Running Wild
Chester Prevails Over Sullivan West In Non-League Ground War As Senior Saxon Smith Runs For Six TD’s; Westies’ Running Attack Shows Moxie But Hambletonians Get Defensive Stops In Key Red Zone Stands
Chester 42, Sullivan West 28
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Ground War: Chester and Sullivan West look to evince supremacy over each other in their non-league clash.. (Clockwise) Sullivan West's Tom Mootz opens the game's scoring with a 62-yard TD jaunt. Chester's elusive senior Saxon Smith takes off on one of his six TD's on the night and 331 yards of rushing prowess. Nina Verderber holds the flag as Allie Ellmauer sings the National Anthem, a prelude to an emotional tenth anniversary of 9/11. Chester's cheerleaders brought their smiles and spirit. Chester defenders come down hard on Sullivan West quarterback E.J. Franskevicz who had a big night of rushing with 120 yards on 18 carries. Franskivicz carries the ball with blockers at the ready. Smith: gone again into the night.. The impressive senior often broke tackles to keep his surge going. Once in the secondary, he was gone like a cool breeze.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—“Ground and pound”, a mantra used by New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan as the prescription for success over the course of his two –year tenure as Gang Green made it to consecutive AFC championship games, has long been the strategy of Chester as year in and year out it has marshaled a running game that opponents have been hard-pressed to stop.
It’s a new season now and gone are two cogs in Chester’s most recent Section Nine Class D title success in James Ognibene and Travis Mann. In small school football, losses of iconic athletes can present problems in subsequent years due to a limited talent pool.
But Chester’s system ably overseen by veteran Coach Ron Stover never loses a beat as personnel changes. Three Section Nine titles in the past five years attest to that fact. After alternating bragging rights with Eldred which won in 2005, 2007 and 2009, Chester continued its even-year dominance by besting Livingston Manor/Roscoe last year. It seems the Hambletonians are bent on claiming their first odd-year title this fall. Time will tell.
By and large, this year’s group is rife with experienced players including senior running back Saxon Smith whose able offensive efforts were overshadowed by Mann and Ognibene in 2010.
Now it’s Smith’s time to shine and with Anthony Ognibene calling the signals and handing it off to the speedster or at times passing it to him, Chester’s offense has looked monstrous in its first two games. Last week Smith was key in Chester’s 34-13 win over Class C O’Neill. Smith caught TD’s passes of 85, 32 and 20 yards and scored on an 85-yard kickoff return.
Sullivan West's Sawyer Erlwein goes airborne following a big run as Chester defenders finally bring him to a stop.
Sullivan West worked on its pass defense in anticipation of an air assault but it was on the ground that Smith did nearly all of his damage. By night’s end he would tally 331 rushing yards and score six TD’s including a 65-yard kickoff return that quickly gave his team a lead back after Sullivan West had tied it for the second time behind a 41-yard pass reception from Kitt Borowski.
Smith showed uncanny speed and the ability to break tackles. At times, it seemed as if he had been stopped only to see him spring free. Once into the secondary, he’d turn on the jets and easily outrun the Westie defensive backs who by night’s end had seen more than enough of the back of his number 20 jersey heading off into the night.
Running up big yardage used to be the calling card of Sullivan West as it was of the component schools prior to the merger. When Sullivan West coach Ron Bauer was at Delaware Valley, the Eagles’ running game was notorious sparked by the likes of Fred Ruilliano and Matt Buddenhagen in their day.
When Sullivan West changed to its spread offense a few years back under Buddenhagen’s tutelage as the offensive coordinator, the Westies went more to the air and as they spread defenses out using multiple wideouts, their running game excelled as well. But other teams quickly caught on and the spread is more the rule than the exception.
For the Bulldogs, a lack of variety in its offense has led to far less production evinced most prominently last year as they failed to make the playoffs. Last week against Tri-Valley, the chains got moving in the second half against a tiring Bears squad leading to a 21-14 come-from-behind win. Prior to that the offense looked predictable and punchless.
Things looked good at the outset of this tilt as the Westies scored on their first drive behind a 62-yard breakaway jaunt by senior Thomas Mootz . Sawyer Erlwein’s PAT made it 7-0 with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter. Sullivan West’s defense held Chester on its first series.
The Dawgs were on the march again but with a fourth and one foot to go on the Chester 15 they incurred a penalty on a false start. An incomplete screen pass nixed the potential scoring threat and Chester took over on its 21. Ognibene carried it to the 16 on the first play and Smith ran 67 yards on the next snap to even the score at 7-7 with 2:35 as Chester added a PAT. Neither Erlwein or Chester kicker Andrew Lakis missed all night long.
Chester senior kicker Andrew Lakis was six-for-six on PAT's. He launched some booming punts and kickoffs as well.
Erlwein had a nice return out to the Westies’ 37 but this series faltered quickly as Chester returned the ensuing punt to its 42-yard line. Chester faced a third and six on the Dawgs’ 48 as the quarter ended in a seven-all tie.
The Dawgs forced a fourth and two by stopping Smith but he got the first down on his next carry. A 58-yard TD run by the speedy senior was called back on a block-in-the-back penalty. By night’s end Chester would have a pair of TD’s called back. Stover, who later maintained that his team has often been victimized by questionable calls north of the Orange County borderline fumed to no avail.
But just a few plays later Smith tore off a 62-yard jaunt to the end zone with 9:05 remaining to give Chester a 14-7 lead.
Lakis pinned the Dawgs on a touchback with a booming kickoff and the Dawgs went three and out.
Sullivan West’s defense profited from a pair of incomplete pass attempts and got the ball back on their own 35. Franskevicz completed a couple of passes to Erlwein but once again an offsides penalty led to a fourth and six, this time at the ten-yard line. An incomplete pass to Erlwein stymied the threat. Chester took a 14-7 lead into the half.
In the third quarter he teams took turns with the pigskin to no avail before Franskevicz hit Borowski with a 41-yard strike at 7:36 to even the score at 14.
The vociferous celebration was short-lived as Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the house to give Chester a 21-14 lead.
Sullivan West fumbled the ball back to Chester on the kickoff but its defense held sway denying Chester a chance to capitalize.
On its next series, the Westies’ ground game gained traction again and they overcame an illegal formation penalty as they capped off the drive with a 30-yard TD run by Mootz at 2:58 of the third quarter. The game was now tied for the third time as the scoreboard read 21-all.
Mootz was well on his way to a team-leading 158 yards on 14 carries.
Sullivan West senior QB E.J. Franksevicz takes the snap as Chester d-back Justin Delgado exerts a rush to quash the play.
Trying to avoid kicking the ball to Smith led to a short kickoff which gave the Rambletonians a short field at their own 40. The Westies forced a fourth and one but Chester senior Mike Pia toted it for the first down. Once again, Smith broke through, this time from the 22-yard line at 1:03 to give Chester the lead it would never again relinquish.
That said, Sullivan West nearly tied it up again as they drove to the four yard line as the quarter expired. Facing a fourth and goal at the four, the Bulldogs failed to score as the ball was fumbled and recovered by the Dawgs in the end zone. The officials ruling: down by contact. As it turns out, you can’t advance the ball on a fumble according to Sullivan West offensive coordinator Kurt Buddenhagen.
