Some schools choose to divide up their sports recognition and hold separate nights or banquets for each sport. Some schools may find it a tedious chore to get their coaches all assembled at one time to benefit the departing seniors with their presence and bestow the honors to the student/athletes they coach.
Tyrone is not listed in any such lack of endeavor. Tyrone Area High School held its annual All-Sports Recognition Night on Tuesday in the High School cafeteria., to recognize the stars who are seen in the headlines, as well as the scholar/athlete who always practices hard and gives his best, but seldom is mentioned in sports columns, who toils in anonymity in sports or at positions that never draw a a crowd much beyond parents and family.
You can’t measure the true high school athlete by the amount of medals and all-star teams, but instead by the size of his/her heart, by the percentage past 100 percent that goes into every effort in practice and against competition from other schools, giving his/her best whether on the field or to push the starter so they will glory and honors. Some have cleared the way for others, some seldom got on the playing fields. Or, it’s the senior star helping the freshman or sophomore or junior without being asked, without anyone seeing or knowing the assistance was freely given. The true high school athlete is the young man or woman who is measured by intangibles that a coach can see, but not always are visible to the average fan, not the touchdowns, or takedowns or points scored that has the crowd screaming their name.
Wins and losses have been compiled. Sometimes, they are the best in school history, sometimes they would rather you talked about some other teammate, some other sport, or some other year. Rest assured, however, the Tyrone Area High School scholar/athlete from the Class of 2006 has done their absolute best to add to the lore and history, to be included in the honor roll of Golden Eagles who have gone before and those who will follow.
The following awards were presented.
Senior watch awards were given to those seniors who participated for three years in a varsity sport and who lettered for at least one year.
Scholar/Athlete Awards were presented to 22 seniors, an unusually high number, which speaks volumes for this senior class. To qualify as a Scholar/Athlete, a student at Tyrone Area High School must have a 3.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, must carry five credits during senior year, must letter in a sport, must have the recommendation of all teachers, must have recommendation of coaches and must have a record free of disciplinary action, with the approval of the principal/ disciplinarian.
Leonard Wilson was presented the George “Bud” Wilson Award which is given to the Outstanding Male Athlete at TAHS. Proving that point, Wilson also received the David J. Kirk Award presented to the Outstanding Senior Football Player, the Tom Templeton Outstanding Athlete Scholarship Award presented to a graduating senior boy who has been accepted at a four-year college, has participated in the varsity football or basketball programs in both his junior and senior years, and who has demonstrated outstanding character, scholarship and leadership abilities, while exhibiting and spreading team spirit in a varsity sports program. Leonard was also a tri-athlete participating in football, basketball and track and field, and was a Scholar/Athlete as well.
In basketball, Wilson was a three-year starter, who tallied over 1,000 points.
“Leonard has been a steadfast workaholic in the program,” explained Golden Eagle boys basketball coach Mike Harris. “Everything we asked him to do, he did 110 percent, and it was a real pleasure to be one of his coaches, to be able to see him become a fine man and a fine athlete.”
His football exploits included becoming the school’s best quarterback with marks for touchdown passes and passing yardage, leading the Eagles to a perfect regular season in 2005 and a 33-4 three-year record. Leonard will be continuing his post graduate education and football at Bucknell University.
“What can you say about Leonard Wilson?” questioned Tyrone football coach John Franco. “He is among the best quarterbacks to play at Tyrone. That says a lot. Breaking records, he may just be the best quarterback ever. For Leonard to be among or at the top of that ladder, he has played such a big part in so many big games over three years and his record speaks for itself. He has wins, playoff wins, statistics, and that’s only on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, he is probably better. He’s just a tremendous defensive player. We have played him at several different positions and again has had a knack for the big play. I’m just really proud to see Leonard take this to the next level. He will be playing football at a division I school in a great league. I’m very proud of Leonard.”
Wilson has several classmates who have proved over the past few years to be equals of any challenger when it comes to being scholar/athletes.
Emily Ingle was honored with the Levine Award, presented to the Outstanding Female Athlete.
