LAKE HUNTINGTON — Sullivan West winter sports student-athletes were recognized in the Sullivan West auditorium on Tuesday evening, as athletes from modified up to varsity came to the stage. 

Every team was well-represented this winter season and was able to put in a full body of work wherever they competed. 

“We have so much to celebrate,” said Athletic Director Kurt Buddenhagen in his opening remarks. “Our winter sports teams compete with class and sportsmanship and are highly competitive on the courts, the slopes and the tracks throughout the Tri-County and beyond. I know we share with you a sense of Bulldog pride when we reflect on this past winter season.”

First up was the Girls Indoor Track team led by Coach Joe Ebeling, who turned in a third-place finish at the County Championships and had several top finishers. At sectionals, they placed sixth out of 17 teams. Coach Ebeling handed out two MVPs, one to Gracyn Halloran and one to Jasmine Green. Halloran was the lone Sullivan West runner to compete in the intersectional relay team and run in states in Staten Island. 

Up next was Coach Sean Reuss and the Boys Indoor Track team who finished in third place at the Divisional meet behind O’Neill and Ellenville. Coach Reuss gave out two MVPs, one for track events and the other for field events. The track MVP went to Peter March and the field MVP went to Grant Gorr. 

Following that, we hit the slopes for Alpine Skiing who had some difficulty in getting out to practice due to un-winterlike weather early in the season. Despite that, they still had successes, with Parker Tyler and Aden Speer qualifying for sectionals. Coach Lionel Billard presented the Most Improved Award to Speer and his MVP was Tyler.

Next up is the Cheerleading team led by Coach Courtney Goldsmith. Goldsmith presented a Coaches Award to Isabella Alicea and her MVP was Layla Wilkin. 

Onto the mats, the Wrestling team led by Coach Scott Haberli who ran their own program for the first time this year. Haberli awarded his Coaches Award to Logan Milk and MVP Alec Hubert. 

Finishing up were the Girls and Boys Basketball teams, the girls coached by Pat Donovan and the boys coached by Ronj Padu. The Girls team made a run to the Sectional semifinals where they fell to O’Neill. Donovan gave his Coaches Award to Karlee Diehl and his MVP award to Abby Parucki. 

The Boys team had some individual and team achievements despite not finishing with the best record. Padu gave his Most Improved Award to Allyn Walter and his Coaches Award to Evan Ebert.