Chester took over at the one-yard line and proceeded to drive it 99 yards on ten plays capped off by a 22-yard TD by Smith with 6:17 to go in the game. Chester now led 35-21. His final TD gallop, a 79-yard breakaway with 2:53 remaining was the final dagger. Chester’s 42-21 lead was narrowed as Erlwein recovered a Chester fumble and ran it back 44 yards for the final score of the game with 1:31 to go.
Chester (2-0) claimed its second straight victory over a larger (Class C) school with the 42-28 triumph. Last year they beat SW 19-0 down in the Enchanted Forest. Next week the Hambos look to make it three straight as they host another C school, Tri-Valley.
Sullivan West will have its hands full with Ellenville in Lake Huntington under the lights.
In response to accolades about his heroics, Smith was subdued and modest. “I would never been able to do this without my lineman. I read their blocks but they did it for me,” he noted. Smith has never been timed in the 100 but by this writer’s observant eye who has watched innumerable track meets over the years, he could easily be a sectional contender were that his desire in the spring.
Stover called Smith “a special player.” But Stover’s postgame talk which affirmed his team’s able running game, was marked more strongly by his disappointment with the officiating. “I’m tired of the refs taking touchdowns away from us. It’s getting really old every time we come to Sullivan County.”
Stover noted that holding Sullivan West on the one-yard line and driving the ball 99 yards was a key milestone in the game. “We have very few players and not a lot of depth but all of our kids have come through the system.” Adding to his description of his team’ s lack of depth, Stover referenced offensive lineman Nick Seabrook, out for the next three weeks with a separated shoulder. Seabrook should be back in time for Chester’s annual tilt with Eldred.
Bauer felt it was a hard-fought football game. He credited Smith’s running. “He’s a great back,” he noted. “Penalties hurt us in the red zone and we didn’t tackle that well,” he added. Sullivan West fell to 1-1.
Stat line for Sullivan West:
Rushing: E.J. Franskevicz 18/120; Mootz 14/158 with two TD’s; Borowski 4/5 and Meola 3/8.
Passing: Franskevicz 4/19/114 with one TD and one Interception by Chester’s Justin Delgado.
Receiving: Erlwein 2/35; Borowski 2/66 with one TD; Meola 1/3.
Erlwein returned a fumble for a TD (44-yards). Erlwein’s running stats not provided yet.
Chester (Awaiting official stats)
Smith 331 yards rushing with six TD’s.
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Back To Basics
Monticello Sweeps Non-League Series Against Sullivan West As Teams Approach New Season Stressing Fundamentals
Non-league: Monticello d. Sullivan West 3-1
Game scores: 26-24, 25-11, 21-25, 25-15
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Season opening series: Monticello completes the sweep of the season opening non-;league matches against Sullivan West by a 3-1 score in a closely contested series of games. Clockwise: 2011 Lady Monties- Front row left to right: Katryna Rokicki, Cassi Smithem, Katie Fisher. Second row: Aimee Rice, Yadira Montes, Kiyara Bracy and Shamira Moore. Third row:: Dayanara Torres, Yamilersy Reyes, Saige Sanford, Shivani Patel, Marcella Fernandez and Ashley Falu. Katie Fisher serves and Yadira Montes does her magic at the net. Bottom right: Chelsie Stauch returns a serve and Karalii Rabii readies for a volley. Lady Bulldogs 2011: Front row left to right: Rebecca Corcillo and Brittney Milk. Second row: Courtney Landers, Karalii Rabii, Brittany Roa, Barbara Whittaker, Melissa McCormack, Alexa Buday, Chelsie Stauch and Erika Stauch.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—A new season is always about starting over. But for Monticello iconic coach Karen Atack, losing ten of her players who graduated last June makes that phrase even more literally accurate.
With only four seniors on the roster including just two who saw significant playing time last year in Katie Fisher and Cassi Smithem, Atack’s youngsters have their work cut out for them as they face a bevy of Class AA teams in their schedule in addition to juggernaut division rival Cornwall and other league contenders in Port Jervis and Goshen. Veteran junior Katryna Rokicki was also part of last year’s fine team and as the team’s first server, she looks to try and lend her expertise to the cause.
That said, even with the exit of so much talent, Class A Monticello has emerged 2-0 with a pair of match wins over Class C Sullivan West.
For their part, the Lady Bulldogs ably coached by Cliff Kelly is fielding a time almost entirely blessed with prior experience. Having made sectionals for the past three years in a row, Sullivan West, with only two seniors in the fold in Rebecca Corcillo and Brittney Milk, look sharper and more cohesive than they did a year ago.
Monticello's first server: junior veteran Katryna Rokicki
The result was much closer play against Monticello, a team that in prior years bested them far more easily. In fact, Sullivan West won the second game of this match by the score of 25-11 riding the overpowering service of junior Karalii Rabbi who posted a game-high 21 points to go along with her two blocks and four kills.
The teams looked very evenly matched in the opening set as the Monties prevailed 26-24 in a game Kelly felt really could easily have been won by his squad. He challenged his team in the break between sets and the Lady Bulldogs answered the challenge in the second set as they dominated Monticello 25-11.
The Lady Monties led by the opening service of Rokicki bolted out to a 7-0 lead. Rokicki ripped a quartet of aces in that initial surge. Sullivan West fought back but couldn’t muster a sustained run as the Monties prevailed 25-18 for the win. In their prior match staged in the Monticello Pit, Monticello won games to one, oddly beginning the set with another 26-24 nail biter.
After this match Atack noted, “We’ll take the win. We still have a lot to work on. Tonight different people stepped up in different areas. Katryna served first for a reason. She did lead in serves. Yadira Montes is supposed to be the leading person handling balls at the net which she did. We still need basic skills. These girls are very willing to work hard and together. I’m happy with certain things, but realistically we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us. Fundamental skill is nearly where it needs to be. We did have some communication problems. Monticello faces three games in the next three school days as they begin the next part of their schedule taking on Class AA Kingston, Washingtonville and Valley Central.
Kelly said, “We had our moments and our opportunities to win these games. We just shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. We had good servers and good positions. “ Kelly feels his team is better than it was a year ago. Sullivan West is entering the league portion of its schedule with matches against Fallsburg, Liberty and Tuxedo.
Monticello top performers: Katie Fisher 12 points, 5 kills; Yadira Montez 9 points, 7 assists, 10 kills.
Sullivan West top performers: Karalii Rabii 21 points, 2 blocks, 4 kills, 4 digs; Rebecca Corcillo 4 points, 2 blocks, 5 kills, 2 digs; Erica Stauch 8 points; Chelsea Stauch 6 points, 5 kills; Melissa McCormack 6 points, 4 blocks, 4 digs.
Team records: Monticello 2-0; Sullivan West 0-2.