Ingle, who will attend and run track at Robert Morris, was the female recipient of the Harold “Hank” Beringer Memorial Award senior girl in cross country and a DelGrosso TAHS Track Award winner. Emily is the top seed in the state in this weekends PIAA State Track and Field Championships in the 1600 meter race. Ingle is also a Tri-Athlete, participating in cross country, basketball and track and field.
“Emily is right in there with anyone in the state,” said track and field coach Tony Yaniello. “Practically every time she runs, she sets a school record or meet record in the invitationals she runs in. She has already defeated the state cross country champion in the 1600 and is really exciting to watch.”
Trey Brockett is another PIAA state track participant this weekend. Brockett was presented with the James “Bud” Anderson Memorial Award to a senior boy for outstanding but unrecognized contribution to the TAHS athletic program, and was the Ellenberger Scholarship Award winner presented to the a member of the senior class who has been accepted at a post secondary school. The method included for selection includes: academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, number of years on the football team, sportsmanship and personality. The Ellenberger Award honors long-time athletic trainer Bill Ellenberger and comes largely from the Elks Tyrone girls powder puff football game. Brockett also is the recipient of the Albert F. “Teet” Snyder Memorial Football Award presented to a graduating senior TAHS football player who has excelled both academically and athletically, is of strong moral character and exemplifies what a coach looks for in a “true team player.” Trey also was the DelGrosso TAHS field winner and a Tri-Athlete who is active in football, basketball and track and field. Brockett is a Scholar/Athlete.
“Trey Brockett was a great receiver, great defensive player for us,” said Coach Franco. “He was really kind of the captain on defense. He made a lot of big plays for us on offense. He would do any job that you a lot of other people didn’t want to do. Trey had a penchant for making big plays. That, I think, was his forte this year.”
The female recipient of the James “Bud” Anderson Award as the senior girl whose contributions were outstanding but unrecognized is Tiffany Bradford. Bradford also was recognized with the AYSO Girl’s Soccer Award, as the outstanding senior girl in the fledgling soccer program, which was played as a PIAA sport for the first time this year at Tyrone. Bradford is a Scholar/Athlete
The AYSO Boys’ top senior Soccer Award was presented to Dustin Brown, who is also a Scholar/Athlete.
Emily McKenna was presented with the Bilo Award for the outstanding senior girls basketball player. Emily topped 1,000 points during her career for the Lady Eagles and was selected to the MAC Division All-Defensive Team, as well as leading the Tyrone girls in scoring. McKenna, who was a Tri-Athlete participating in volleyball, basketball and track and field, was also the recipient of the Tom Templeton Outstanding Athlete Scholarship Award presented to a graduating senior who has been accepted at a four-year college and has participated in basketball in both her junior and senior years and demonstrated outstanding character, scholarship, and leadership abilities, while exhibiting and spreading team spirit in a varsity sports program. McKenna is also a Scholar/Athlete.
The Kimberling Award presented to the Outstanding senior wrestler was presented to Robert Waite. Waite also shared with fellow senior Heath Walk, the Tony and Virginia Maisano Scholarship Award, presented to two seniors who will further their education at the post secondary level and who fostered the most team spirit and leadership among wrestlers.
“I can’t say enough about these two,” said Tyrone wrestling coach Blair Packer. “In terms of leadership it was immeasurable what they have contributed over the years they have been in the program. Heath was two-times district runner-up, Robert was a runner-up and district champ. They were just two leaders on the mat and two gentlemen off the mat. You couldn’t ask for two better young men than those two.”
Walk, although hampered by injuries in his sophomore and junior years and finally forced to give up wrestling midway through his senior season, but still was a MAC All-Star, a measure of respect given by opposing coaches who saw his talent, even though curtailed by injury. Waite won a district championship his senior year, placed third in the regional and qualified for the state championship at Hershey. Robert finished his career at Tyrone with over 100 wins and was an important part along with Walk in guiding the Eagles to two district team titles and two second place finishes.
