Booster Club Honors Student Athletes with Annual Ceremony
By CLAIRE BALDO
COOPERSTOWN
On Wednesday, June 10, the Cooperstown Central School Sports Booster Club hosted the 67th annual Cooperstown Athletic Awards Ceremony. Celia Begin kicked off the ceremony with the singing of the national anthem and Cooperstown’s alma mater. The ceremony continued with the acknowledgement of special achievements, such as Center State Conference, regional, and sectional championships, student athlete recognitions, and new school records. Members of the varsity boys basketball team were also celebrated for their victory as state champions this past winter.
Scholar athletes were honored for maintaining high averages while balancing varsity sports. The individual names of the 79 scholar athletes were read by Principal Laurie LaMondie. Ninety-five percent of Cooperstown’s varsity sports teams are recognized as varsity scholar teams.
Athletic achievements included numerous record breakers. Katie Crippen set six new softball records. Brenin Dempsey set five football records, and Jameson Gable set three new records for boys track and field. The boys track and field 4×100 relay team celebrated a two-time record break, accomplished by Jameson Gable, Marco Spinosa, Sonam Gyamsto, Joey DeSanno, and alternate Dylan Craig.
Girls swimming set records in the 200M relay and the 400M freestyle relay with Jaeliana Chase, Emily Kane, Shelby Haberbush, and Caitlin O’Sullivan. In the 100 butterfly, Shelby Haberbusch has the new record. For the boys swimming, Thomas Hellenthal has the new 100 freestyle record, and the new 400 freestyle relay record was secured by Macon Aramini, London Kinley, Shepard Olsen, and Thomas Hellenthal.
Cooperstown’s Leadership Training for Athletes, represented by President Mia Pelcer and Vice-president Jacob Johnson, shared the group’s annual accomplishments. LTA was involved in several fundraising activities and team service projects. They hosted their own conference welcoming athletes from three different sections to the Clark Sports Center this past March. The LTA program continued its annual Brooks’ BBQ fundraiser, and the money raised went to Cooperstown’s bus driver, Jason Stone, supporting him on his cancer journey.
Varsity coaches presented their Most Valuable Player awards. The awarded athletes include:
- Boys Soccer MVP: Henry Ayers and Gavin Grady
- Girls Soccer MVP: Mia Pelcer and Katie Crippen
- Football MVP: Cayden Laymon, Brenin Dempsey and Thomas Hellenthal
- Boys Cross Country MVP: Jacob Johnson
- Girls Cross Country MVP: Evelyn Rhodes
- Girls Swimming/Diving MVP: Emily Kane
- Boys Swimming/Diving MVP: Thomas Hellenthal
- Volleyball MVP: Mia Pelcer
- Bowling MVP: Joey Paterno and Wyatt Butts
- Boys Basketball MVP: Miles Nelen
- Girls Basketball MVP: Lanie Nelen and Emma Johnson
- Wrestling MVP: Matthew Perrino
- Golf MVP: Brayden Sentz
- Tennis MVP: Bianca Adam and Henry Ayers
- Baseball MVP: Braden Rawitch and Joey Paterno
- Softball MVP: Evelyn Baldo
- Girls Track and Field MVP: Ashley Nanyonjo and Emily Rawitch
- Boys Track and Field MVP: Jameson Gable
Varsity bowling coach Brady Sickler started the very first record plaques for bowling, on which Joey Paterno and Wyatt Butts were the first names to be engraved for their accomplishments. Athletic Director Josh Wagner acknowledged and thanked Rebecca Pokorny and Maria Field for their involvement as Cooperstown sports secretaries.
The Ken Kiser Good Sportsmanship Award, given every year by the Sports Booster Club, honors a community member for his/her impact on Cooperstown’s athletics. This year’s recipient was Michael Croft, varsity wrestling and varsity boys track and field coach, for his hard work and dedication to the athletes and his help with the Booster Club.
Elias MacLeish received the Robert D. Snyder Community Service Award for his consistent commitment to nature preservation in the school’s LaCava Nature Center.
The Athletic Director’s Award, chosen by Josh Wagner, was given to two athletes, one female and one male. The recipients recognized for this award were Evie Baldo and Brenin Dempsey.
The Robert James Welsh Award is given to respectful and undeterrable athletes. Sonam Gyamtso and Ryan Ford received this award. The Lester G. “Red” Bursey Award is given to an outstanding senior athlete, both male and female. The athletes honored for their dedication and athleticism were Jackson Crisman and Mia Pelcer.
The John Terry McGovern Sportsmanship Award and Ann I. Pink Memorial Award are presented to prominently sportsmanlike and stand-out athletes. These awards were given to seniors Jacob Johnson and Katie Crippen.
For the Student Choice Awards, students at CCS in grades 9-12 collectively chose Miles Nelen and Mia Pelcer to receive these special recognitions. Miles Nelen was named Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association. For this achievement, he will receive a banner in Cooperstown’s high-school gymnasium.
A video presentation created by sophomore photographer Cody Gaa showcased senior athlete highlights and remembrances. The ceremony concluded with appreciation for CCS Athletic Director Josh Wagner, who was recognized for his hard work and time devoted to his students and their sports performances.
The sports banquet is a time-honored tradition that acknowledges the accomplishments of the Cooperstown varsity athletes. The athletes benefit tremendously from the support of the Cooperstown Booster Club.
Community members are asked to consider donating their time to serve in the organization, their money to support club projects, or their help with concessions throughout each sports season. Contact Booster Club President Alicia Chase at ccssportsboosterclub@gmail.com for more information.
Claire Baldo is a student at Cooperstown Central School.
