Kellenberg Memorial HS Honors the Fall Athletic Season

On December 2nd, the Kellenberg Memorial athletics programs gathered to honor the athletes of the fall season. Awards were given for most committed, most improved, and most valuable athletes on each team.

• The Most Improved Player Award is awarded to the athlete who displayed the greatest amount of improvement and growth in their skills, which contributed to the success of their team.
• The Bernie Ward Commitment Award is named after our beloved former faculty member, coach and colleague Bernie Ward is for the athlete who has displayed the most passion and commitment towards bettering themselves and their teammates during the season.
• The Most Valuable Player Award is awarded to the athlete whose contribution to the team contributed most towards that team’s success during the season.

One of our newest Freshmen to join the Varsity AA Tennis, Katelyn Larmann (Most Improved Player) demonstrated a focus and commitment to the team like no other. Katelyn never missed a practice and improved every time she stepped onto the courts. This season was Katelyn’s first time playing competitive tennis, but due to her athleticism and competitive focus, she was easily placed on first doubles. Her confidence and skillset improved greatly at each match, and with her partner, she was able to earn the respect from all the coaches and collect a few wins against the best in the NSCHSAA AA League. We have no doubt Katelyn will continue to be a force in our league and leader over the next three years.

Hayley Judge (Varsity Volleyball Commitment Award) A quasi-coach on the sidelines. A driven athlete on the court. A superstar in the classroom. A fierce competitor in every drill. A person who brings incredible energy to everything she does. Sounds like some bionic being manufactured in some futuristic lab, doesn’t it? Some kind of robotic conglomeration of all the best ingredients combined into some super-human, right? Actually, no. That person does exist, and her name is Hayley Judge. The 2021 team and the coaching staff were able to witness on a daily basis just what this dynamo brings to the table. Hayley was relegated to limited playing time this season, but never did that restriction alter her love for the game or her dedication to her teammates. When she did get the chance to compete physically, she ran the offense from the setter position at non-league tournaments and games at OLMA and St. Mary’s. Known for her smooth connections with her outside and right side attackers and for her point-scoring serves, Hayley bled blue and gold whether she was sweating on the court or on the sidelines. When she wasn’t going on service runs behind the stripe, she was informing the coaching staff about trends and developments she was noticing on the statistics she was tracking. When our team would be strategizing and preparing for our next opponent, Hayley would often provide additional intel at our film sessions because of her familiarity with various teams and/or personnel. Her suggestions were always on point and always accurate. Even when we were headed into the championship match, it was Hayley who put forward the possibility that one hitter on Sacred Heart (whose tendencies she had already enumerated) might be replaced with another who had been out of the line-up in recent matches. Not only was she absolutely right, but her wisdom in supplying that kind of information kept our team fluid and adaptable when game time came around.
Hayley Judge certainly fulfilled many roles for us this season, but perhaps the greatest one of all resulted in her being called the “energy giver” on our team. Her positivity was effervescent and contagious, and every one of us–player, manager, and coach–could not help being swept away by her optimism. A rare and prized treasure, Hayley maximized her contributions; indeed, our team’s success hinged upon her total and complete unselfishness. In the future, whether she is sliding across the floor on her knee pads to make a dig in a game or riding up an escalator with her briefcase in hand headed toward her corporate office, it makes no difference. Hayley Judge will always be successful because she knows only one thing: she is “all in.”

This year’s Most Improved Player is a young woman who continuously strived to improve all aspects of her game for the team. Gianna always has a smile on her face, a positive attitude, and a great work ethic. An early-season injury did not stop Gianna from continuing to grow her game this season. Her relentless work ethic and mental toughness are some of the many reasons why Gianna D’Amato (Girl's Varsity Soccer) is this year’s Most Improved Player.