The DelGrosso TAHS Track and Field Award for the outstanding girl in field was presented to Emily Lloyd. A dedicated track athlete, Lloyd’s talent was such that she qualified for the districts in eight different events, although restrictions prevent you from entering more than four.
“Emily Lloyd is one of those athletes who can do just about everything in track, and do it well,” said coach Yaniello.
Lloyd also shared the Volleyball Booster Award for the outstanding senior volleyball player at Tyrone with Ashley Roth. Lloyd is a Tri-Athlete participating in volleyball, basketball and track and field, and is also a Scholar/Athlete.
The Mike Hample Family Track and Field Award presented to the Outstanding Boy in Track went to Aaron Houck. Houck is both a Tri-Athlete participating in cross country, soccer and track and field, and a Scholar/Athlete.
The Roberto Clemente Award is presented in memory of Scott Strong to an outstanding senior Tyrone baseball player. This year, the honor went to Brinton Mingle, a four year veteran who played attended every game until a pulled muscle sidelined Bubs for his final game of his career, a playoff game at Richland. Mingle, who also blocked for Wilson as the fullback in football, batted over .400 as a sophomore and was able to come back after a slow start in 2006 to hit a team third-highest .365.
“It seems like Brit has been around for 10 years now, but he has started for me since his freshman year,” said Tyrone baseball coach and Athletic Director Tom Coleman. “The thing about Brit is, he’s a very instinctive player. He really helped us out and will be greatly missed. I thought he was probably one of the best right fielders in the area, he patrolled that area for us and I didn’t have to worry about a thing out there. Offensively, we will miss the consistency he displayed throughout the four years he played for me. Since his freshman year, he made every game until the Richland game because he pulled an ab muscle. I wish him good luck wherever he goes to school.”
The Scott Strong Memorial Golf Award presented to the outstanding senior gold participant who demonstrates perseverance, dedication and outstanding character was given to James Gillam. Gillam helped Tyrone win their first-ever district championship as a junior and was a district individual champ his senior season.
The Karen Cowher Memorial Award for cheerleading was presented to Michelle Lenning.
The senior male who was honored with the Harold, “Hank” Beringer Memorial Award for the outstanding senior boy in cross country was presented to Eric Sweet. Sweet is also a Tri-Athlete participating in cross country, soccer and track and field.
The Dr. Norman Miller Memorial Swimming Award for the outstanding male and female senior swimmers goes to Chris Bradigan and Paige Black. Both are Tri-Athletes, Black participates in cross country, swimming and track and field and Bradigan actually participates in four different sports- cross country, swimming, soccer and track and field. Black is also a Scholar/Athlete.
Becky Swann was presented with the Tennis Award for the outstanding senior tennis player.
The Gordon L. Norris Memorial Scholarship Award presented to the outstanding senior girl and boy, who has excelled both academically, with special emphasis in the field of mathematics and athletically was presented to Katie Schreckengost and Zac Yeaton. Both Yeaton and Yeaton are also Scholar/Athletes.
The George Curry Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by the Monogram Club to a senior athlete who possessed a winning attitude, dedication at practice, loyalty to his teammates and respect toward his coach, was presented to Shane Barr. Barr is a Tri-Athlete participating in football, baseball and track and field.
“Shane Barr was just such a great addition to us this year,” explained coach Franco. “He did a great job at two pretty tough positions on our team-defensive back and wide receiver. He made some clutch receptions, some great plays on defense. He just really fit in so well with the whole team. Shane really became a leader, which we weren’t expecting and really did a good job in the leadership area. I am real happy for him.”
Receiving a Citizenship Award, which is given to citizens in the community that have given outstanding service to the TAHS athletic program was Diane Hoover.
Marissa Hoover- cross country, swimming and track and field, and Josh Clark-football, baseball and track and field also received Tri-Athlete Awards. Hoover was also a Scholar/Athlete.
Other recipients of the Scholar/Athlete Awards were Cynda Ormsby, Matthew Elder, Nathan Barber, Ashley Turnbaugh, Byron Kost, Kendra Boom, Leah Cherry, Sarah Russell, Matthew Lauder, Katelyn Walker and Zoe Yeaton.
