Schools

Pearl River Honors Top Senior Athletes

Pearl River High School held its 14th Annual Senior Sports Awards Dinner Wednesday at the Pearl River Elks Club.

Pearl River honored its 144 senior varsity student athletes at the 14th Annual Senior Sports Awards Dinner Wednesday at the Pearl River Elks Club.

The students were recognized for academic as well as athletic excellence. Academic Achievement Awards for maintaining averages of 90 or above were given to 51 student athletes and Pearl River received New York State Public High School Scholar/Athlete Team Awards for 21 of its 25 varsity teams.

One-field accomplishments included:

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • 13 league championships
  • Seven section championships
  • Four Rockland County championships
  • One regional championship (girls basketball)
  • Little Brown Jug champion (football)

"To the parents, these accomplishments would not have transpired without your support and your commitment to excellence," Pearl River Director of Athletics Todd Santabarbara said.

Basketball player Christa Scognamiglio took home the Margaret Metress Memorial Award as Pearl River's top female athlete, as chosen by the the high school coaches.

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Scognamiglio was also honored separately for becoming the school's all-time leading scorer in basketball with 1,685 points, second all-time among Rockland County girls, and for being named the Class A state player of the year. Her brother Tom, who was diagnosed with bone cancer nearly 10 months ago, was brought up to celebrate the award with her. 

Basketball player and cross country runner Joe Clinton won the Ira Shuttleworth Memorial Scholarship, presented by the Pearl River School District to the top male athlete.

Santabarbara gave a special appreciation to Helen Brady, who is retiring, for her years of support of Pearl River athletics.

The Pirate of the Year Award was given to varsity volleyball coach Julie Crow for her support of Pearl River High School student athletes and coaches. Crowe will not be back coaching at the school next year.

Michael McPadden gave an emotional speech during the presentation of the Robert W. McPadden Memorial Scholarships, which are "presented by the family and friends of Robert W. McPadden to the male and female senior basketball athlete, who like Robert, show courage, determination, character, a commitment to team aove self, and the Pirate spirit. Robert McPadden, Michael's brother, was a former Pearl River High School varsity basketball member. As a member of the FDNY, he died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001.

The McPadden Scholarships went to Kerry Sullivan and Sean Wilson. Michael McPadden pointed out that Sullivan's father, Jim Sullivan, helped organize the scholarship after Robert McPadden passed away. He also asked that athletes given memorial awards and scholarships Wednesday night take the time to think of the people those honors are named for. 

Others recognized aside from the athletes were:

  • Girls Basketball Head Coach Lorraine Moylan was honored for her accomplishments, including passing 500 career victories this past season.
  • Chris Woolgar was recognized for his work as an assistant coach with six different teams at Pearl River, many of them as a volunteer.
  • Marietta Florio for her work in the athletic department, including putting together the senior awards dinner. 

A slideshow of pictures from the 2011-12 Pearl River High School varsity sports seasons was shown before the awards presentations. Carol Dyer provided the pictures. 

Video clips of some of the awards presentations are attached to this report. Recipients are listed below.

Editor's note: Have pictures to share from Wednesday night's awards dinner? Please do that by adding them to the gallery with this report.

Memorial Awards & Scholarships

Pearl River Little League Softball Scholarship

  • Kristyn Neroda (Patty Harris Scholarship)
  • Nicole Leote

Pearl River Little League Baseball Scholarship

  • Conor Madigan
  • Connor McIntyre

Patrick Falanagan Memorial Award

  • Jake Tedesco

Betty Gorman Memorial Softball Scholarship

  • Kristyn Neroda

Billy Kayser Memorial Foundation Baseball Scholarship

  • John Brebbia
  • Brendan Ryan

Billy Kayser Memorial Foundatio Softball Scholarship

  • Shannon McKiernan

Pearl River Boys Lacrosse Outstanding Achievement Award

  • Lowell Hunt

Pearl River Girls Lacrosse Outstanding Achievement Award

  • Keira McMullan

Lauren Buonocore Alumni Memorial Award

  • Kaitlin Creagh

Robert W. McPadden Memorial Scholarship

  • Kerry Sullivan
  • Sean Wilson

Pearl River Alumni Senior Girls Basketball Scholarship

  • Allison Cook
  • Nicole Grossbard
  • Christa Scognamiglio

Pearl River Alumni Senior Boys Basketball Scholarship

  • Joe Clinton

Susan Tallman Memorial Scholarship

  • Lowell Hunt

Joseph P. Pennisi Scholarship Captains Award

  • Christopher Alexander
  • Michael Henry

Pearl River Volleyball Senior Scholarship

  • Victoria Massari

Pearl River Pirette  Outstanding Senior Awards

  • Samantha Boyko (fall)
  • Kelsey Flynn (fall)
  • Casey Whalen (winter)

