Perseverance, dedication, sacrifice.

“If we think about those characteristics, and how necessary they are as we go through life we then start to see the value of high school athletics. Those characteristics are planted so often in high school athletics.”

Those were the words of O’Neill High School Athletic Director Brooks Alexander the evening of June 10 as he hosted the school’s annual Varsity Sports Recognition Program. It was held in the school’s auditorium and was a full house of athletes and their families, coaches and their families, and school administration.
Alexander encouraged his athletes to always remember those key words, and be proud of themselves for working toward those ideals.

Two special awards were given out during the ceremony. The first was the ‘Waldo Wood Award’, the traditional annual honor to the school’s three-sport student-athlete with the highest grade point average. It went to Samuel Kloepper, and was presented by O’Neill Principal Robin Haberman.

Waldo Wood was a teacher, coach and athletic director for Highland Falls High School from 1939-1972. The school’s main athletic field is named for him.

As Haberman was preparing to leave the stage, Alexander asked her to remain for a moment – she was then shocked to find out that he has created a new award for a varsity athlete, and named it after Haberman.
“Called the ‘Robin Haberman Heart of O’Neill Award’, it is to be given annually to the athlete who embodies love for O’Neill and the ‘we before me’ concept,” Alexander said. After the ceremony he added: “I personally view this award as the most significant award.”

It went to Erin Smith, also a three-sport athlete. She, as well as Haberman, were presented with plaques recognizing the distinction. Alexander said he made the selection of Smith for the award after every coach was asked to nominate one student to be considered for it.

Haberman, who is retiring this year, exhibits the traits of perseverance, dedication and sacrifice, Alexander said, as the school’s athletes do. He praised her for the leadership she models to the school’s students. “She doesn’t just ‘talk the talk’, she ‘walks the walk’,” he added.

Early in the evening another unique award was presented by Alexander – to senior John McSwain, who while not on an athletic team is at nearly every school athletic event taking photos and then sharing them with school officials and students. “All that he does, he does selflessly,” the AD said. “He is everywhere and deserves to be recognized alongside these athletes.” Alexander called the recognition a ‘contributor’ award.
While every varsity athlete was called to the stage and recognized, individual team awards were presented by Alexander and the coaches to:

FALL
Football - Shea Jerke; Boys’ Soccer - Erik Guzhnay; Girls’ Soccer - Shiloh Dabkowski; Game Day Cheerleading – (Clarice Kaplan MVP Award) Jazmine Kirkwood; Girls’ Tennis - Ava Nowicki; Boys’ Cross-Country - Azro Rogers; Girls’ Cross Country - Erin Smith; Volleyball - Madeline Richardson

WINTER

Boys’ Basketball – (Jack Kaplan MVP) Hoben Baretto and (Jerry Kaplan Coaches Award) Sean Larkins; Girls’ Basketball - C.J. Conkey; Boys’ Bowling - A.J. Mackey; Girls’ Bowling - Jessica Tudor; Boys’ Indoor Track - Samuel Tilman; Girls’ Indoor Track - Mya Toole; Competition Cheerleading – (Clarice Kaplan MVP Award) Amelia Monken; Alpine Skiing - Michael Cahill

SPRING
Baseball - Bryce Foster; Softball - Claire Van Pelt; Boys’ Lacrosse - Aedan Frink; Girls’ Lacrosse - Veronica Arbogast; Boys’ Track and Field - Samuel Kloepper; Girls’ Track and Field - Erin Smith; Boys’ Tennis - Daniel Fuhriman; Boys’ Golf - Jackie Bruckner; Girls’ Golf- Aislinn Fallon