Mount Mercy Academy recently held an Athletic Awards evening. Included in the evening was the recognition and honoring of all athletes. Members of the teams received their letters and pins, as well as special awards for Most Valuable and Most Improved Athletes and the Coach’s Award winners.
Athletic Director Michael Hardy presented special awards to the Most Valuable Athletes, the athlete that the coach felt the team contributed the most to the team’s success; the Coach’s Award which is given to the athlete who exhibits the best effort, attitude, dedication and team spirit; and the Most Improved Athlete is given to the girl whose skills progress the most throughout the course of the season.
Sophomore Bella Scarcello (Buffalo) was the Most Valuable Runner on the cross-country team, senior Gemma McIlory (Hamburg) earned the Coach’s Award and freshman Brynn Leonard (Buffalo) was the Most Improved.
Senior Bella Maloney (Lakeview) was the Most Valuable Player on the varsity volleyball team. Junior Lacey Sheehan (Orchard Park) garnered the Coach’s Award and freshman Riley Coughlin (Blasdell) was the Most Improved.
Coach Maddie Higgins presented two-time First Team All-Catholic and two-time Player of the Year junior Rosalie Bandura (West Seneca) with the Most Valuable Player for the soccer team and senior Madelyn Hart (Buffalo) won the Coach’s Award. Sophomore Ellie Hart (Buffalo) was named the Most Improved.
Coach Kate Lynch handed out the Most Valuable Golfer Award to junior First Team All-Catholic Addison Barth (Hamburg). Freshman Kaelin Zarzecki (West Seneca) won the Coach’s Award.
JV Volleyball Coach Alyssa Derwin tabbed sophomore Nora Vattes (Buffalo) as the Most Valuable Player, the Coach’s Award was given to sophomore Isabelle Reaska (West Seneca). and the Most Improved was sophomore Marren Phillips (Buffalo).
JV Basketball awarded the Most Valuable Player to freshman Claire Przybyszewski (Buffalo). Freshman Mara McCrea (West Seneca) won the Coach’s Award and freshmen Ryan Geary (Lackawanna) and Carly WIckett (Hamburg) were the Most Improved.
Senior Olivia Fuller (West Seneca), a First Team B Division All-Catholic pick, was awarded the Most Valuable Player on the varsity basketball team. Senior Maggie Bell (Buffalo) was given the Coach’s Award and sophomore Meghan Bell (Buffalo) was named the Most Improved.
Coach Matt Ondesko presented Vattes with the Most Valuable athlete on the tennis team. The Coach’s Award was given to sophomore Alexis Dintino (Hamburg) and Reaska and freshmen Lauren Szpylman (Orchard Park) were the Most Improved athletes.
Coach Kyle Anderson selected sophomore pitcher Taylor Jahn (Buffalo), a Second Team All-Catholic, as the Most Valuable Player for the softball team. Senior Amanda Solomon (Hamburg) received the Coach’s Award and McCrea was named the Most Improved.
Coach Haley Gaulton named senior Abby Mailloux (Buffalo), a First Team All-Catholic selection, as the Most Valuable Athlete on the lacrosse team. Freshman Brianna McCaslin (Buffalo) was honored with the Coach’s Award and senior Brenna Berhalter (Buffalo) was tabbed as the Most Improved.
The Most Valuable Field Athlete for track was freshman Taylor Ferris (Hamburg) and the Most Valuable Runner was freshman Olivia Gorczyca. The Coach’s Award was presented to Leonard and Reaska was named Most Improved.
Cheerleading Coach Tina Webster presented the Most Valuable Cheerleader to senior Mallory Chase (Buffalo). Mary Grace Wood (Hamburg) earned the Coach’s Award and freshman Nataliah Quintana (Buffalo) was Most Improved.
This year the Mount Mercy Academy Sports Boosters presented six new awards. The group selected a Top Athlete for the fall, winter and spring seasons, as well as the Mercy Athlete of the Year.
Honored as the Fall Top Athlete was Barth. Senior Monsignor Martin League Hockey Player Isabelle Fedele (Buffalo) was the Top Winter Athlete and Jahn was the Top Spring Athlete.
Bandura, the two-time Division Player of the Year for soccer, was honored as the Mercy Athlete of the Year.
In addition, the group established two awards which will be given annually to seniors. The first award is the Miss Mercy Award which is presented to the senior athlete who best exemplifies the values of dedication, commitment and determination as a Mount Mercy Athlete. She is a true example of a hard-working athlete at practice and games and has also been recognized as an All-Catholic. The inaugural Miss Mercy Award was presented to Madelyn Hart.
The Mercy Unsung Hero Award is given to the senior athlete who has been an invaluable team member during her time as a Mount Mercy athlete. She has been a steady and vital part of each team she has competed on, without receiving much recognition. Her contributions do not always show up on the stat sheet, but her impact is evident, particularly when stepping into difficult positions. Senior Jenna Brown (Buffalo), a four-year member of the soccer and lacrosse teams, is the first recipient of this award.