Pearl River Field Hockey Senior Award

  • Gabriella Moreno

Donna M. Unger Memorial Award

  • Shannon McGuinness
  • Samuel Berry

Pearl River Bowling Senior Award

  • Hal Walter
  • Sarah O’Malley

Pearl River Dana Engellenner Senior Swimming Achievement Award

  • Nicole Maher

Pearl River Alumni Swimming Achievement Award

  • Molly O’Hagan

Betty Filter Memorial Scholarship

  • Samuel Berry
  • Alec Zbar

Marilyn Falt Scholarship

  • Amanda Hartigan

Pearl River Alumni Senior Girls Soccer Achievement Award

  • Brynn Moynihan

Betsy May Memorial Award

  • Molly Shine

John & Mae Doherty Memorial Award

  • Caitlin Lardaro
  • Tom Bonaro

Bill Boegel Memorial Award

  • Keiran Brennan

Timothy D. Kelleher Memorial Track & Field Annual Scholarship

  • Brenden Bateman
  • Hans Lueders

Jimmer Murray Memorial Award

  • Michael O’Shea

Brian Armstrong Memorial Scholarship

  • Sean Wilson

Pearl River Alumni Football Scholarship

  • Andrew Cantone
  • Conor Madigan

Michael Joyce Memorial “Claddagh” Scholarships

  • Thomas Argenti
  • Nicholas Berwick
  • John Brebbia
  • Michael Brophy
  • Patrick Burke
  • Andrew Cantone
  • Ryan Confrey
  • Nicholas Speleotes
  • Ryan Fatigate
  • Matthew Fullard
  • Anthony Lapoma
  • Joshua Lipane
  • Conor Madigan
  • Kevin McKiernan
  • Connor O’Sullivan
  • John Orsino
  • Sean Wilson
  • Ryan Daly

Paul Salierno Memorial Scholarship

  • Timothy Fjermestad

Julius D’Agostino “Coach Dag” Memorial Scholarships

Wrestling

  • Patrick Brosnan

Golf

  • Brian McGarvey

Female/Male Athlete (Leadership)

  • Nicole Grossbard

William “Gibby” Sweet Scholarship Award

  • Christy Carty
  • Lowell Hunt

Michael O’Connell Memorial Awards

  • Erin Garvey
  • Jake Tedesco

Lt. Heinz Ahlmeyer Memorial Scholarship

  • Thomas Higgins
  • Shannon McKiernan

Alice T. Brady “Pirate Spirit” Sports Award

  • Sarah O’Malley
  • Tom Bonaro

Tom Doherty Senior Pirate Awards

  • Ceili McMorrow
  • John Orsino

Tom Collins Sportsmanship Awards

  • Kerry Sullivan
  • Stephen McNiff

U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award

  • Nicole Leote
  • Justin Cueva

U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award

  • Brynn Moynihan
  • Michael O’Shea

Ted Christiansen Memorial Award

  • Maria Kohlbrenner
  • Samuel Berry

Frank Hartnagel Memorial Awards

  • Caitlin Lardaro
  • John Brebbia

Max Talaska Memorial Scholarships

  • Molly Shine
  • Kieran Brennan

Margaret Metress Memorial Award

  • Christa Scognamiglio

Ira Shuttleworth Memorial Scholarship

  • Joe Clinton

Scholar/Athletes of the Week

  • Selected by the Journal News
  • Samuel Berry – soccer
  • Maria Kohlbrenner – cross country
  • Caitlin Lardaro – winter track
  • Molly Shine – cross country
  • Christa Scognamiglio – basketball

New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar/Athlete Team Award
Presented to the varsity team with the highest cumulative average out of 25 teams

  • Girls Spring Track (96.325 average)

Outstanding Scholar Athlete Commendation Award

  • Class Valedictorian Jack Mikuszewski
  • Class Salutatorian Samuel Berry

Appreciation Recognition

  • Helen Brady  - For years of dedicated service to the student athletes, coaches and staff of the athletic department at Pearl River High School

Pirate of the Year Award

  • Julie Crowe – For her support of the PRHS student athletes, coaches and athletic program.

Section 1 Physical Education Awards

  • Katherine McLaughlin
  • Jake Tedesco

Billy Harris Senior Athletic Community Service Awards
Given to seniors with more than 400 hours of community service during PRHS careers

  • Nicholas Berwick
  • Samantha Boyko
  • Alexander Bruzzi
  • Katie Duggan
  • Jessica Giaramita
  • Liam McArdle
  • Ryan McGinn

All-State Honors

  • Kieran Brennan – cross country – 10th team
  • Allison Cook – basketball – 9th team
  • Maria Kohlbrenner – cross country – 6th team
  • Ceili McMorrow – cross country – 3rd team
  • Brynn Moynihan – soccer – 4th team
  • Connor O’Sullivan – football – first team
  • Christa Scognamiglio – basketball - first team
  • Molly Shine – cross country – 6th team


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here