LAKE HUNTINGTON – Winter’s unpredictable weather often plays havoc with schedules. As games are postponed or canceled due to Mother Nature’s wily ways, so too were the Sullivan West Winter Sports Awards, first postponed due to the girls team playing a sectional game at S.S. Seward and then again by a snow day closure. 

On March 28, the long overdue celebration and lauding of this winter’s teams and athletes finally got under way. A slide show of hundreds of photos depicting winter action greeted the attendees as they entered the auditorium High School. 

Athletic Director Kurt Buddenhagen characterized SW winter sports as highly competitive and emblematic of good sportsmanship. He thanked all the people who had a hand in facilitating the entire winter enterprise. Buddenhagen cited how hard the athletes and coaches worked and how they prepared. 

Academically speaking, six of the eight teams were scholar athlete honorees with 75% or more of their players achieving a GPA of 90% or better. The girls team made it to sectionals and Lanie Herbert was selected as a BCANY top 50 player as was senior Andrew Hubert. 

JV girls basketball coach Joe Meyer lauded his team’s 16-1 record, the third best in Section IX. They averaged 38 points per game and gave up an average of 21. Ronj Padu, the JV boys basketball coach, observed how his players adjusted to the challenges, namely the speed of the game as opposed to what they knew from modified b-ball. 

“They never gave up and saved the best for last in the final three games.” 

Girls indoor track coach Joe Ebeling thanked Ron Bauer for his guidance. Different athletes stepped up to participate in events even if they were unfamiliar. Lack of facilities made it hard for athletes like jumpers and pole vaulters who couldn’t practice those events except at either West Point or the Armory when they were competing. Keely Schock won the MVP for field events.  Gracyn Halloran was outstanding in the 1000 and won the track MVP. 

Boys indoor track Coach Justin Diehl talked about his lack of experience with track both as an athlete and as a coach. He had to learn as he went along. Landon Volpe was named the track MVP and Dillan Hanslmaier was the obvious choice for field MVP. 

Alpine Ski Coach Lionel Billard lamented that there were only seven ski competitions and limited opportunities to practice the Giant Slalom. Billard presented the Most Improved Skier to Tyler Stevenson who moved up 22 places from a year ago. The most Valuable Skier was Caden Allen. The MVP honors went to senior Lucia Kennedy who finished up her five-year tour of duty skiing for SW. 

Cheerleading coach Daniela Fox lauded the team’s precision and intensity and was especially proud of their dance routine. Team captain Bella Wagner was the team’s Most Dedicated Cheerleader, while Becca Brewer was the team’s Most Encouraging Cheerleader. 

Wresting Coach Josh Potter looks forward to future seasons as he had all freshmen this year. The team MVP was awarded to Alec Hubert. 

Varsity girls basketball Coach Pat Donovan was extremely proud of his 12-6 Lady Bulldogs who finished 5-1 in the division and earned a sectional berth. They lost to Seward who went on to get demolished by eventual state champion Millbrook. Georgeanne Cardona was the team’s Miss Defensive Player, while BCANY top 50 standout Lanie Herbert was named the Miss Offensive Player. 

Varsity boys basketball coach John Meyer cited the amazing help from assistant Jerry Davitt in the up and down season. Losing sharpshooter Matt Dubois to an injury early in the season made things difficult. 

“The team worked hard and played hard,” noted Meyer. 

The Coaches Award went to Brandon Haass, while the team MVP was awarded to BCANY top 50-star Andrew Hubert. 

Buddenhagen once again praised the teams and award winners as all now look forward to the spring season.