Category: Athletic News
Liberty High School honors athletes
The Liberty High School Athletics Department hosted the Athletic Block “L” Awards banquet Thursday, June 6, in the high school gymnasium.
The event honors the varsity scholar-athletes who participated in Liberty sports during the 2023-24 school year.
The banquet began with remarks by Athletic Director Erin Alvord and a buffet dinner. The ceremony began with a tribute to Javon Islam, who would have been a senior this year but passed away in May 2023. His football helmet, a baseball cap with his number, and a photo, which will be displayed in the school trophy case, were presented to his family.
Before the student-athlete awards began, Alvord recognized two longtime coaches, Anne and Carpio Ramos, who are retiring. Anne coached girls soccer from 2003 to 2023, and alpine ski from 2021-24, with Carpio coaching girls soccer for 25 years, starting in 1999, and alpine ski starting in 2013.
Redhawk Awards
Student recognition began with the presentation of the new Redhawk award. Students who receive the award are chosen by their coaches for often working the hardest and demonstrating great sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication and commitment.
Receiving the award were:
- Boys Soccer: Bryan Jimbo and Luis Molina Gonzalez
- Girls Soccer: Haylee Gomez
- Football: Christopher Rodgers
- Fall Cheer: Sherlyn Garzon and Shelby Clack
- Boys Basketball: James Dworetsky and David Philips
- Girls Basketball: Haylee Gomez and Angela Wheeler
- Boys Indoor Track and Field: Anthony Lemus
- Girls Indoor Track and Field: Elaina Rameriz
- Skiing: Aiden Yaun
- Winter Cheer: Lorena Chevalier and Soleil Ocasio Lombardi
- Baseball: Matt McCoy
- Softball: Brooke Hessinger, Elaina Ramirez and Alesandra Rivera
- Girls Outdoor Track and Field: Brooke Bull and Rayanna Cottman
- Boys Outdoor Track and Field: Nathan Desrochers and Carlos Campos-Castro
- Girls Golf: Maria Abreu
Scholar Athlete Awards
Seventy-six students earned scholar athlete awards, for carrying at least a 90 average while playing a sport: Quinn Allen, Endya Alvarez, Alvord Zackary, Sheyla Anguisaca-Llanos, Cristian Argenal, Josue Artiga Martinez, Mia Barragan, Jill Baumander, Shawn Bickham Jr., Zachariah Bickham, Brooke Bull, Carmela Burgio, Kevin Cando, Eyanna Castro, Phoenix Cordero, Olivia Corrigan, Rayanna Cottman, Jake Cross, Alan Cruz, Noellia Cruz Cruz, Colin Dasraj, Nevaeh Davis, Eli Desrochers, Lorna DeWitt, James Dworetsky, Jayla Edwards, Alexandra Etess, Sara Fajardo Reyes, Sydania Foster, Juanita Garcia Lopez, Haley Gill, Lia Guillerme, Peyton Hadjstylianos, Starriah Harris, Claudia Herzog, Adam Houser, Misael Juarez Perez, Julia Juron, Jacob Kelly, Madeline Kelly, Zoe Kip, Joshua Kratz, Shea-Leigh Kristiansen, Audrey Krum, Kenisha Ledoux, Gianna Lewis, Roger Lynker III, Kimberlin Malaga Gonzalez, Brenna Mangan, Melany Manzanares Orellana, Matthew McKoy, Mariely Medina Orellana, Luis Molina Gonzaliez, Owen Moore, Elizabeth Navarrete, Joseu Nunura Galan, Soleil Ocasio-Lombardi, Lesly Panama, Giselle Payton, David Philips, Adriana Ponce Agredano, Elaina-Louise Ramirez, Alesandra Rivera, Joseph Sarney, Jeremy Simon, Justin Simon, Mason Smith, Amy Szuba, Allison Vasko, Benjamin Visconti, Austin Werlau, Angela Wheeler, Cameryn Will, Aaden Woolard, Aiden Yaun and Sebastian Yupanqi.
