Pearl River High School honored more than just graduating athletes at the 15th Annual Senior Sports Awards Dinner Wednesday at the Pearl River Elks Club in Nanuet.
Many of the awards are named for former Pearl River students and athletes who have passed away, including new awards in the names of Thomas Argenti and Thomas Scognamiglio, who both died during this school year. A number of speakers Wednesday night asked the seniors receiving awards to take the time to learn about the people whose names are on them.
"Like so many whose names appear on these plaques tonight, Tommy was a very special person," Pearl River football Head Coach Jeff MIchael said of Argenti, a 2012 graduate who was struck and killed by a car after a hockey game in February. "I implore you. Never, ever forget any of the names that are on those plaques because they mean so much to so many in this community."
The Thomas Argenti Memorial Football Scholarship went to Matthew Erbacher. Argenti's family presented the Thomas L. Argenti Memorial Scholarship to Peter Dolan.
Scognamiglio's father, Joe, presented Thomas Scognamiglio Memorial Scholarships to Kelly Guerci, Chris Beers and Patrick Gannon.Thomas Scognamiglio was a 16-year-old Pearl River High School student who passed away in Oct. 2012 from Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. He presented an award to older sister Christa Scognamiglio at last year's banquet.
"If Tommy was to give me a message for tonight, he would probably say it was a great banquet, but it was too long, so try to keep it short," Joe Scognamiglio said.
Thomas's sister Missy Scognamiglio took home the Margaret Metress Memorial Award as Pearl River's top female senior athlete. According to former Pearl River AD Tom Doherty, Scognamiglio was the first Pirate to earn all-state honors in two sports in the same school year. She was a first-team selection in soccer and a third-team choice in basketball. Richard Masley, a starter in soccer, basketball and baseball, received the Ira Shuttleworth Memorial Scholarship given to Pearl River's top male athlete.
Pearl River Director of Athletics Todd Santabarbara presented appreciation recognition to baseball Head Coach Bruce Miller and girls basketball Head Coach Lorraine Moylan, both of whom are retiring from coaching this year. Moylan finished 30 years as head coach, the last 20 at Pearl River, with a Rockland County record 536 victories. Miller won 344 games in 25 seasons.
Parent Bob Gullo was named Pirate of the Year for his efforts in the renovation of the Pearl River High School wrestling room.
Of Pearl River's 122 student athletes, 41 qualified as scholar athletes by attaining a grade point average of 90 or more.
Among the other awards given out Wednesday:
- NYS Public High School Athletic Association Scholar/Athlete Team Award (to Pearl River varsity team with the highest cumulative average --= Girls tennis with a 96.153.
- Outstanding Scholar Athlete Commendation Award -- Class Valedictorian Annette Krysiewicz an Salutatorian Terence Hughes
- MSG Varsity Scholarship -- Peter Dolan
- Appreciation Recognition -- Lorraine Moylan and Bruce Miller
- Pirate of the Year Award -- Bo Gullo
- Billy Harris senior Athletic Community Service Awards -- Brian Edsall, Annette Krysiewicz, Theresa Lionetti, Sean Reagan-Ward, Shannon Reichert, Danielle Sens-Castet, Phoebe Shine, Erin Shortell, Ji Min Son, Alyssa Villani, Erica Watson,Keith Witte, Nanxi Yang
- All-State Honors -- Amanda DeCourcey (basketball, 7th team); Brian Edsall (cross country, third team); Giovanni Galvano (soccer, third team), Missy Scognamiglio (basketball, third team, and soccer, first team), Casey Walsh (soccer, third team).