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Heated Rivalry
Sullivan West Comes On Strong In Second Half To Defeat Tri-Valley In Season Opener; Non-League Tilt Is The Latest Chapter In A Competitive Rivalry; T-V’s Exner Electrifies; SW’s Borowski Scores A Trio Of TD’s
Sullivan West 21, Tri-Valley 14
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com (album of photos at sportsinsights.smugmug.com)
Compelling moments in a storied history: Sullivan West and Tri-Valley write the next chapter in their ongoing saga as the Bulldogs come back from a 14-7 halftime deficit with two more TD's from Kitt Borowski (He returned a kick off 70 yards in the first half for his first) to defeat the Bears. Pictured clockwise are game icons including Tri-Valley junior Cody Exner who ran for a TD and racked up 103 yards of rushing on 11 carries. Greg Swarthout hauls in a 39-yard strike from QB Joe Mickelson to give the Bears a 14-7 lead at the half. Sullivan West players exult in their victory and lower left, senior Kitt Borowski scores the second of his three TD's on the day on a seven-yard run which tied the score at 14-all. He scored again with just over six minutes remaining on a five-yard jaunt.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—Rivalry is an integral part of sports. When teams play each other year in and year out, not just in regular season outings but also in years where titles are at stake, that rivalry intensifies. Fans feed on those rivalries be they zealots of professional, college or high school sports. Invariably, no matter what the weather, crowds come out in droves to bear witness to the games that have historical juice to them.
Whenever Sullivan West and Tri-Valley meet on the gridiron, it is bound to be just such an occasion.
Though they now inhabit different divisions in Section Nine’s Class C making last year’s game and this year’s encounter non-league frays, the fervor displayed by the teams and their supportive communities has not abated.
Last year’s game played at Sullivan West’s Homecoming may have been one whose outcome had no impact on the playoff bound Bears nor the playoff-missing Bulldogs, but make no mistake about it, Tri-Valley’s 26-20 win stung the Bulldogs nonetheless. It was the tenth gridiron encounter of the two schools and it brought Tri-Valley closer in the series which Sullivan West now led 6-4.
Ever since 2005 when the Bulldogs dropped down into Tri-Valley’s realm of Class C, the two schools have staged annual epic battles that have included meeting four times in post season play, three of them for the Section Nine Class C title and once in a semifinal tilt.
In addition the schools vied for Division titles up until last year when the realignment in the OCIAA placed them in different divisions. Check out the history section below for details on which team won what over their relatively short but heated rivalry.
Off to the races: Tri-Valley's Cody Exner gallops 40 yards for the first score of the game as the Bears capitalized on a rare fumble by Sullivan West's Thomas Mootz. to gain possession of the ball during the Westies first offensive series.
This year’s fray was unique in that it was the first time the teams opened their seasons facing each other. Normally their encounters are late-season occurrences often greatly anticipated and circled on calendars as impending show downs.
Needless to say each team wanted to win its opener, while fully understanding that the games that determine their postseason afterlife will be their league encounters.
Gone from Tri-Valley is the outstanding Peter DiMilia whose fiery play on both sides of the ball exerted a huge impact on the games over the past several years.
Similarly, Sullivan West QB Ryan Alsdorf also graduated, but as is the case with rival teams, others step forward to assume the mantle. Calling signals for the Bears is senior Joe Mickelson who moved from his effective capacity as a running back to hopefully guide the Bears back to the playoffs. Last year T-V lost to Burke 46-25 in the Class C semifinals.
For the Westies, another veteran running back E.J. Franskevicz moves to take over the reins. Both Franskevicz and Mickelson are key defensive backs as well.
By day’s end it would be clear that several other players would make their presence felt including Tri-Valley junior running back Cody Exner whose electrifying speed produced one touchdown and nearly another were it not for a game-saving tackle by Sullivan West’s Sawyer Erlwein. Exner would carry the ball 11 times for 103 yards and it took the Bulldogs most of the game to figure out a way to contain him.
For the Bulldogs, this game would be the coming out party for senior running back Kitt Borowski who made his mark last year principally as a receiver. Borowski scored all three of Sullivan West’s TD’s. His day began with an auspicious 70-yard kickoff return to the house, an emphatic answer to Exner’s 40-yard TD gallop on a pitch from Mickelson that had come earlier on the Bears’ second series of the game.
Good teams capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes and that first scoring drive by T-V was marshaled following a rare fumble by Sullivan West’s hard-nosed running back Thomas Mootz. Anthony Beale’s PAT had given the Bears a brief 7-0 lead before Borowski took the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the house. Erlwein’s PAT knotted the game at seven all with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter.
The go-ahead score: Sullivan West's Kitt Borowski rumbles in from five yards out with just over six minutes left to play as Jared Meola helps to clear the way.
Borowski’s return aside, Sullivan West looked out of sync most of the first half. Its spread offense, now in its third year of deployment appeared to offer little mystique as Tri-Valley defenders led by the seemingly omnipresent senior Troy Rossi and other swarming Bears stifled the Bulldogs’ running game and harried QB Franskevicz. Trying to take advantage of the surging Bears vanguard, Franskevicz tossed a couple of screen passes that might have gone for big yardage but he failed to complete them.
Meanwhile Mickelson gave Tri-Valley the lead back with 8:24 remaining in the second quarter with a 39-yard strike to senior wide out Greg Swarthout. Beale was perfect again and the Bears were able to withstand a late interception by Jared Meola to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
The intense heat was bound to take its toll on players though officials called time outs to allow for water respites accordingly over the course of the day. As the game wore on in the second half, it appeared that Tri-Valley was affected more.
Missing a couple of players including senior running back Tyler Lopez who had sustained a blow to the head and was suffering from some heat exhaustion as well, the Bears began to wear down and the Bulldogs’ ground game inspired by a strong halftime pep talk suddenly was making headway with big runs.
Sullivan West received to start the second half but went three and out. Once again Tri-Valley was on the march even making gains by recovering its own fumble as Exner rumbled 13 yards after picking up a loose ball. But an interception snagged by Erlwein halted the drive at the SW 33. By day’s end Mickelson would be picked off three times.
Enlivened by the opportunity, the Bulldogs showed their first real signs of life as Thomas Mootz, Franskevicz, Jared Meola and Borowski kept the chains moving. Borowski capped off the drive with a seven-yard TD run with 1:27 left in the third quarter and Erlwein’s PAT knotted the game at 14-all.
Drama was far from over however as T-V Coach John Rusin continued to exhort his players to give their all. Rusin in a great motivator in addition to being a fine gridiron guru. Despite the fact that his team is young and not as deep as prior years, he will get every ounce of their effort for 48 minutes each and every week.
Exner and Mickelson ran the ball well and Tri-Valley began the fourth quarter in possession of the pigskin. The drive halted with a fourth and seven at the Sullivan West 20, well within striking distance of the talented Beale, whose soccer experience has made him a potent weapon as a kicker. In practice I watched him make kick after kick, but as Rusin would later point out, he has been untested in live game action when it came to field goals.
In a league of their own: Tri-Valley's talented cheerleaders rev up the crowd at halftime.
Beale’s potential go-ahead kick sailed wide left and the Dawgs took over at the 20 with 9:58 remaining in the game. Mootz ripped off a big 24-yard run out to the Westies’ 44. Franksevicz picked up another first down. Borowski’s run to the T-V 12 was called back on a block in the back penalty but the Dawgs would prove undaunted.
Franskevicz ran for another first down. By day’s end he’d have carried the rock 12 times for 61 yards and much of that was coming when it mattered the most. With 6:08 remaining in the game, Borowski broke free for an eight-yard strike and Erlwein punctuated that with a PAT to give the Dawgs their first lead of the day, 21-14.
Exner nearly returned the ensuing kickoff to the house but a diving Erlwein just managed to trip him up. It was the most impressive of Erlwein’s 12 tackles on the day. That said, here were the Bears at the Sullivan West 29 with 5:07 remaining.