The following awards were also presented:
Coaches Presentations
Boys Soccer
- Defensive Players of the Year: Benjamin Visconti and Carlos Campos-Castro
- Most Improved: James Dworetsky
Girls Soccer
- Most Valuable Player: Noellia Cruz
- Outstanding Offensive Player: Angela Wheeler
- Outstanding Defensive Player: Brenna Mangan
- Most Improved Player: Elizabeth Navarrete
Football
- Offensive Most Valuable Player: Enrique Mercado
- Defensive Most Valuable Player: Jameel McCline
- Most Valuable Player: Enrique Mercado
- John O’Hearn Most Improved Player: Aydan Wilson
- 2023 Coach’s Award: Joshua Kratz
Cross Country
- Most Outstanding Runner: Colin Dasraj
Volleyball
- Most Valuable Offensive Player: Aaliyah Williams
- Most Valuable Defensive Player: Kayla Samuel
- Coach’s Awards: Mya Huebsch, Claudia Herzog and Mykenzi Williams
Fall Game Day Cheer
- Most Valuable Cheerleader: Heidi Brown
- Coach’s Award: Haley Gill
- Most Improved Cheerleader: Endya Alvarez
Boys Basketball
- Ivan Richards MVP Award: Riley Totten
- Most Improved Player: Jeremy Simon
- Offensive Player of the Year: Riley Totten
- Defensive Player of the Year: Enrique Mercado
Wrestling
- Most Valuable Wrestlers: Shawn Bickham Jr. and Zoe Kip
- Coach’s Awards: Adam Houser and Tarek Benadim
- Rookie of the Year: Zachariah Bickham
Boys Indoor Track and Field
- Most Outstanding Field Event Award: Nathan Desrochers
- Most Outstanding Runner: Carlos Campos
- Most Improved: Joseph Sarney
Girls Indoor Track and Field
- Most Outstanding Runner: Sydania Foster
- Most Improved: Rayanna Cottman
- Most Outstanding Novice: Brooke Bull
Alpine Ski
- Most Valuable Skiers: Hudson Danzilo and Brenna Mangan
- Most Improved Skiers: Jake Cross and Cameryn Will
- Coach’s Award: Aiden Yaun
Girls Basketball
- Ivan Richards Most Valuable Player: Destiny Loyce
- Most Improved Player: Julissa Velez
- Sportsmanship Award: Mya Huebsch
Winter Game Day Cheer
- Most Improved Cheerleader: Alesandra Rivera
- Most Valuable Cheerleader: Melany Manzanares Orellana
- Coach’s Award: Elyanna Ocasio-Lombardi
Baseball
- Defensive Player of the Year: James Dworestky
- Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Simon
- Coach’s Awards: Zack Alvord and Aidan Yaun
Softball
- Most Improved Player: Mya Huebsch
- Outstanding Offensive Players: Quinn Allen and Aaliyah Williams
- Outstanding Defensive Player: Nevaeh Davis
- Coach’s Award: Olivia Dworetsky
Boys Outdoor Track and Field
- Most Outstanding Novice: Roger Lynker
- Most Outstanding Track Athletes: Christopher Rodgers and Joseph Sarney
- Most Outstanding Field Athletes: Joshua Kratz and Zachariah Bickham
- Most Improved: Alan Cruz and Kevin Leon Gavilan
Girls Outdoor Track and Field
- Most Outstanding Track Athlete: Sydania Foster
- Most Improved: Jill Baumander
- Most Outstanding Novices: Starriah Harris and Adriana Ponce Agredano
Boys Tennis
- Most Valuable Player: Josue Nunura
- Most Improved Player: Misael Juarez Perez
- Coach’s Award: Sebastian Yupanqui
Boys Golf
- Coaches Award: Jeremy Simon
- Most Improved Golfer: Owen Moore
Girls Golf
- Coach’s Award: Mia Barragan
- Most Improved Golfer: Elizabeth Cruz Cruz
Special Recognition Awards
Ross Awards
- Boys Soccer Scholar Athlete: Ben Visconti
- Girls Soccer Scholar Athlete: Elaina-Louise Ramirez
Rattner award
- Boys Basketball Scholar Athlete: David Philips
- Girls Basketball Scholar Athlete: Kenisha Ledoux
Goodstein Award
- Wrestling Perseverance: Manuel Lopez
Kavleski Award
- Boys Track and Field Scholar Athlete: Phoenix Cordero
- Girls Track and Field Scholar Athlete: Jill Baumander
Fred Planica Award
- Most Improved Baseball Player: James Fancher
Buchal Awards
- 2024 Most Valuable Baseball Player: David Philips
- 2024 Most Valuable Softball Player: Angela Wheeler
Senior Presentations
- Elizabeth “Betty” Totten Sportsmanship Awards: Riley Totten and Noellia Cruz Cruz
- Liberty Rotary Club Perseverance Awards: David Philips and Aaliyah Williams
- Tom Kelly Award Outstanding Senior Athletes: Enrique Mercado and Mya Huebsch
Congratulations to all of our 2023-24 student-athletes, and best of luck in the future to the Class of 2024
More photos can be seen on our social media pages.
