OA 2011 Football Banquet Unleashes New Optimisim With Recent Success

Tiger pride and optimisim were in the air at on Sunday,  as the coaches, players and cheerleaders convened for last last time this season to share football stories, successes, and the future.

For the 21 graduating seniors, it was time to remember the moments that , a , and a to play in OA's first Super Bowl. For JV and Freshman players, a time to reflect on the words of Alex Tepper and the other Senior Captains who spoke of "dedication" and "a belief that you can achieve a Super Bowl victory with hard work and a team mentality". And for the cheerleaders, the forming of a new group with a new leader and the thrilling experience of cheering for their team at Gillette Stadium.

With a combined record of 24-8 between all three teams, there is no wonder that the coaches are excited to get the kids engaged in a serious off-season training regiment and look for the new kids who want to be part of the winning tradition that these players are establishing.

For the Senior players, there were many accolades spoken and awards given on Sunday. What's notable is that every receipient mentioned how "their teammates" assisted them in reaching their success. Those "teammates" should be proud of their unselfish contributions whether on the field, sidelines, or the weight room. Here is a list of individuals and the award they received:

MVP-Sam Langston

Defensive Player of the Year-Alex Tepper

Offensive Player of the Year-Jared Schneider

Special Teams-Ryan McGrath

Most Improved-Nick Hutchison

D.J. Henry Coach's Award-Dean Soucie

The David Bulman Courage Award-Brian Crosby

Sportsmanship Award-Carlton Williamson

Lineman of the Year-Jake McDougall

Unsung Hero Award-Brian Rezendes

Scholar Award-Keith Sullivan

2012 Varsity Captains-Brandon Gagliardi, Sean Kelly, Danny Louko, Michael McMillan, Sean McCarthy and Saint Clair Ryan.

Freshman Awards:

MVP-Joey Tepper

Offensive Player of the Year-John McMillan

Defensive Player of the Year-Jordan Schuster-Southern

Special thanks go out to Bill Gagliardi and the Boosters for helping to organize a memorable event for players, coaches, and families. Also, thanks to those supporters that provided financial support from the pre-season 7 on 7 tournament to the awards banquet. Without your support, the players and cheerleaders would not be able to celebrate the season in the fashion they truly deserved. Thank You!

In addition, I would personally like to thank John Quattrucci and Heather Harris from the Easton Journal. Your consistent and enthusiastic support for the program was appreciated by all.

Lastly, thanks to Patrick Maguire from Patch for his patience and support as I transitioned from parent to blogger. Amazing!

Looking forward to an exciting 2012 footbal season.