Garden City Athletes Honored at Annual Awards Banquet

The Garden City Men’s Association (TMA) held its annual banquet to honor each of the varsity sports teams and their top players June 7 at the Marriott in Uniondale.

Each of the teams in the three sports seasons are invited to present awards ranging from Most Valuable Player to Most Improved Player to a number of very special awards in honor of past athletes and families.

The TMA invites all coaches, award winners and any senior that competed in a varsity sport to attend the banquet as their guests.

The night's festivities were introduced by Frank Cordio, Boys Athletic Association (BAA) president, with a welcome address by Garden City school district athletic director Nancy Kalafus and TMA president Paul McDougal. The night ended with closing comments from Barbara Sullivan, Girls Athletic Association (GAA) president.

Also honored at the banquet were this year's new members of the Garden City Hall of Fame. Honoree’s included:

Katie Cox ('05) - An All-American lacrosse player who overcame two knee surgeries to lead the team to the state finals, Katie was also an outstanding soccer player for four seasons and then went on to star at Princeton in lacrosse.

Joe Cesarini ('06) - Winner of the 2006 Diamond Award as the best pitcher in Nassau County, Joe had a perfect 20-0 record. He also played soccer and later starred at Quinnipiac in basball.

Caitlin DeFeliese ('06) - A talented and versatile three-sport athlete, Caitlin was an All-American and named Outstanding Player in Nassau County for the 2006 state champion lacrosse team. She went on to star at Boston University in lacrosse.

Justin Lynch ('06) - All-Long Island and All-State halfback in football, as well as an Honorable Mention All-American in lacrosse, Justin went on to play lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania.

Matt Petiton ('06) - Winner of the 2005 Diamond Award and the only Trojan player to be named All-County for four years, Matt also played soccer and basketball and had a fine pitching career at Tulane University.

Below are the Sports Awards recipients:

FALL

Cross-Country

• Outstanding Cross-Country Female Runner: Krysta Cento
• Outstanding Cross-Country Male Runner: Andrew Morra

Field Hockey

• Gallagher Award - Outstanding Player: Mikaela Rix
• Patricia Sandford Award - Most Improved Player: Gabrielle Nes
• Frank J. Kiernan Award - Most Dedicated Player: Erin Mullins

Football

• Warren King Award - Outstanding Back: Stephen Jahelka
• Paul Eckna Award - Linemen of the Year Awards: James Wright, Billy Allen
• Paul Eckna Memorial Scholarship Awards: James Wright, Billy Allen
• Unsung Hero Award: John Bock
• Garcia Award: Tom Gordon
• John Meyer Memorial Award: Mike Borges

Boys Golf

• Milt Weiler Award - Most Outstanding Golfer: Charlie Garcia

Boys Soccer

• Fred Briller Award - All Around Player: Ed Schwendemann
• Jim Steen Award - Most Valuable Player: John Tarzian
• Hugh Paisley Award - Outstanding Defensive Player: Brandon Badgett

Girls Soccer

• Udo Guddat Award - Most Valuable Female Soccer Players: Barbara Sullivan and Christina Cesarini

Girls Swimming

• Outstanding Female Swimmer: Megan Zarriello

Girls Tennis

• The Men’s Association Award - Most Valuable Player: Jacqueline Raynor
• Harriet Bowers Sime Award - Most Improved Player: Alyssa Rosello
• The Mollie Biggane Award - Sportsmanship, Achievement, Inspiration: Jessica Blatz

Boys Volleyball

• Most Valuable Volleyball Player: Logan Becker                                                    

Girls Volleyball

• Outstanding Volleyball Player: Emily Lacorte

WINTER

Boys Basketball

• Carl Braun Award - Most Outstanding Player: Dan Colamussi
• Peter Dennen Award - Dedication Award: Sean Skramko
• Coach’s Award: Frank Cordio      

