Sports
Stepinac's Taps changes mind, going to Pennsylvania: White Plains Daily Sports Digest, Jan. 23
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Austin Taps, Standout Football Player for , Accepts Scholarship Offer from University of Pennsylvania
We thank the Archbishop Stepinac Athletic Deparment for the below submission:
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White Plains, NY (Jan 19, 2012) Austin Taps of Mahopac, a standout football player at Archbishop Stepinac High School, said today that he has accepted a scholarship offer to attend the University of Pennsylvania next fall.
He said that the decision to attend the prestigious Ivy League institution of higher education followed much soul searching and discussion with his parents. He said he was attracted to the unique educational opportunity and the chance to be part of a football program that would provide him with opportunities to further his athletic skills.
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Taps had previously planned to attend William & Mary College which had also offered him a scholarship.
He emphasized that William & Mary is a “truly great school with an excellent football program. This was not an easy decision. I am very familiar with William & Mary because my brother, Tim, is a student there and I have visited the school a number of times. I sincerely appreciate the strong interest shown in me by William & Mary and their coaching staff. But, for me and my parents, education has always come first and Penn offers me a unique educational opportunity.”
Stepinac Coach Mike O’Donnell said: “Austin is an exceptional student with great personal integrity in addition to being a tremendous athlete. The fact that two schools of the caliber of Penn and William & Mary each sought him is a testimony to his character. It is also worth noting that at least three other highly regarded colleges extended full scholarship offers to him.”
Taps, who will graduate from Stepinac in June, helped the Crusaders football team to a first-ever undefeated 12-0 record and the 2010 Catholic High Schools Football League (CHSFL) AA title. Last fall, the team posted a 9-3 record and played in the CHSFL AAA title game that was won by the perennial power house St. Anthony’s High School of Long Island.
The 6-foot-five, 235- pound Taps excelled both as a tight end and defensive end during his career at Stepinac. He tallied 22 catches for 358 yards and four touchdowns and recorded 52 tackles and 31 assisted tackles on defense.
He was chosen as the CHSFL’s Vincent O’Connor Award winner as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year this past season, named The Journal News Westchester/Putnam Player of the Year, named MSG Hudson Valley Player of the Year, Westchester National Football Foundation Golden Dozen & 1st Team All NY State.
Founded in 1948, Archbishop Stepinac High School’s mission is to offer young men a highly competitive academic and extracurricular program that will prepare them for college and leadership roles.
The faculty and staff accomplish these objectives by pursuing excellence and creating a supportive, disciplined atmosphere with a strong sense of camaraderie and Christian values that are unique to the Stepinac experience.
For more information on Stepinac High School please visit www.stepinac.org.
White Plains boys win
White Plain's boys basketball squad was on against Gorton Jan. 18 as it beat the visitors 66-37.
The Tigers were led by 24 points from Anthony Williams and 13 points and five assists from Akeem Williams.
To see other scores, read Gina Pernicano's post on the LoHud Varsity Insider.
Kilpatrick, Cincy lose thriller
Former White Plains star Sean Kilpatrick scored 12 points, his 18th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 35th of his career, in Cincinnati's 77-74 overtime loss at West Virginia Jan. 21.
See this page on school's website for all the details.
5:00 PM BOYS SWIMMING Modified TRI MEET WHITE PLAINS HS @ NORTH ROCKLAND HS NORTH ROCKLAND HS
4:15 PM ICE HOCKEY Modified LEAGUE SCARSDALE HS @ WHITE PLAINS HS EBERSOLE ICE ARENA
4:15 PM WRESTLING Modified HARRISON HS @ WHITE PLAINS HS EASTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
Source: http://sportspakdb.lhric.org
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