squad. “From the start of the season, these kids worked hard. We not only qualified for sectionals, we won our first sectional match in school history.”
Kelly also noted that three players – Caralynn Davies, Brittany Gieger and Samantha Vandiver – were honored as Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) all-stars.
Kelly then presented the Best Offensive Player award to Brittany Gieger and the MVP award to Caralynn Davies.
Members of the varsity volleyball team included: Juliet Corcillo, Becky Cutler, Caralynn Davies, Mara Gabriel, Brittney Gieger, Victoria Harmon, Amber McGibbon, Danielle Meyer and Samantha Vandiver. The team’s manager was Reise Gieger.
Varsity boys’ soccer Coach Debbie Owen and Assistant Coach Rick Ellison recognized the members of the team.
“We had a slightly deceptive 4-13-1 record,” Owen said. “Many of our losses were very close.
“We have a great group of players,” she added. “We only have three seniors, so most of these guys will return next season.”
Owen then presented the Most Valuable Defensive Player trophy to Rich Feeney and the Coaches Award to Eric Minton.
Members of the varsity boys’ soccer team included: Justin Armstrong, Lucas Bauer, Brice Billard, Kevin Correa, Evan Decker, Christopher Ellison, Mitch Ellmauer, Jesse Fadis, Rich Feeney, Logan Grishaber, Andy Kinch, Alex Lander, Miguel Marin, Eric Minton, Spencer Oliver, Gaston Owen, Robert Rosa, Harold Smith, James Spruill and Justin Ziser. The team managers were Carly Grishaber and Gavin Owen.
Boys’ cross country Coach George Rose then called the members of his team up on stage.
“We had a great season,” said Rose, who guided the Bulldog runners along with Assistant Coach David Curreri. “We were able to beat Tri-Valley five times this year and Tri-Valley has a very good program.”
Rose said that the season highlights included running at an invitational meet at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Rose noted that junior Colin Seidl won the Section IX championship and that Seidl and Matt Layman qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championship meet.
In addition, Rose praised Seidl for qualifying for the state Federation meet.
Rose presented the Most Improved Runner award to Russell Bryan and the Most Valuable Runner award to Seidl.
Members of th boys’ cross country team included: Russell Bryan, Derrick Clarke, Nick Cucci, Kyle Flynn, Matthew Layman, Stefan Levinson, Leland Peterman, Dallas Ripley, Colin Seidl and Michael Sheldon.
Girls’ cross country Coach George Shakelton praised the Lady Bulldogs for their performance this autumn.
“I would like to thank all of the girls,” he said. “They were really great and accomplished a lot this season.”
Among the season highlights Shakelton mentioned were the Lady Bulldogs’ fourth-place finish among the 19 teams in their division at an invitational meet at Walt Disney World and the Lady Bulldogs’ winning their sixth straight OCIAA Division IV title.
Shakelton said that in the first few meets of the season, senior Chelsie Schadt and freshman Rianne Erlwein alternated first- and second-place finishes.
In addition, Shakelton noted that Erlwein placed 18th in the OCIAA meet, fifth in the Section IX meet and 36th at the state meet.
Shakelton presented the Most Improved Runner award to Katey Dnistrian and the Most Valuable Runner award to Erlwein.
Members of the girls’ cross country team included: Kendra Barker, Katey Dnistrian, Rianne Erlwein, Jamie Moran, Charlotte Peters, Elizabeth Peters, Kasi Pilney, Stephany Robison, Chelsie Schadt and Julie Schultz.
In his closing remarks, SW Athletic Director David Franskevicz praised all of the coaches and athletes for their hard work and dedication this season. He also congratulated the five SW teams – boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, football, girls’ soccer and volleyball – that qualified for sectional competition.