LES fourth-grade wrestler takes second in statewide event
Liberty Elementary fourth-grader Blake Dennison recently plac3e second in the NY Wrestling Association for Youth State Championships. He trains at Deep Roots Wrestling Club in Walden, three times a week, while excelling in his education and band. On Saturday, March 9, he traveled to Syracuse to compete in the D5 70-pound weight class, which had 30 competitors.
Annual tournament raises $200 for scholarship
Liberty High School Physical Education Department held its annual Ron Francisco Ping Pong and Badminton Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 29, in the high school gymnasium.
T
here were more than 100 participants and almost 200 students and staff who watched, the largest since at least before COVID, Athletic Director Erin Alvord said.
“In the end, this was probably one of our best tournaments of all time. The students were organized, followed direction and were supportive of one another,” she said.
The champions were:
- Girls Ping Pong: Julia Juron
- Boys Ping Pong: Enrique Mercado
- Staff Ping Pong: Gene Doyle (two years in a row, and was also champ when he was a student.)
- Student Badminton: David Philips and Ben Visconti
- Staff Badminton: Beth Quatrale and Liz Hannold.
The event, named in honor of a former PE teacher Ron Francisco, raised $200 for the memorial scholarship in his name. Two scholarships are awarded annual to seniors who have demonstrated positive character in PE classes and in their athletics.
More photos will be posted to the district’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Liberty ninth-grader competes in state ski championships
Liberty High School ninth-grader Hudson Danzilo traveled to Lake Placid to compete in the state Alpine Ski Championships, held Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 26 and 27.
Coaches Anne and Carpio Ramos traveled to Whiteface Mountain along with Hudson and his family. He practiced the Saturday and Sunday before the competition, and competed in the giant slalom on Monday and the slalom on Tuesday. Each skier got two runs and had to complete each run to place. Hudson completed all four runs to place 33rd out of 66 racers in the giant slalom and 23rd out of 66 racers in the slalom.
He started skiing when he was 15 months old, with help from his family, and could ski on his own at 2 years old, Liberty Athletic Director Erin Alvord said.
“We could not be more proud of Hudson and his hard work. Not only does he practice with the team, but he can often be found on the mountain in his personal time,” she said. “Hudson, your future is bright and we cannot wait to see what you bring to Alpine Ski in the next three years. Thank you for representing Liberty so well.”
Alvord also thanked the Ramoses and the members of the Fallsburg/Liberty/Tri-Valley ski team for their work with Hudson.
Two LHS wrestlers earn girls sectional titles
Liberty Central School District has two 2024 Section 9 Girls Wrestling Champions — Cheynne Graham and Zoe Kip.
Cheynne defended her title from 2023 with a headlock for the pin in the 185 class. She finished her season with a record of 12-6. She also earned a third place medal in the 2024 Girls Eastern States tournament and has a career record so far of 17-6.
In her third Section 9 championship finals appearance Zoe pinned her opponent for the 152 class title. She closed out her senior season with a record of 19-9. She was also a two time New York State Girls Invitational Placewinner finishing fourth and six, a two-time Girls Eastern States Medalist, with third place finishes both times and has a career record of 31-16 record against girls.
