Log in Subscribe

Gridiron gratitude

SW gridiron club dinner conveys pride and gratitude to Bulldogs' season

Richard A. Ross
Posted 1/3/23

LAKE HUNTINGTON – Thanksgiving celebrations may have given way to the imminence of Christmas cheer, but in truth, the occasion of giving thanks should never be limited to a single day …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Gridiron gratitude

SW gridiron club dinner conveys pride and gratitude to Bulldogs' season

Posted

LAKE HUNTINGTON – Thanksgiving celebrations may have given way to the imminence of Christmas cheer, but in truth, the occasion of giving thanks should never be limited to a single day occurrence. 

So it was that the Sullivan West Gridiron club, in conjunction with the coaches, football parents and most especially the team itself, assembled in the Sullivan West cafeteria to remember, recognize and praise the back-to-back Division-winning championship effort of the Bulldogs at the annual Football banquet. 

After a slideshow depicting the numerous magical moments of the season and a feast made possible by the contributions of the proud parents, the festivities, football coaches Ron Bauer and Justin Diehl began giving out the tokens of appreciation to the players. Each received a trophy emblazoned with the Division championship and their name. 

The seniors were given beautiful jackets, helmets and framed pictures of themselves in action. Players were extolled for their roles in the campaign and the hard work that they had put in to make it such a success. Coach Diehl, who in his day came back from a torn ACL injury, presented Andrew Hubert the Comeback Player of the Year award. 

Hubert valiantly returned to football following a potentially career ending leg injury and surgery sustained in an accident during the offseason. 

Jason Rodriguez was named as the hardest worker in the weight room and Jacob Hubert, who sustained a concussion in practice and missed the entire season, received special recognition from the coaching staff. 

Players that were on the team for all four years received Sullivan West Bulldog helmets, while the rest of the team received miniature replicas of Bulldog helmets. 

Jaymes Buddenhagen, Dillan Hanslmaier, Jakob Halloran and Rally Cruz were named to the All-League All-Star team. All-County All-Stars included Hanslmaier, Buddenhagen, Halloran, Cruz and Andrew Hubert. Hanslmaier and Buddenhagen were named to the All-Section All-Stars and participated in the Exceptional Senior All-Star game in Middletown. 

Younger players were encouraged to begin serious work towards next year’s campaign by assiduous work lifting weights. Sullivan West had eight seniors this year including Hanslmaier, Buddenhgen, Max Ebert, Rodney Wilson, Andrew Hubert, Cameron Sullivan, Nate Coy and Robert Vongerichten.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here