Historically, late game heroics have played a big part in the storied rivalry. In 2007 in a game story entitled “The Line of Demarcation,” Tri-Valley withstood four Sullivan West attempts in the red zone to hold on to a 13-7 Division clinching win. In 2005 James Connelly gave the Bears a 20-17 OT win with his timely field goal.
So here we were again late in a game between these two contentious squads with the game on the line. If the Bears could score, they’d undoubtedly try for a two-point conversion to win the game and with Exner and company looming, that was a distinct possibility.
Sullivan West’s defense stiffened and Tri-Valley incurred a holding penalty to boot. The issue of flags flying and then being picked up had already been a side story to this encounter. Those reversals had favored Sullivan West and Rusin hoped one would go his way.
It didn’t.
Mickelson completed a pass to Jesus Lozada but still faced a fourth and 3 at the 20. Mickelson dropped back to pass but he was sacked by Sullivan West senior defensive end Andrew Parsons. The Bulldogs took over on downs but failed to keep possession. Facing a fourth and two, Coach Ron Bauer called for a punt which gave the Bears another shot with 2:07 remaining as they started from their own 48 after Sullivan West had to re-punt the ball following an illegal formation.
Rusin rallied his troops and called for an inspired two-minute drill. Naturally the ball was going to Exner and Sullivan West knew it. Erlwein snared him again leading to a third and three. Following two incomplete pass attempts, the Bulldogs got the ball back and were able to run out the clock for their uplifting victory.
Not this time: Sullivan West's E.J. Franskevicz and Sawyer Erlwein close in on Cody Exner in Tri-Valley's final series that gave the Bulldogs the ball back and the ability to run out the clock.
For their part, the Bears knew how close they had come to an inspiring home win over their arch-rivals. If both teams make it to the playoffs, they may meet again for what will then be their 12th encounter in their historic rivalry. You can bet if that happens that the memories from this game will still be fresh.
As Promised..The History Channel
2005 Section Nine Championship SW 34, T-V7 ; Division IV Title Game T-V 20, SW 17 OT
2006 Section Nine Championship SW 48, T-V 27; Division IV Title Game SW 21, T-V 7
2007 Section Nine Championship T-V 18, SW 7; Division IV Title Game TV 13, SW 7
2008 Section Nine Semi Finals (Hallow Win Game) SW 46, T-V 6
2009 Regular Season non-league SW 29, T-V 19
2010 Regular Season non-league TV 26, SW 20
2011 Regular Season non-league SW 21, TV 14
Sullivan West leads the series 7-4.
Franskevicz and his teammates took a moment to comment on the game as they exited the field . Franksevicz noted, “It was a tough game. We were playing in the heat. I think we really pulled it out in the second half. We came out to play. We played like we know how to play.” Asked about what was said at halftime, Borowski noted, “We needed to show the will to win and to have the heart.”
Rusin was exceptionally proud of his team. Asked about the heat as a factor, he noted, “not making any excuses here, Sullivan West leaned on us enough. We don’t have a lot of depth. We’ve got a lot of young guys with a lot of heart but not much experience. They will be excellent players but our core group is not very deep right now,” he added.
“We had a few guys banged up here and there and that affects two or three positions. Again, no excuses, Sullivan West did a great job. They stuck with their game plan. They were bigger than us physically. “
Rusin extolled the play of Exner.”I’m not a big fan of getting tendencies with play calling but when you’ve got one kid on the field whose a game-breaker and who has legs at a given point of time…so we went to the same play a couple of times. I’m sure SW was ready for it but you hope to catch lightning in a bottle.”
“Rossi is the energetic leader. He always has a bounce in his step. He lives for football. He was all over the field today and he’s been studying a lot of film trying to perfect what he has to do.”
Until We Meet Again....Sullivan West and Tri-Valley plays extend the hand or respect towards each other. Both squads know the rivalry is far from over.
This was a big game for us. We had a lot of kids we hoped would come out this year who didn’t. We have a hard-working core group and came out of camp with a very positive feeling. We knew numbers could be an issue for us. We were hoping to put a couple of scores on the board early and play with a little bit of lead. But you have to tip your hat to Sullivan West. They stuck with their plan and they wore us down as the game went on.”
Asked about Beale’s missed field goal attempt as a potential shift in momentum, Rusin was quick to affirm his kicker’s ability. “When you have a kid who can hit them you go with it. He had plenty of distance. We just haven’t given him that much work in live situations. I think he did everything right. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. I wouldn’t hesitate one iota to use him again in that same spot. He knows how to kick the ball.”
Tri-Valley has three night games on the road in the coming weeks starting with their first league match up against Pine Plains, then non-league frays against Chester and Eldred. Rusin and his valiant Bears will put this game quickly in the rearview mirror and turn their attention towards beating the Bombers.
Bauer noted, “We got more focused in the second half and I think our conditioning paid off as well. The heat was tough today. We started to block a little better and hit the holes, “ he added. “We wanted to do well in our season opener. The kids were up and they wanted to play good ball. In the first half we played good at times but we weren’t as focused.”
Sullivan West hosts Chester under the lights on September 9 in a non-league tilt.
Stat line: Sullivan West Rushing Total 42/151; Borowski 6/68 with three TD’s; Franskevicz 12/61; Mootz 10/58
Defense: Erlwein 12 tackles and an interception
Tri-Valley Rushing: Total 36/183; Exner 11/103 and a 40-yard TD; Mickelson 4/17; Aric Boyes 5/12; Brendan Tierney 4/25/ Tyler Lopez 2/26.
Passing: Mickelson 3/10 with a 39-yard TD to Greg Swarthout. Swartout 1/1/4
Receiving Swartout 1/1/39 yard TD; Exner 2/30; Jesus Lozada 1/4
Sullivan West is 1-0; Tri-Valley is 0-1
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Curtain Up!
Football Gets Underway As LM/R Devil Cats Down Fallsburg Comets In Season Non-League Opener
LM/R 43, Fallsburg 8
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
photo album at sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Big plays on tap as LM/R and Fallsburg go at it in their season opener. Clockwise: LM/R senior Troy Correa scores the first of his three TD's on the night on a 36-yard jaunt on the Devil Cats third play of the game. He'd add a seven-yard run and a 34-yard interception return to his night's antics. Correa rushed for 137 yards on just six carries. LM/R senior Jordan Tallman brings Fallsburg sophomore Shakree Gibson to a halt with this hard-hitting tackle. Gibson has his moment to shine in the waning moments as she scores the Comets' lone TD and follows it up with a two-point conversion run. LM/R QB Mike Mills gallops 43 yards on this run which set up another TD in their first half. The 'Cats led 22-0 after the first quarter and 43-0 at the half.
FALLSBURG, NY—When it comes to drawing large crowds and creating a stir, nothing compares to football, especially when it’s a season opener. Thus the onlookers came in droves from school districts across Sullivan County to get a look at Fallsburg and Livingston Manor/Roscoe as they opened the 2011 campaign on a lovely Friday night.
In addition to the members of the Fallsburg, Livingston Manor and Roscoe communities on hand for the show, players from Eldred, Tri-Valley, Sullivan West and Liberty looked on with great interest as they anticipated encounters with either of the two teams about to unveil their “real” stuff as opposed to their conservative displays at scrimmages.
Friday Night lights it was indeed and the excitement in the air was palpable and building as the two teams went through their warm ups and prepared for the kickoff to their seasons that they hope will take them further than their grid journeys carried them a year ago.