The Section IX Division II Boys and Girls Wrestling championships were held Sunday, Feb. 11, at F.D. Roosevelt High School.
Two Liberty athletes to compete at state girls wrestling event
Cheyenne Graham and Zoe Kip were chosen to compete in the NYSPHSAA girls’ wrestling invitational on Friday, Jan. 26, at Onondaga Community College. The two have been wrestling on the boys varsity team this season. Cheyenne, who was last year’s girls sectional champion, will compete in the 185 pound class. She has a record of 8-3 this season. Zoe, who will be competing in the 152 class, will make her second appearance in the state invitational. Her record is 12-6.
Senior soccer player earns Section 9 All Star honors
Carlos Campos Castro was one of 11 Class A Boys Soccer All Stars by the Section 9 Soccer Coaches Association. He anchored the Redhawks defense all season as centerback. His coach Debbie Simpson said he had good recovery speed, the ability to win 50/50 balls and took the majority of the goal kicks.
“With multiple changes and additions to the back line, Carlos was able to keep the backfield organized while being a strong presence and leader himself,” Simpson said. “Carlos’ defensive ability was noted by opposing coaches and was a definite factor in his selection to the Class A All-Star list.
“We will miss his defensive consistency next year,” she added.
Special education teacher, former coach to be honored by SCSBA
Two people who have had a positive impact on Liberty Central School District will be honored next month by the Sullivan County School Boards Association.
Special education teacher Jill Weiner will be presented with an Outstanding Educator Award, and former mathematics teacher and coach Ralph Bressler will receive an Outstanding Friend to Education Award.
“Liberty Central School District could not be more proud to honor these well-deserved individuals who have dedicated their careers to making Liberty a great place to learn,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
Jill Weiner
Weiner has been a special education teacher for more than 30 years—27 of them at Liberty. A special education teacher for a multi-grade self-contained class at Liberty Middle School for the past four years, she has taught at various grade levels kindergarten through eighth grade.. As a special education teacher, Weiner “strives to differentiate instruction, for all of her students to benefit, and plans learning activities to maintain motivation and engagement,” Middle School Principal Heather Cheh said in her nomination letter.
In addition to academic instruction, Weiner arranges for her students to perform hands-on activities, such as running a Class Cafe. The cafe includes preparing food, serving customers and cleaning up. Further, her multi-grade self-contained class creates and hosts thematic bingo games for other students. She and her students plan virtual cooking nights, where they can meet outside of the classroom and cook together.
Community service is also a theme in her classroom. Students help in preparing “snack packs” for the Liberty Middle School, create holiday gifts for the homeless, design games and signs for community events, as well as make holiday cards for veterans.
As an advocate for individuals with special needs, Weiner consistently offers support to the parents of her students, and when applicable, provides resources to help them receive services outside of the school for their children.
Ralph Bressler
Bressler taught mathematics in Liberty for more than 30 years and was a coach for just as long. He retired teaching before he retired coaching, ending his coaching career in the spring.
“I could just as well be writing this recommendation for Mr. Bressler to receive the outstanding educator award if he were still formally teaching,” High School Principal Derek Adams said in his nomination letter.. “He has never detached himself from the art and science of teaching through coaching and other avenues.”
His service to the district goes beyond the classroom and coaching. He serves as the scorekeeper and national anthem singer for Liberty basketball games. For years, he also served as the district’s webmaster, taking special care to promote athletic programs. A certified emergency medical technician, Bressler used his skills to provide coaches required first aid and CPR training.
Experiencing many athletic director transitions, Bressler also made sure that the person was supported, understood the history of the programs, and that students were being given opportunities through athletics. He also consistently held students accountable for their academic success while promoting their athletic endeavors.
“Mr. Bressler, as a model of lifelong learning, has challenged himself to learn something new or take on another challenge,” Adams said. For example, Bressler agreed to take on a chemistry teaching position for a year and a half until a permanent hire was found, despite not having taught chemistry in several decades. He dedicated many hours refining his chemistry knowledge, searching for laboratory experiences and updating the course materials.
The awards will be presented at an Oct. 18 banquet at the Villa Roma in Callicoon.