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55th annual Hewitt Award winners announced

Submitted

Wed, Jun 24th 2020 02:35 pm

Adrianna Frerichs of Wilson and Anthony Haak of Lockport were named the winners of the 55th annual Thomas E. Hewitt Sports Awards.

Sponsored by the board of associates of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, the awards recognize the top male and female scholar athletes from seven area high schools. The awards are named for the late city editor of the Niagara Gazette, and include scholarships of $1,500 to the top male and female candidates as determined by a panel of judges. In addition, each nominee receives a $100 award.

In previous years, a special awards dinner was held where students were recognized for their accomplishments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this wasn’t possible this year. However, the awards of $1,500 were still presented to the winners, who stood outside of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital.

Judging was based on scholastic achievement, athletic achievement, school and community involvement, and a personal interview (this year over the phone) with the judges. This year’s judges were:

Ed Farnham, local businessman, Tuscarora Roofing, and the 1976 Hewitt Award male recipient

Lisa Bavisotto, manager of management development, Tim Hortons

Lawrence Puzan, past athletic director for Niagara Catholic and the head softball coach at Niagara University

The nominees were:

Wilson High School – Patrick Seeley and Adrianna Frerichs

Niagara Falls High School – Yazbeck Sarkees and Molly Chiarella

Lewiston-Porter High School – Benjamin Wisto and Sophie Lindamer

Starpoint High School – Joseph Dell’Oso and Lynnea Lemieux

Grand Island High School – Ben Moskala and Sara Frosolone

Niagara-Wheatfield High School – Andrew Rambali and Brianna Zayatz

Lockport High School – Anthony Haak and Samantha Schaffert              

Female winner: Adrianna earned a 97.22 weighted average, high honors recognition all semesters, and was an All-WNY Scholar Athlete Award, Wilson Academic Letter and Wilson Champion Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Captains Club, Athletic Office Helper and Niagara County 4-H. Adrianna volunteers with the American Red Cross and for several local community events such as the “Dig Pink” breast cancer fundraiser, Niagara County Fair, Wilson Youth Football and is a youth girls basketball referee. Athletically, Adrianna was named first-team all-league for basketball and softball and earned an MVP for volleyball and softball. She is captain of the varsity softball, travel softball and volleyball teams; she is also a member of the varsity basketball team. Adrianna plans to attend Houghton College where she will play softball and major in inclusive childhood education with an extension into middle school science.

Male winner: Anthony earned a 100.36 weighted average (seventh in class), high honor roll every semester, Academic “L” Award (three years), outstanding achievement awards in biology, English, Spanish and world history, and is a recipient of the Quality Student of Lockport Award. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, All-WNY Scholar Athlete (in football and soccer), American Legion New York Boys State, Junior Rotary Club and principal advisory committee. Anthony is also the president of DECA and vice president of Connect Life for Unyts. In his spare time, he volunteers for the Junior Police Academy, 4-H summer camp, Salvation Army, Challenger Soccer Program and the SPCA. Athletically, Anthony is a five-time varsity athlete in basketball (co-captain), competitive cheerleading, football (captain), soccer (captain) and track. He was both the first four-sport male athlete in Lockport High School history, as well as the first five-sport athlete in Lockport history. Anthony plans to attend the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where he will study broadcasting and communication.

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