For the LM/R Devil Cats that can mean only one thing: a Section Nine Class D title. After reaching the championship game for the first time since the two schools merged their football program, 7-3 LM/R came away on the wrong side of a 42-10 loss to perennial behemoth Chester. For this year’s team with nine seniors in the fold, nothing short of a title win will suffice.
As is the case with all the teams in Section Nine, league games are what matter and for LM/R that means encounters with Eldred and Chester are the heart of the matter.
The 2011 Fallsburg Comets
With players onboard who just last spring tasted their first state championship glory in baseball, nothing could be sweeter than a momentous football campaign to continue their memorable high school sports careers. Under the tutelage of iconic head coaches like Fred Ahart and Kevin Clifford, this fall could well offer up just such enduring memories.
As for Fallsburg just entering the second year of its football program, the agenda is somewhat less ambitious. Improvement is the byword and the quest for the school’s first gridiron win following last year’s 0-9 campaign.
To that end, Fallsburg enters this year’s fray missing some key players from last year’s squad who have either opted not to come out or who have transferred. That said, you go to war with what you’ve got and the Comets under Coach Adam Ramirez showed great verve and enthusiasm as they took on the experienced and dominant Devil Cats.
LM/R won the toss but elected to defer. Putting its defense on display first, it became eminently clear that Fallsburg was in for some difficulties in trying to move the ball against the aggressive Devil Cats.
Three and out went the Comets but at least there were no turnovers.
Not yet anyway.
LM/R senior QB Mike Mills straight arms Fallsburg's Devon Clark as part of a 43-yard jaunt.
But by night’s end Fallsburg would commit six of them as LM/R’s Chad Rosario and Brad Dreher stripped the ball and forced turnovers. Troy Correa would pick off a pass by Fallsburg back up QB Aaron Hornbeck and return it 34 yards for a score. Hornbeck was calling the signals in the opener before senior Josh Carter takes over the reins next weekend against Eldred. Carter didn’t have enough practices in to make this start.
After holding Fallsburg on its first series, the Devil Cats began their offensive campaign on their own 20. Three plays later Correa took off on a 36-yard gallop for the game’s first score at 9:06. Fellow senior Kenny Fisk added a PAT and the die was cast early on a first half that would see much more of the same as LM/R would move the ball at will and Fallsburg would hinder its own cause by turnovers.
That first miscue would come on the Comets’ next series with a fumble that was recovered by LM/R senior Mike Mills at the Comet’s 30-yard line. Shortly thereafter Mills hit Fisk in the end zone on a 12-yard pass play to make it 13-0 with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter. Correa ran in the two-point conversion and the ensuing rout was well under way.
Fallsburg moved the ball on its next series abetted by an LM/R facemask penalty but a busted play on a punt attempt gave the Devil Cats the ball at midfield. Mills scampered 43 yards to the seven and Correa ran it in from there. Fisk split the uprights to make it 22 with 1:23 left in the period.
Hornbeck completed a pass to senior Russell Corley for a nice gain and then another to Shakree Gibson which took the ball to the LM/R 17 before a costly fumble which was recovered by Fisk ended the threat early in the second quarter.
Rosario soon made hay on a 46-yard run after a catch to score with 10:15 remaining in the second frame. Fisk was perfect again and the score burgeoned to 29-0.
Fallsburg fumbled again on its ensuing series. This one was recovered b y LM/R senior Jordan Tallman. Correa took off on a 70-yard run to the Comets’ 18 and two plays later junior Taylor Pagan carried it in from the two. With 1:40 to go Fisk made it three-for-three with his PAT and the score now read 35-0.
Correa’s pic and 34 yard TD return made it 42-0 with 23 seconds remaining. Once again Fisk was right on target and the ‘Cats took a 43-0 lead into halftime.
Aggressive pursuit and gang tackling are LM/R's calling card. Here sophomore Liam Fogarty goes airborne to avoid a piling on penalty as an LM/R defender has already called a Fallsburg runner to a halt.
Coaches Clifford and Ahart would deploy their second stringers for most of the remainder of the game, occasionally inserting their first team defense for a down or two but giving their younger kids valuable playing time.
The second half was by and large uneventful until the waning moments of the game when Fallsburg sophomore Shakree Gibson scored on a 15-yard run with 31 seconds remaining and then carried in the two-point conversion to help the Comets avoid the shut out.
Clifford was pleased with his team’s showing. “Our defense was able to force turnovers as we were gang tackling well. We’re not big so we’ve got to use our speed to the best of our ability,” he noted. “On offense we have a lot of weapons and a lot of speed. It’s hard for defenses to focus on one person or another,” he added.
Clifford acknowledged that next week’s encounter with Liberty should be interesting. The teams scrimmaged last week but neither showed the other much.
Ramirez summed things up this way. “We’ve got a young team again but turnovers killed us. We had six and four they converted for scores. We’re going to get back to work and just keep plugging along,” he added.
Fallsburg (0-1) was shut out four times last year so getting points on the board was a plus. “We’re getting into rhythm. We’ve got a quarterback who never played before (Hornbeck). He had a little bit of nerves early on but he settled in. Two of our turnovers were inside of their 25 yard line so that really hurt us,” he added. All of the team emerged unscathed with the exception of a few bumps and bruises.
LM/R stat leaders: Rushing- Correa 6/137 with three TD’s, Mills 2/56. Passing- Mills 2/58 yards and a TD. LM/R is now 1-0.
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SportsInsightsNY.com Update
- Little League; Big Hearts
Read the lowdown on Eldred’s magical little league baseball and softball seasons.
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Little League; Big Hearts
Eldred Little League Baseball And Softball Teams Wind Up Great Seasons With Outstanding Tournament Play
By Joshua Santoro, President of Eldred Little League
Editor’s Note: Richard is on vacation but people who want to submit stories about summer events can e-mail them to rross@sportsinsightsny.com and they will be posted. Be sure to caption any photos you send.
(First row Left to right Garrett Kolvenbach, Anthony Strasser, Noah Curreri, Chris Kieser. (Second row left to right) Tim Clouse, Cameron Conklin, John Goodell Sebastian Schadt, Patrick Harrison.(Third row coaches left to right)= Coach Roger Weyant, Manager Matt Curreri, Coach Mitch Kolvenbach. Not shown in picture player Max Smyth. Photo by Faith Santoro.
ELDRED, NY- Entering this year’s tournament it was over a decade since Eldred had any team represent them. Not knowing what to expect we put together a team that was full of heart, will and grit. The first opponent we faced was Liberty. For a majority of the game Eldred kept it close but experience played a role in the outcome. Liberty won 15 – 4. Not being in the tournament and all new atmospheres, a loss for most teams would have sent them away with their heads down andno desire to play again.
Eldred was not like most teams. The loss just raised their desire and want even higher than it was. Their next opponent didn’t stand a chance. With fire in their eyes and victory on their mind, Eldred came out on top beating Mamakating 12 – 4. It was a great display of a never-give-up attitude.
Their next opponent was a strong team from Maybrook. Having accomplished something only done once before (winning a game in the tournament) Eldred entered the game with confidence. They put on a great display of defense and desire. Unfortunately they were matched tooth and nail by Maybrook, which on this day emerged as the victors. They beat Eldred 2 to 1. This eliminated Eldred from the tournament but rejuvenated Eldred’s Little League status. All that was heard after this great game was “I can’t wait to get them next year,” a true sign of a
champion.
