On May 22, participants in JC athletics gathered together to celebrate the spring season sports and recognize those athletes who excelled above and beyond.

The night started out with guests being offered appetizers in the cafeteria at 6:30 P.M. At around 7:00 P.M. , athletes and their families were invited to go to the auditorium to recognize and receive awards for their athletic achievements.

After everyone entered the auditorium, athletic director Larry Dukes showed the guests a PowerPoint of athletes’ performance’s from this past season. After that, he recognized each sport’s triple threat award winners.

Starting with JV badminton, coached by health teacher Tess Gauthier, junior Emily Cassidy won the triple threat award. Varsity badminton’s triple threat winner was senior Carol Zubrowski.

Next, Dukes announced the triple threat award winners for JV and varsity baseball. For JV, coached by Rich Siejack, sophomore Zack Wedemeyer won the triple threat award. For varsity, coached by Steve Teter, senior and captain Matt Ryan won the triple threat award.

Following this sport, Dukes then called up the varsity equestrian team, coached by Karen Zinkhan. Senior Bridget Rodriguez, a transfer student who came her sophomore year, won the triple threat award for this sport.

Then, the varsity golf team, coached by history teacher Anthony Del Puppo, was called up. Senior Tony Caperna won the triple threat award for this sport because “his competitive nature set a good example for the numerous freshmen that were on the team this year,” Dukes said.

After the golf team returned to their seats, men’s JV lacrosse was then called to the stage. Coached by chemistry teacher Shane Lawler, the winner of the award for this team was sophomore TC Sanders.

Then the men’s varsity lacrosse team, coached by English teacher Matthew Blair, came onto the stage. Being finalists in their conference this season, Blair chose senior goalie Alex Gambrell who demonstrated “leadership from the first day of practice to the final seconds of the championship game,” Dukes said.

Women’s lacrosse was next up. Sophomore JV lacrosse player Samiah Miller was announced as triple threat award winner. The JV lacrosse team was coached by Kelsey Aburn. After that, the women’s varsity lacrosse team, coached by Krystin Porcella, was called to the stage. For this sport, senior Mackenzie Reese won the triple threat award because “each game she grew and learned to be a better player and teammate,” Dukes said.

Then, JV and varsity softball triple threat award winners were announced. For JV softball, coached by Russ English, sophomore Grayce Moran won the triple threat award. For varsity softball, coached by Jack Westermeyer, sophomore Molly Exter won the award.

After the softball team returned to their seats, men’s varsity tennis entered onto the stage. For tennis, coached by George Panian, senior Thomas Sullivan won the triple threat award.

To wrap up the announcements for the triple threat award, men’s and women’s varsity track and field award winners were announced. For men’s track and field, senior Will Horn won the triple threat award. For women’s track and field, freshman Kristen Isoldi won the triple threat award.

There were also other various awards give out at the banquet. The James O. Severe award went to senior Eric McIntyre. The Major Paul Mankowich Track Award went to senior Kiana Wright. The McCormick Unsung Hero Award went to senior MacKenzie Reese and senior Devon Ruane. The Most Valuable Senior Athlete Award went to seniors Kiana Wright and Austin Markley. Also, the Tanya McCaw Award went to MacKenzie Rayburn. Finally the Bud Blitzer Scholarship Award went to senior Brandon Lewis.

White Blazer Society inductions also took place. The society is open to female athletes who have earned seven varsity letters before the end of their junior year. The inductees were juniors Sophia Centi, Meredith Haggerty, Taylor Hoch, Kristen Kohles, Amanda Spaeth, and Emma Wall.

 Haley Kyger is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.