WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange High School sports awards night on June 7 recognized graduating top seniors in every team sport, not only for athletic prowess, but for academics, character, teamwork and sportsmanship.
The annual ceremony drew parents, family, friends and team members to celebrate the efforts of a wide array of talented students, several of whom will be playing sports in colleges and universities.
In addition to the seniors, several coaches were recognized for successful seasons this year, including Doug Nevins for boys’ soccer and Joe Picataggio for track and field. Freddie Christian was recognized as a top assistant coach for his work with the soccer team.
The emotional high point of the evening came as the Cheerleading Award was renamed the Mackenzie Fitschen Memorial Cheerleading Coaches Award. Fitschen, who died in March after battling a rare form of cancer, was a junior on the state championship WOHS cheerleading team.
The award was given to cheerleader Jennifer Pariona, for “best exemplifying the integrity, high moral fiber, and school spirit, the outstanding character traits that Mackenzie lived her life by.”
Coach Kimberly Topping presented the award to Pariola as Mackenzie’s parents and brother stood nearby.
One female and one male student received the Hall of Fame WOHS Athlete of Year as the capstone of the evening. The award is given to student-athletes for their contributions to their respective teams, include the considerations of character, leadership, academics, skills and participation in multiple sports. Chyna Chitty and Doug Hughes will have their names placed on the Hall of Fame banner in the gymnasium as the 2016 Hall of Fame athletes.
Below are all the awards and recipients:
- Bligh Family Memorial Teammate of the Year Award to Erika Bakirtzis and Siena Stanislaus;
- Essex County Student Athletes of the Year Award to Brianna Attamante for volleyball and Liam White for baseball;
- NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete Award to Dasha Temniy for girls’ tennis;
- Essex County Football Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award to Josh Strauss;
- UNICO Brian Piccolo Memorial Award to Sara Perez-Plaza for soccer and Anthony Charles for football;
- Essex County Athletic Directors Association Teammate of the Year Award to Temitayo Adesokan for wrestling;
- United States Marine Corp Athletics Award to Courtney Bell;
- Men of Essex Scholar Athlete Award to Zach Brown for soccer;
- Athletic Honor Roll Award to Zach Brown;
- Robert C. Callard Memorial Award to Krista Dong and Andrew Scholz;
- West Orange Junior Wrestling Club Award to Brian Velez;
- Mackenzie Fitschen Outstanding Character Award to Jennifer Pariona;
- WOHS Sports Medicine Award to Courtney Bell;
- Betty Maddalena Memorial Coaches Award for Cross Country to Joseph Onubogu;
- Lawrence Cunningham Memorial Coaches Award for Football to Anthony Charles;
- Boys’ Soccer Coaches Award to Zach Brown;
- Girls’ Soccer Coaches Award to Kristina Jaeger;
- Girls’ Tennis Coaches Award to Dasha Temniy;
- Volleyball Coaches Award to Brigitte Reynaga;
- Daniel Shiffer Memorial Coaches Award for Basketball to Jeremiah Moore;
- Matt Lombardi Memorial Coaches Award for Basketball to Amoyah Gilliam;
- Bowling Coaches Award to Richard Vick;
- Jerome Sanzari Memorial Coaches Award for Golf to Rachel Ruffino;
- Hockey Coaches Award to Kellen Young;
- Mountaineer Pride Award of
- Swimming Coaches Award to Teresa Narduzzi;
- Winter Track Coaches Award to Sarah Soy and Daniel Pierre;
- Spring Track and Field’s Marilyn Kuhlmann Memorial Coaches Award to Jamie Moul and Timothy VanCauwenberge;
- Richard Cataldo Memorial Coaches Award for Wrestling to Brian Velez;
- John Skillman Memorial Coaches Award for Baseball to Robert Parisi;
- Lacrosse Coaches Award to Marshall Lipsey;
- Judy Risse Memorial Coaches Award for Softball to Dominque Lewis;
- Boys’ Tennis Coaches Award to John Cruz; and
- West Orange Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year Award to Chyna Chitty and Douglas Hughes.
Photos Courtesy of Cynthia Cumming
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