Mount Mercy Academy recently held an Athletic Awards evening. Included in the evening was the recognition and honoring of all athletes.
Athletic Director Natalie Menz and the coaches 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 given to the girl whose skills progress the most throughout the course of the season.
Coach Natalie Menz presented freshman Lauren Seifert, a First Team All-Catholic (Orchard Park), with the Most Valuable Runner on the cross-country team, freshman Abby McCarthy (Hamburg) earned the Coach’s Award and sophomore Maura Dougherty (Buffalo) was the most improved.
Senior Meghan Balen (Cheektowaga) was the Most Valuable Player on the varsity volleyball team. Junior Mia Freedenberg (Lake View) garnered the Coach’s Award.
Coach Maddie Higgins presented sophomore Olivia Gorczyca (Lake View) and junior Meghan Bell, a First Team All-Catholic, with the Most Valuable Player Award for the soccer team and senior Rosie Bandura (West Seneca) won the Coach’s Award. Sophomore Emma Godsoe (Buffalo) was named the Most Improved.
The Most Valuable Golfer Awards went to seniors Addison Barth (Hamburg) and Lacey Sheehan (Orchard Park) who were both First Team All-Catholics. Sophomore Kaelin Zarzecki (West Seneca) won the Coach’s Award.
Sophomore Taylor Ferris (Hamburg) was the JV Volleyball Coach’s Award winner and the Most Improved was freshman Marisa Swinarski (Lake View).
Coach Matt Ondesko presented Barth with the Most Valuable athlete on the tennis team. The Coach’s Award was given to junior Alexis Dintino (Hamburg), and senior Katie Regan (East Aurora) and junior Mara Lipinski (Hamburg) were the Most Improved Athletes.
JV Basketball Coach Greg McOwen awarded freshman Natalie McOwen (Buffalo) the Coach’s Award and freshman Kiera Quinn (Buffalo) was the Most Improved Player.
Coach Macayla Barry announced that Balen, a First Team B Division All-Catholic pick, was awarded the Most Valuable Player on the varsity basketball team. Regan was given the Coach’s Award and sophomore Claire Przybyszewski (Buffalo) was named the Most Improved.
Coach Brittany Sanscrainte announced that the Most Improved bowler was sophomore Ava Barning (Buffalo). The Coach’s Awards went to freshman Eve Beale (Buffalo) and sophomore McKenna Cashion (Buffalo).
Coach Kyle Anderson selected junior pitcher Taylor Jahn (Buffalo) as the Most Valuable Player for the softball team. Sophomore Riley Coughlin (Blasdell) received the Coach’s Award and freshman Kayla Davis (Hamburg) was named the Most Improved Player.
Coach Abbie Lelito named sophomore Brianna McCaslin (Buffalo), a First Team All-Catholic selection, as the Most Valuable Athlete on the lacrosse team. Bandura and sophomore Molly Denning (Buffalo) were honored with the Coach’s Award and Bell was tabbed as the Most Improved Player.
Coach Brian Ferris named Ferris and junior Isabell Reaska (West Seneca) the Most Valuable Field Athletes for track) and the Most Valuable Runner was Seifert. The Coach’s Award was presented to Bandura for track events and Gorczyca for field events. McCarthy and junior Serenity Raynor (Buffalo) were named Most Improved.
Coach Matt Ondesko of the flag football club team named Jahn and Madison Leonard (Buffalo) as Most Valuable. Bell earned the Coach’s Award and sophomore Nola Marrero (Buffalo) was Most Improved.
Cheerleading Coach Tina Webster presented the Most Valuable Cheerleader Award to sophomore Sophia Longo (Lackawanna), sophomore Kyla Roberts (Derby) earned the Coach’s Award and freshman Lily Moritz (Springville) was Most Improved.
Once again 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 Athletes were Barth and Dintino. Balen was the Top Winter Athlete and Jahn was the Top Spring Athlete.
Bandura, the two-time Division Player of the Year for soccer and three-time First Team All-Catholic, was honored as the Mercy Athlete of the Year. She was also an All-Catholic in lacrosse and track. She was the Coach’s Award winner this year in soccer, track and lacrosse.
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 Miss Mercy Award was presented to Rosalie Bandura.
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 Lacey Sheehan, a four-year member of the volleyball and golf teams, is the recipient of this award.
