By Lori Brown
GRAHAMSVILLE — Tri-Valley Central School Athletic Director Derek Adams began Thursday night’s Winter Sports Awards ceremony by thanking all the student-athletes and coaches for their time and effort during the recently completed season.
The Bears and Lady Bears teams that were acknowledged during the program included Junior Varsity and and Varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ varsity indoor track and field, boys’ and girls’ varsity alpine skiing, JV and varsity cheerleading and T-V’s first ever varsity wrestling team.
In addition, the varsity coaches presented individual awards to some of the members of their teams.
JV boys’ basketball Coach Jason Closs said, “I am very proud of this team. I think they worked very hard. They listen to what they were being taught.”
The team consisted of eight freshmen and three sophomores.
Varsity boys’ basketball Coach Brian Tingley thanked the parents and the fans.
“We did a lot of character building,” he said of the season.
The team members were: Peter DiMilia, David Donovan, Cody Exner, Matt Huebsch, Richard Johnson, Jarryd Killian, Kevin Krom, Steven McInerney, James Pugh, Greg Swarthout, Tyler TerBush, and Conor Walsh.
The award winners were: Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Peter DiMilia, Most Improved Player (MIP) – Greg Swarthout, Most Valuable Offensive Player – Kevin Krom.
Coach Joe Iatauro noted that the varsity boys’ indoor track and field team “had an outstanding season.
“I am proud of the guys as they were a scholar-athlete team for 2011,” added Iatauro, referring to the fact that the Bears were honored as a Scholar-Athlete team by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). Twelve members of the Bears indoor track and field team participated in the program and they had a grade point average of 91.506.
The other Coaches for the team were Missy Iatauro, Tyler Eckhoff, Scott Grey and Karen Andrews.
The team members were: Nathaniel Bender, Jim Bernstein, Aric Boyes, Hauk Boyes, So Woo Chon, Kyle Denman, Brian Edwards, Brendan Hasbrouck, Matt Huebsch, Damon Lopez, Omar Lopez, Tyler Lopez, Steven McCauliffe, Patrick McHugh, Rafael Ramirez, Brendan Tierney, Nat Tompkins, Justin Weintraub, Chris Whipple and Aidan Woolsey.
The award winners were: MVP – Jim Bernstein, MVP – Omar Lopez, MVP – Brian Edwards, MIP – Hauk Boyes, MIP – Kyle Denman
The Lady Bears varsity indoor track and field team made great accomplishments as well during the 2010-2011 season. They also were also honored as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete team as 12 team members had a gpa of 95.059. The team also won the Section IX championship.
Junior Dominique Darby placed 14th in the weight throw with a school-record toss of 47 feet, 3 1/2 inches. Senior Ashley Weintraub placed 20th in the Mile Walk with a school-record time of 8 minutes, 32.20 seconds.
The team’s Coaches were Missy Iatauro, Karen Andrews, Tyler Eckhoff and Scott Grey.
The team members were Rachel Adriaans, Autumn Bender, Caroline Bertholf, Aurora Boyes, Alexandria Brooks, Ana Chico, Dominique Darby, Emily Devore, Mareena DiMilia, Robyn Dymond, Heidi Furman, Brooke Gillette, Danielle Graham, Kaitlynn Greffrath, Devan Jones, Joy Leon, Samantha Martin, Kristin Offringa, Agnes Pompeii, Katie Rehm, Olivia Rehm, Sarah Schneyer, Erin Smith, Sabrena Smith, Shannon Smith, Maria TerBush, Bernadette Tierney, Claire Tierney, Emma Tingley, Vicky Tingley, Ashley Weintraub, Naomi Weise and Kayla Yager.
The award winners were: MVP – Agnes Pompeii, MVP – Ashley Weintraub, MVP – Emma Tingley, MIP – Olivia Rehm, Coaches Award – Caroline Bertholf, Coaches Award – Bernadette Tierney.
The Tri-Valley/Fallsburg Alpine Ski Team guided by Coaches Stacy Swornik, Tamara Coney and Janet Carey had a successful year.
“We are small in number, but big in energy and big in success this year,” Carey said. “I am grateful to the parents and to the kids on the hill and behind the scenes.”
Janet Carey said, “We had solid, consistent skiing for the entire season,” Carey added. “We had to push it to the limit – there are no subs or timeouts in skiing.
“Ryan Erts is always positive and energetic,” Carey continued. “He is a leader on and off the hill. Ryan was the only boy since 1997 to be invited to the Winter Empire State Games.