Even though their backs were against the wall these 10 young men never gave up and showed their collective heart and winning attitude.they represented our community, their families and themselves. Thank you to all the coaches, volunteers, parent s and above all the players.
Major Girls All-Star Softball Team Rises To The Occasion
(Center front) Katherine Bakalis.(Second row left to right Kaitlyn D’angelo, Cassandra Weatherly, Alaina Gaughan, Lynzee Kelty, Jordan Lepes.(Third row left to right) Molly Clarkin, Liezel Schlott, Audrey Mellan, Julia Foster.(Fourth row coaches left to right) Manager Mike Frazier, Coach Billy Franzy, Coach Rick Whitney.. Photo by Faith Santoro.
What is an underdog?
Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “one at a disadvantage and expected to lose.” In Little League, Eldred clearly fit that description. Before this season if you asked anyone about Eldred Little League, they would respond withWhat, Who, Where?
This was ok by us. We entered this year’s Little League Tournament with no one knowing anything about us. We entered as a severe underdog. Then we started to play the games. Our first opponent was Tri-Valley. We took them on and won 16 -11. Our next opponent was a tough team from Walden, and with good pitching and timely hitting we were victorious 11 –10.
After Walden was an extremely difficult team the Town of Wallkill. On this day, we did not play our ‘A’ game and they beat us 16 – 6. For some teams,a loss like this would cripple all hopes but not this squad. This loss just increased the fire in these girls’ souls.
They took this defeat with them to their next opponent, Otisville. Otisville never stood a chance. No matter how much they tried, Otisville just wasn’t going to be able to beat the hunger and desire of the Eldred girls. Eldred won 14 – 13 and were on their way to he Championship game to face the Town of Wallkill for a rematch. It was a Championship game for the ages; a heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, thrilling game to say the least.
The Major Girls All-Star Softball team played their hearts out. They gave every ounce of their mind, body and souls. Unfortunately the came up one run shy of victory. It was a great game and a fitting end to a magical season. I am so proud of these girls and their accomplishments this season. The term“underdog” will never again be associated with Eldred Little League thanks to these 10 great athletes.
It was a pleasure and honor to take a ride on this wonderful Softball Season. Can’t wait till next year. Thank you again to the coaches, volunteers
and especially the players. You are all wonderful people.
SportsInsightsNY.com Update
- Gone Swimmin’
Richard takes to swimming his mile a day as summer brings a much-needed and well-deserved vacation.
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Gone Swimmin’
Richard Takes His Summer Hiatus As He Logs Mile After Mile In His Pool To Regenerate Vim And Vigor For The Coming Sports Year
NARROWSBURG, NY– In case you haven’t figured it out as yet, I’m on vacation! From Late August 2010 through June 2011 it was non-stop work mania as I criss-crossed the region and beyond in search of hundreds of sports stories and thousands upon thousands of photos all of which reside right here on sportsinsightsny.com.
Now it’s time to kick back and regenerate; to be home and helpful around the house and to re-embark on my lifelong pursuit of being the next closest thing to a fish. A mile a day is my swimming regimen and in these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer it’s just what the doctor ordered. Unhindered by a shoulder impingement suffered during a fall on the ice, I’ve used swimming as an effective form of physical therapy and I am rounding into great shape once again. Last year I swam 250 miles from January through December and I’m on target to do so again.
So to my more than 218,000 visitors….see you in September (or perhaps late August as I can’t really stay away from practices and scrimmages) as I tune up for a fall rife with football, socccer, cross-country, volleyball and girls tennis. Then it’s on into the winter for basketball in pursuit of my ninth consecutive Golden Media Award from the Basketball Coaches Association of New York, indoor track , wrestling and of course braving the frigid slopes of Belleayre and Hunter Mt for my alpine ski coverage.
Sometime next April it will be on to track, baseball, softball and boys tennis as the wheel turns full circle. But for now…off I go back into the pool.
Feel free to read the stories again and again and by all means buy some photos from www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com. That will help pay for the gas for the 30,000 miles I drive each year in pursuit of doing this my way.
One more thing: parents who want me to “shadow” their kids to produce season-filled CD’s of photos should e-mail me no later than September 15 so I can schedule photo shoots accordingly. Prices will be significantly higher at the end of a season as I have to spend many hours searching back through archives to find photos of specific athletes. Contact me at rross@sportsinsightsny.com to arrange for the Shadow Play CD agreement.
SportsInsightsNY.com Update
- The Sun Sets In The West
And so another year draws to a close at Sullivan West but not before its spring and senior athletes are accorded their just due at this year’s spring sports award presentation. Many big winners wer touted including a numbr of standouts who received the Coaches Awards, Milt Gaebel Awards, Most Valuable Senior Athlete Awards and the Billy Moran Scholarship. Read this piece to fine out who won what.
- A State Of Perfect Grace
Livingston Manor’s baseball team garners its first-ever state baseball championship with a 13-0 blanking of Loudonville Christian a day after the school’s illustrious softball team won its second straight state crown with an 8-0 blanking of Batavia Notre Dame. Marissa Diescher fired a pair of no hitters and Mike Mills was the standout pitcher for the boys with 11 scoreless innings from the hill. Meanwhile at the state track meet Liberty’s Jessica Dunnigan successfully defended her title in the 200 as she edged Oxford’s Emily Woodford at the finish line.
- Splendiferous Spring
Tri-Valley celebrates a remarkable spring with its compelling awards night ceremony.
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The Sun Sets In The West
Sullivan West Honors Its Spring Sports Athletes And Senior Icons At Glorious Final Awards Presentation For 2010-11 Campaign; Gabrielle Humleker Is This Year’s Billy Moran Scholarship Award Winner
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Sullivan West Coveted Senior Award Winners (Top row left to right) Jeremy DeGori Most Valuable Male Senior Athlete and Rianne Erlwein Most Valuable Female Senior Athlete. Center: Gabrielle Humleker Billy Moran Scholarship Winner. Bottom (Left to Right) Milt Gaebel Award Winners Jillian Fife and Ryan Alsdorf and Coaches Award Winner Michael Durkin.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—Golden sunsets are awe-inspiring sights to behold as the sun sinks slowly on the western horizon in a blaze of glory. Bearing witness to those spectacular sights often gives one pause to reflect on many things besides the beauty of the moment, including the passage of time and the treasure trove of memories recorded therein.
On June 16 the sun finally set on the 2010-2011 sports year at Sullivan West as the school’s most outstanding spring sports athletes as well as a cadre of unforgettable seniors were honored with glowing words and a cascade of slides that captured them engaged in the rigors of their sports.
As coaches extolled their assembled teams, awards were also presented to those whose deeds were beyond the pale. The audience filled with athletes, staff, school administrators, friends, family and community members applauded heartily as trophies and plaques commensurate with the athletes’ standout efforts were presented to the best of the best.
The evening commenced with a welcome from high school principal Margy Tenbus who offered her congratulations to the assembled spring sport athletes and in particular to the seniors many of whom had participated in sports for the past six years. “Our students are the best. They are the most ambitious, athletic and academically motivated,” she noted.
Athletic Director David Franskevicz would soon introduce the spring coaches but first took note to commend Ryan Alsdorf and Gabrielle Humleker, the two OCIAA Scholar Athlete honorees who had attended a breakfast on April 27 held to honor the male and female athlete from each school district who had led their peers in the realm of academics.