Girls Basketball

• Most Outstanding Player: Barbara Sullivan

Boys Bowling

• Most Outstanding Bowler: Doug Donnelly

Girls Bowling

• Most Outstanding Bowler: Brooke Schlatter

Cheerleading

• Outstanding Cheerleaders: Olivia Server and Lauren Beisner           

Boys Fencing

• Outstanding Fencer: Franklin Dickinson
• Most Improved Fencer: Anthony Isenberg
• Coach’s Award: Max Sonner

Girls Fencing

• Outstanding Fencer: Kaitlin Sullivan
• Most Improved Fencer: Colleen Way

Gymnastics

• Alison Corvington Award - Outstanding Gymnast: Kaitlyn Zwicke

Kickline

• Outstanding Kickline Performers: Jaclyn Bingold, Kristen Muncan, Murphy Shannon and Kara Zerille

Riflery

• Outstanding Marksperson: Abagael McCauley

Boys Swimming

• Rennold W. Whiting, Jr. Award - Outstanding Male Swimmer: Dennis Crilly

Boys Winter Track

• Joseph A. Kohart, Jr. Award - Most Outstanding Performer: Mark Ellis

Girls Winter Track

• Most Outstanding Performer: Taryn Schmelzinger
• Charles White Award - Dedication and Excellence: Emma Gallagher

Wrestling

• Most Outstanding Wrestler: Mike Lofrese
• Stephen Kochle, Jr. Award - Tournament Award: Tom Ferro
• Decker Award - Sportsmanship Award: Frank Bello
• Kevin Jarvis Award - Determination & Resilience Award: Michael Mahramas

SPRING

Badminton

• Linda Koch Huber Award - Outstanding Players: Tracy Krug, Jenna Krug

Baseball

• William J. Lucano Pitching Award - Outstanding Pitcher: Jim Duff
• Frank Kiernan Award - Most Valuable Players: James Cauchi, Frank Cordio
• William Goss Memorial Award - Dedication Awards: Brandon Samardich and Scott Conetta
• The Frederick Stutzmann, Jr. Scholarship Award: Matt Focella

 Girls Golf

• Most Valuable Players: Marisa Cameron and Samantha Sessa

Boys Lacrosse

• McCleery Award - Outstanding Goal Scorer: Tom Gordon
• Silvestri Award - Outstanding Leader in Assists: Devin Dwyer
• Bernard Moline Award - Most Valuable Player: Stephen Jahelka
• Thomas B. Nolan Award - Dedication & Hard Work: Brian Coleman
• Doc Dougherty Award - Outstanding Defensive Players: Brian Fischer and  J.P. Burnside

Girls Lacrosse

• Patricia Sandford Award - Most Outstanding Players:  Mikaela Rix and Barbara Sullivan
• Lois Chapman Award - Dedication Award: Kelly Weis
• Donna Walsh Award - Team Player Award: Caroline Tarzian

Softball

• Coach Kaufman Award - Most Valuable Players: Nicole Storz and Catherine Dorn
• Mike Casey Award - For the Love of the Game: Virginia Schieck

Boys Tennis

• Noel Corbridge Award - Outstanding Player: Zachary Morris

Boys Track

• Henry Thresher Awards - Outstanding Runners: Matt Trabold and Andrew Morra
• Horton Award - Dedication & Enthusiasm: Alfred Russo        

Boys and Girls Track

• The Hardy Prize - Outstanding Hurdler: Michelle Rotondo

Girls Track

• Outstanding Field Events: Taryn Schmelzinger
• Outstanding Runner: Michelle Rotondo

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

• Patrick Ryan Award: Kathryn Butcher, Griffin Eilbeck, Jan Gong, Emma Kane, Megan Zarriello

• Mike Staab Award: Preston Zhang, Angela Bacigalupo
• William L. Fuller Award: Stephen Jahelka, Barbara Sullivan
• Dr. D Award: Erin Mullins
• Gallagher Cup: Steve Jozkowski
• Bob Allen Unsung Hero Award: James Cauchi
• Bob Allen Athletic Director’s Award: Evan Sandgren

B.A.A. and G.A.A. POINT AWARDS

• Prusan (G.A.A. High Point Award): Barbara Sullivan 

• Wassung Trophy (B.A.A. High Point Award): Stephen Jahelka