“The girls’ team was runner-up to Warwick for the Section IX Team Championship and third in the race of high school teams to represent their section as the best high school team.”
The award winners were: MVP – Ryan Erts, MVP – Kendra Erts, MIP – Sarah Coney, Coaches Award – Elizabeth Bracken
Coach Leighanne Walsh guided the T-V varsity and junior varsity cheerleading teams. This was her second consecutive season of coaching both squads, which were present at both the boys’ and girls’ basketball games during the 2010-2011 campaign.
The varsity cheerleaders placed first at a competition at Warwick Valley High School.
The award winners were: MVP – Allyson Delaney, MIP – Jackie Wallace, Coaches Award – Samantha Davis
T-V’s first-ever varsity wrestling team was led by Coach Mike March. He talked about champions and how they don’t always come from large schools. March has been working hard since 2007 to start a wrestling team at the school.
“Our motto is to make a statement,” March said.
March thanked many people for making this happen, including longtime T-V Athletic Director Joe Iatauro for initially starting to help by getting a wrestling mat.
“Mr. [Derek] Adams and I learned the ropes together,” added March, referring to current AD Derek Adams.
March also thanked T-V Superintendent Thomas Palmer for supporting the wrestling team.
The wrestling team members included Kevin Mandes, Jared Ratner, John Monforte, Hunter Kennedy, Shawn Markle, Brent McKeon, Alberto Hernandez and Zachory Connor.
The award winners were: MVP – John Monforte, MIP – Hunter Kennedy, Coaches Award – Jared Ratner.
Coach Caitlin Moreland guided the girls’ JV basketball team to a record of 10-3 this season. The first-year coach started off by thanking the administration, parents and “the wonderful girls.”
“I am very proud of Maria TerBush, Kiera McHugh and Caroline Martin as they all moved up to the varsity level at the end of their season,” Moreland said.
Varsity girls’ basketball Coach John Tenbus had a lot to be happy with as the Lady Bears won the Section IX Class C championship. It was the first T-V girls’ basketball sectional title since 1980.
Tenbus thanked many people, including his family and wife, Colleen, who keeps the scorebook for the team. He also thanked Coach Jerry Stevens and Coach Caitlin Moreland, as well as Ryan VanLieu.
“Thank you to our community and parents for all their support,” said John Tenbus, who was in his first year of leading the varsity team after coaching the JV team for the last several seasons.
“I couldn’t ask for a better team,” Tenbus said. “We only had one returning senior and no one expected this. We ended our regular season with a 16-1 record and we were the first-seeded team [in the Class C tournament] and played at home. [SUNY] New Paltz’s gym is big, our fans filled the entire side and we came away with being the sectional champions after beating Millbrook.
“The success was nice, but we weren’t finished,” Tenbus continued. “Haldane is notorious for knocking out Section IX [teams] year after year.”
Tenbus was referring to the Section I Class C champion Haldane Lady Blue Devils, who defeated the Lady Bears 64-40 on March 10 in a state tournament opening round game at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh.
The members of the T-V team, who were sporting their official Section IX Class C Champion T-shirts, included: Nicole Bradley, Hope Costa, Mareena DiMilia, Kaitlynn Greffrath, Jakki Pugh, Sarah Schneyer, Erin Smith, Sabrena Smith and Amanda TerBush.
“Jakki Pugh is the first girl to score 1,000 points for T-V,” Tenbus said. “Jakki is every coach’s dream.”
Continuing to fight back the tears, Tenbus said, “Jakki is very special and extremely understanding, just an amazing person, a great role model.”
He then presented Pugh, who was the team’s co-captain this season, with a personalized picture frame listing all of her basketball achievements.
Pugh has been a member of the Lady Bears’ varsity team for five years. She set the eighth-grade school record by scoring 114 points during the 2006-2007 season. Over the next four years, she went on to set records for most steals in a single season with 107, most points in a single game with 37 and is now the T-V girls’ basketball program career scoring leader with a total of 1,182 points.
Mareena DiMilia, who was the Lady Bears’ other co-captain for this memorable season, presented Pugh with a basketball signed by the entire team.
The award winners were: MVP – Jakki Pugh, MIP – Mareena DiMilia, Coaches Award – Sabrena Smith
The evening ended with a slide show presentation by Richard Ross. Refreshments after the ceremony were presented by Mrs. Cappiello and her classes.