Franskevicz commended the boys track team, the softball team and the girls golf team for being NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete teams for their cumulative GPA’s of 90 percent or better.
Girls track Coach George Shakelton extolled another great season marked by only one loss in the division that placed the Bulldogs second only to Tri-Valley. They placed third in Section Nine as 17 girls finished the season. With just a few more onboard, the girls track team will certainly continue its meteoric rise. Shakelton commended sophomores Olivan Graday and Catherine Rhodes for their great improvement as well as throwers Brittany Roa and Barbara Whittaker.
Six girls made it to the state qualifier meet including Kristina Sumfleth, Dani Myers, Rianne Erlwein, Laura Vennes, Rosa Martinez and Hannah Feinman. The latter won the state qualifier triple jump with a personal best leap of 33-10 which set a new school record. She went on to compete at states. The track team loses one member to graduation, but the loss is immeasurable when one considers what Rianne Erlwein has accomplished since first coming onboard as a manager back in sixth grade. Much more would be said later as Shakelton would present Erlwein with the Most Valuable Senior Female Athlete trophy.
Dani Myers was named the Most Valuable Femal Track Athlete. Myers has logged countless miles enroute to a second place finish in the 3000 at sectionals which she followed up with a win in the Section Nine 2000 steeplechase. Hannah Feinman was named as the Most Valuable Female Field Athlete. The intensely competitive sophomore competed at the state qualifier in the triple jump, long jump, 100 hurdles and the 400 relay. Her triple jump mark surpassed a previous high water mark that had added more than a half a foot to her prior best. At the state qualifier she shocked talented competitors from New Paltz and Red Hook to earn a berth at states.
Boys track coach Ron Bauer offered thanks to many of the people who had ardently supported the team’s efforts. The team finished at 5-2 , second in Division IV to Tri-Valley. Bauer commended his cadre of outstanding seniors Angelo Bibbo, Robert Feeney, Kyle Flynn, Andy Kinch, Eric Lovgren, Sean Murphy , Mark Michel and Brandon Wagner. He cited Bibbo for his immense dedication.
Kyle Flynn was named as the Most Valuable Male Track Athlete. A four year competitor, Flynn competed in both indoor and outdoor track in the 100, 200, 400, 400 relay and long jump and made it to the state qualifier meet for a bevy of his events. Flynn recorded is fastest time in his leg of the 400 relay at Warwick.
Bauer talked about the tough choice in selecting the Most Valuable Male Field Athlete as he looked over the accomplishments of Todd Roeder and Brandon Wagner. While Roeder was first in the state qualifier in the discus and finished tenth at states in the event, Wagner was first in the javelin at the state qualifier though the event is not part of the state meet. Wagner was the team’s leading point scorer and that awarded him the honor as the team’s Most Valuable Field Athlete. During the season he scored in the triple jump, long jump, discus and javelin.
Junior Varsity softball coach J.P. Lang commended his team’s 7-1 division record. They were 9-5 overall with four losses coming against Class A schools. The team helped raise over $2,000 for the Roa family whose home was damaged by a fire.
Varsity softball Coach Mike Ellmauer lauded is team’s sense of humor and its ability to play despite the adversity of the weather and the schedule which Ellmauer noted became a “killer,” by dint of the postponements. “They played some really great ball,” he noted. Emma Seidl was named as the Defensive MVP having racked up 48 consecutive plays without an error. For her leadership role that included playing at a new position at first base, Jackie Parsons was the recipient of the Coaches Award.
Junior varsity baseball coach Jim O’Connor noted what a pleasure it was “to coach these fine young men,” O’Connor wished them luck in all of their future endeavors.
Varsity baseball coach Kurt Scheibe praised his team for its return to sectionals and its 6-6 league campaign and 11-8 overall mark. The team batted .335, hit 17 home runs and had seven of its 12 players batting over .300 with two over .400. The Bulldogs won their last four games to get to sectionals. Highlights included two walk-off wins, one a 3-2 victory against Chapel Field and the other, a 10-9 extra inning win against Livingston Manor. Michael Durkin was named as Mr. Baseball. Durkin sported a .557 on base percentage, led the team in sacrifice bunts, batted .414, had 24 hits and was an outstanding outfielder. Jeremy DeGori was named The Most Valualbe Player. DeGori led the team with a .500 batting average and a .912 slugging percentage. He led in stolen bases, had 34 hits, 37 RBI and 16 extra base hits including two triples and five home runs.
The Most Improved Baseball Player was Lucas Bauer . The team had eight seniors in Bauer, Durkin, Andrew Parsons, Ryan Alsdorf, Jeremy DeGori, Justin Zaccari, Michael Pierce and Jimmy O’Connor.
Girls golf coach Jason Clark extolled his team’s 6-2 performance in Division III. The Most Improved Female Golfer went to sophomore Allie Ellmauer. Jillian Fife was named the Most Valuable Female Golfer. Fife finished eighth in Section Nine and went on to states for the second consecutive year.
Boys golf Coach Bob Fife talked about how hard work and determination can lead to the realization of dreams as he cited the professional debut of Rondout Valley’s Chris DeForest at this year’s U.S. Open. “A dream can become a reality,” he noted. Fife thanked Villa Roma pro Matt Kleiner. The Villa has hosted the first round of sectionals for the past ten years. The team was OCIAA Division IV champion for the eighth straight year. This year the honor was shared with Eldred and Tri-Valley as each boasted a 9-3 record in the division. The Bulldogs were 9-8 overall.
Drew Billard was named as Most Valuable Male Golfer. Billard sported a low stroke average of 5.5 and shot a 92 at the OCIAA championships to make it to sectionals. His score of 85 in the first round missed the cut by one stroke. Billard has two more years to compete. Nick Scott was named as the Most improved Male Golfer. From a high of 59 versus Warwick early in the season, he improved to shoot 46 vs. Roscoe and Delhi.
With the conclusion of the team awards, the night moved into the much-anticipated segment for the lauded Coaches Awards, Milt Gaebel Awards, Senior Select plaque recipients, Most Valuable Male and Female Athlete Awards and fitting last, the Billy Moran Scholarship Award.
Coaches Awards: Girls basketball coach Patrick Donovan was called upon to confer the Coaches Award (Female) to Gabrielle Humleker. Humleker’s role in soccer in the fall made her a two-time recipient of honors in Section Nine for her ability. In basketball which she had worked on during the summer prior to soccer, she served as the team’s point guard and average eight points per game, along with three assists.
Her fiery and energetic deportment also manifested itself in softball where her enthusiasm, sense of humor and her energy defined her as a team leader.”It was never about her, but always about the team,” Donovan noted.
Baseball coach Kurt Scheibe credited the “never say die,” attitude of Michael Durkin, the year’s winner of the Coaches Award (Male). Scheibe noted that Durkin exemplified heart and personal discipline. Durkin’s work ethic was beyond the pale both on the field and in the classroom. “He led by example,” Scheibe noted who said that one coach had described the dynamo as “pound for pound one of the toughest athletes he had ever coached.” Durkin played baseball for the past eight years beginning in fifth and sixth grade on into modified and becoming a varsity team member in his sophomore year.
