Student/athletes honored at banquet
The Major League Baseball All-Star game doesn’t take place until next month, but there was a local gathering of high school superstars on Sunday. The Davis & Davis Student/Athlete Scholarship Program, honoring 14 of the top student/athletes from Fayette County, was held at Becker’s Shady Side Inn.
The program, which awards each student a $500 scholarship, is sponsored by Davis & Davis Law Firm and coordinated by the Herald-Standard.
Perhaps Brownsville athletic director and baseball coach Scooter Roebuck put it best when assessing the students whom were honored.
“Wouldn’t you like to start a team with these 14 kids?” said Roebuck. “And the funny thing is, it doesn’t matter what sport.”
Albert Gallatin assistant principal Ralph Garcia echoed Roebuck’s comments.
“Student athletes are the best type of athletes a coach can have,” Garcia said.
Those students described by Master of Ceremonies and Herald-Standard sports editor Mike Ciarochi as “the best of the best in Fayette County” were accompanied by their parents and other relatives at the banquet.
Connellsville athletic director Jim Lembo commended the parents for their children’s success.
“It takes a team effort, and the most important component of that team are the parents,” Lembo said.
Award winners for Albert Gallatin High School were Ryan Jenkins, son of Jeff and Debbie Jenkins of Adah, and Erin Wright, daughter of Kirk and Debora Wright of Masontown. They were introduced by Garcia.
Award winners for Brownsville Area High School were Jeff Pelehac, son of Mark and Valeria Pelehac of Republic, and Holly Peters, daughter of Fred and Ann Peters of Brownsville. They were introduced by Roebuck, although Pelehac was not able to attend due to a prior commitment.
Award winners for Connellsville Area High School were Ryan Mullaney, son of Thomas and Cheryl Mullaney of Connellsville, and Sara Pockstaller, daughter of John and Cheryl Pockstaller of Dunbar. They were introduced by Lembo.
Award winners for Frazier High School were Adam Souply, son of Mark and Rose Souply of Fayette City, and Carrie Sterdis, daughter of John and Debbie Sterdis of Fayette City. Souply was introduced by Frazier boys basketball coach P.J. Malloy, and Sterdis was introduced by Frazier cross country coach Joe Turek.
Award winners for Geibel Catholic High School were William Gabonay, son of William and Christina Gabonay of New Salem, and Laura Campbell, daughter of Allen and Cheryl Campbell of Grindstone. They were introduced by Geibel Catholic principal Vince Mascia.
Award winners for Laurel Highlands High School were Nathan Forse, son of Ronald and Thekla Forse of Hopwood, and Lauren Slampak, daughter of Gerry and Connie Slampak of Uniontown. They were introduced by Laurel Highlands athletic director and boys basketball coach Mark John.
Award winners for Uniontown Area High School were Terrance Vaughns, son of Lisa Vaughns of Uniontown, and Christy Cesarino, daughter of Joseph and Linda Cesarino of Farmington. They were introduced by Uniontown assistant principal Tom Colebank.
After Herald-Standard editor Mike Ellis congratulated all those who were honored, Ciarochi spoke about the future of scholarship event, which was revitalized this year by Davis & Davis after being formerly sponsored by O.C. Cluss Lumber Co.
“We want to have this program alive and well long down the road,” Ciarochi said.
Ciarochi also spoke about the possibility that those honored on Sunday had aspired to emulate those honored in years past, which Gabonay later confirmed.
Gabonay pointed out that he remembered reading about the scholarship winners as a freshman.
“I remember thinking, that could be me,” Gabonay said.
As it turned out, he was right.
James T. Davis and Samuel Davis of Davis & Davis were in attendance and spoke at the banquet.
“What attracted me to the program was the word ‘student,'” said James T. Davis, who marveled at the honored students’ ability to balance such full schedules of academics and athletics. “I’m impressed by you personally, and I’m impressed by your success. You’re certainly a resource for our county and we’re all very proud of you.”
Samuel Davis stressed having a positive attitude and remembering where home is.
“Never forget where you came from … where you are,” Samuel Davis said. “Try to find your dreams right here. Look in your community first.”
Davis and Davis supplied $7,000 to the 2002 program and former Uniontown basketball star Jes Hutson committed $1,000 to the program.
Hutson declined to speak, but James T. Davis congratulated the Clairton High School girls basketball coach for stepping in at midseason and leading his team to a WPIAL title.
The program was videotaped and will be shown on HSTV.