- Pearl River Little League Mooney Bocket Baseball Scholarship -- Paul Rayward and Cle Davis
- Pearl River Little League Austin McCarthy Softball Scholarship -- Meaghan DiGiovanni
- Pearl River Little League Patti Harris Softball Scholarship -- Kelly Guerci
- Jimmer Murray Memorial Award -- Eric Corcoran
- Brian Armstrong Memorial Scholarship -- Pat Gannon
- Michael Joyce Memorial "Claddagh" Scholarship -- Stephen Bruno, Raymond Buhrmeister, Eric Corcoran, John Crilley, Cle Davis, Matt Ehrbacher, Pat Gannon, Thomas Muthig, Michael O'Connell, Shane Ocasal, Joseph Scanlon
- Thomas Argenti Memorial Football Scholarship -- Matt Ehrbacher
- John and Mae Doherty Memorial Scholarship -- Terence Hughes
- Bill Boegel Memorial Award -- Brian Edsall
- Timothy D. Kelleher Memorial Track and Field Scholarship -- William Lutz
- Thomas Scognamiglio Memorial Scholarship -- Kelly Guerci, Chris Beers, Pat Gannon
- Paul Salierno Memorial Scholarship -- Chris Flynn
- Robert W. McPadden Memorial Scholarship -- Meaghan DiGiovanni and Tom Davis
- Pearl River Alumni Senior Girls Basketball Scholarship -- Amanda DeCourcey and Missy Scognamiglio
- Pearl River Alumni Senior Boys Basketball Scholarship -- Tom Davis
- Pearl River Pirate Basketball Achievement Award -- Rich Masley
- Susan Tallman Memorial Scholarship -- Connor Neeck
- Joseph P. Pennisi Scholarship "Captains Award" -- Pat Gannon, Brian Metcalfe
- Pearl River Volleyball Senior Scholarship -- Victoria Grix
- Pearl River Pirette Outstandign Senior Award -- Taylor Bonaro for fall and Shannon Burns for winter
- Donna M. Unger Memorial Scholarship -- Joanna McIntyre and Daniel Scortea
- Pearl River Bowling Senior Award -- Erin Shortell and Sean Reagan-Ward
- Pearl River Dana Engellenner Senior Swimming Achievement -- Theresa McKallen
- Pearl River Alumni Swimming Achievement Award -- Taylor Hodges
- Betsy Filter Memorial Scholarship -- Giovanni Galvano and Rich Masley
- Marilyn Falt Scholarship -- Casey Walsh
- Pearl River Alumni Senior Girls Soccer Achievement Award -- Missy Scognamiglio
- Pearl River Boys Lacrosse Outstanding Achievement Award -- John Beckerle
- Thomas L. Argenti Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship -- Peter Dolan
- Pearl River Girls Lacrosse Outstanding Achievement Award -- Delia White
- Lauren Buonocore Alumni Memorial Award -- Jessica Mayernik
- Betty Gorman Memorial Softball Scholarship -- Amanda Sullivan
- Patrick Flanagan Memorial Award -- Chris Beers
- Billy Kayser Memorial Foundation Baseball Scholarship -- John Doherty and Rich Masley
- Julius D'Agostino "Coach Dag" Memorial Scholarship for Wrestling -- Shaun Carroll
- Julius D'Agostnio "Coach Dag" Memorial Scholarship for Golf -- Kevin Deegan and Dylan Faller
- Julius D'Agostnio "Coach Dag" Memorial Scholarship for Male or Female Athlete -- Jessica Mayernik
- William "Gibby" Sweet Scholarship -- Julia Kuhn and Brian Edsall
- Alicia T. Brady "Pirate Spirit" Sports Award -- Kelly Guerci and Giovanni Galvano
- Michael O'Connell Memorial Award -- Caitlin Noonan and Tom Davis
- Lt. Heinz Ahlmayer Memorial Scholarship -- Victoria Grix
- Tom Doherty Senior Pirate Scholarships -- Missy Scognamiglio and Chris Beers
- Tom Collins Sportsmanship Award -- Megan Gallagher and Stephen Bruno
- U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award -- William Lutz
- U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award -- Theresa McKallen and Pat Gannon
- Ted Christiansen Memorial Award -- Taylor Hodges and Terence Hughes
- Frank Hartnagel Memorial Awards -- Delia White and Kevin Deegan
- Max Talaska Memorial Scholarship -- Amanda DeCourcey and Brian Edsall
- Margaret Memorial Award -- Missy Scognamiglio
- Ira Shuttleworth Memorial Scholarship -- Rich Masley
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