“He was a fixture in the outfield,” Scheibe noted who added that Durkin does all the little things. In basketball he was called upon to cover the opposing team’s best player. At baseball practice he’d come early and fill up the water buckets and then stay late. Despite sustaining multiple concussions throughout the years he earned letters in football, basketball and baseball and was noted above was named Mr. Baseball for 2011.
The Milt Gaebel Awards were created in 1995-96 in the former Jeffersonville-Youngsville School District to honor Milt Gaebel’s philosophy which was ,”if what you are doing is worth doing, you need to give at least one hundred percent.”Gaebel’s success both on the court and off the court can easily be attributed to first establishing goals, then giving one hundred percent , having the heart, determination, perseverance and dedication to achieve those goals.
Coach Jason Clark was proud to award Jillian Fife as the Female Milt Gaebel Award Winner. He lauded Fife for her fine career as a varsity golfer, soccer and basketball player as well as her volunteer work coaching youth soccer and basketball. “She always gave 100 percent. She is smart, strong and never quits,” he noted. Fife represented her school in sectionals and states in golf. She played all 11 positions on the soccer pitch and was the shooting guard in basketball.
Coach Ron Bauer touted the unbelievable achievements of Ryan Alsdorf, this year’s recipient of the Male Milt Gaebel Award. In baseball over four years he batted .295, record 153 strike outs from the mound with an ERA of 3.03. He had a 15-6 record and recorded three saves. His numbers in football were quite impressive with 1,066 yards, 12 touchdowns, completing 47/101 passes for 787 yards. He was the team rushing leader in his junior year. Bauer credited his ability to bounce back from injuries and his designation as the school’s OCIAA Scholar Athlete.
Principal Margy Tenbus then introduce the Female Senior Select athletes, all candidates for the Most Valualbe Senior Athlete Honor. They included Rianne Elrwein (cross-country, winter track and track 2005-2011), Jillian Fife soccer, basketball golf 2005-2011, Amanda Goddard volleyball, basketball, softball ‘05-11, Shelby Grishaber soccer, basketball, softball ’05-11, Gabrielle Humleker soccer, basketball, track and softball ’05-11, Lynette Lacek soccer, basketball, track ’05-11, Jackie Parsons volleyball, basketball, softball ’05-11 and Heather Puerschner soccer, winter track, basketball cheerleading, basketball, softball and golf ’05-11.
Girls Cross Country and Track Coach George Shakelton named Rianne Erlwein as this year’s Most Valuable Senior Female Athlete. Shakelton marked her impending graduation as “the end of an era as he annotated her remarkable feats in cross-country including helping her team to finish fifth at states,. Even more impressive than her accomplishments over hill and dale or on the track was her resilient and compliant attitude. She never complained but just went about doing what was asked of her to the best of her ability. Erlwein logged over 7,000 miles during her tenure from the 2003-04 season.
Tenbus then called forth the plaque recipients from the group of Male Senior Select Athletes. They included: Ryan Alsdorf football, winter track, baseball ’05-11, Lucas Bauer soccer, basketball, baseball ’05-11, Angelo Bibbo football, winter track, track ’08-11, Jeremy DeGori football, soccer, basketball, baseball ’05-11, Michael Durkin football, basketball, baseball ’05-11, Chris Ellison soccer, basketball, track and golf ’05-11, Kyle Flynn football, cross-country, track, winter track, skiing and soccer ’05-11, Andy Kinch soccer, basketball, track and baseball ’05-11, Eric Lovgren football, skiing, baseball, soccder, golf and track ’05-11, Alex Manzi soccer, football, basketball, baseball ’05-11, Mark Michel soccer, skiing, baseball, track ’05-11, Sean Murphy soccer, skiing, golf, track ’05-11, Jimmy O’Connor football, basketball, baseball, winter track ’05-11 and Brandon Wagner football, basketball, winter track, track ’05-11.
Assistant Baseball Coach Anthony Durkin presented the Most Valuable Senior Male Athlete Award to Jeremy DeGori. “He had a positive impact on every team he played on,” noted Durkin who added that DeGori could play and excel at any sport and that he worked diligently in the off-season. DeGori was respected as a team player. “Four years ago he walked onto the football field and soon excelled on both sides of the ball both by running and catching passes and as a linebacker with great intensity. DeGori was a Section Nine All-Star but Durkin noted that football was “Just a stop in the fall towards his real home on the baseball diamond.
DeGori made his debut in sixth grade at a home run derby where he jacked six or seven out of the yard. On he moved to modified and a half year at the junior varsity level in his sophomore year. The rest of his stint has been as a varsity standout, playing catcher and always being one of the top five players on the team. This year he batted .500 and .428 over the past four years. He has played summer ball since he was 12 with the Tusten Chiefs, the Sullivan Spartans etc. DeGori always strives to improve as he is never satisfied with his performance.
By far the most coveted award at Sullivan West is the Billy Moran Scholarship, The monetary award and immense honor was created in memory of William “Billy” Moran or Hortonville, a student of Delaware Valley Central School and later Union College who was an outstanding athlete, scholar and citizen. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Billy’s untimely and tragic death that resulted from being the victim of a hit and run driver while on a spring training baseball trip in Daytona Beach Florida on April 1, 1981.
Billy’s lifelong friend Brent Rosenberger awards the Billy Moran Scholarship created by Billy’s family and friends to a senior who best represents Billy’s attributes of being an impeccable athlete, scholar and citizen, someone extremely well-rounded.
Rosenberger recounted some of Billy’s milestones during his brief but special life. In high school he excelled in football, basketball and baseball and maintained a 96 GPa. He was named to the Dean’s list at Union College as an engineering student where he was an exemplary starter on the football and baseball teams.
Rosenberger named Gabrielle Humleker as this year’s recipient of the Billy Moran Scholarship. In addition to receiving the $2,500 dollar scholarship, Humleker’s name will be added to the plaque that lists the former recipients of the coveted honor. The plaque is on display next to a picture of Billy that resides in the hallway outside of the gymnasium at Sullivan West. That list includes Kelly Mullally, Class of 2003, Ashley Relyea Class of 2004, Joe Winski Class of 2005, April Ackermann Class of 2006, Kienan Garn Class of 2007, Sarah Lander Class of 2008, Justin Armstrong Class of 2009 and Autumn Ackermann Class of 2010.
Humleker’s athletic and academic achievements including her OCIAA Scholar Athlete designation and her accomplishments in soccer, basketball and softball have been previously described. Her character was attested to by her teachers and coaches who touted her work ethic, sense of humor and her contagious enthusiasm. “A terrific person who enjoys every moment of whatever she is doing,” was the phrase that aptly described her.
Her role in SADD, on student council and in band and helping to raise over $7,000 for the Oncology Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center were part of her impressive résumé. This year she took three advance placement classes and four college classes as he racked up an impressive 94 percent GPA.
“She is simply an overall great kid. Others follow her because she is so good at whatever she does,” Rosenberger said in quoting just one of the many adults who weighed in with their enthusiastic response to her candidacy.
This writer/photographer concluded the evening with his affirming remarks about the athletes, the seniors, the parents and coaches. The musical slide show that chronicled the spring of 2011 and ended with a hearkening back to the fall and winter that preceded it was the coda to a wonderful evening.
For an album of photos including all of the award winners, CLICK HERE;
http://sportsinsights.smugmug.com/Sports/SW-Spring-Awards/17601164_fQXs3Z#1340989854_xGvkPdL
