CULLMAN, Ala. – Athletes at St. Bernard Prep were surrounded by family and friends for an awards ceremony May 15th as their coaches and athletic boosters recognized their outstanding athletic performance this Spring for the 2018-19 Academic year.
Coach William Calvert, Athletic Director at St. Bernard, opened the evening with a welcome to all in attendance in the Abbey Byre, expressing his joy “to celebrate with these athletes this evening honoring their outstanding contributions to athletics at the local, regional and state levels.”
The first awards of the evening were presented by the baseball Coach, Tyler Ayers. Ayers recognized his Senior Leaders, Gavin Whaley and Thomas Fortson. The baseball team took home five wins during the season and expects to come back stronger in the 2019-20 season.
Sean and Erin Moriarty decorated tennis players Ella Buckingham and Alex Lewis with The Most Valuable Girls Player Award and The Most Improved Girls Player Award, respectively.
Boys tennis qualified for 1A-3A State Tennis for the past three years with William Tang and David Kim reaching the semi-finals in Number 1 Doubles before losing a close match to the eventual state champions from Houston Academy. Tang reached the quarterfinals in number 1 singles, taking home The Most Valuable Player Award for boys’ tennis; Jay Kim, Most Improved; and David Kim, The Most Impact Player Award.
Girls Soccer Coach, John Drake honored his team, awarding The Most Improved Girls Soccer Award to Sara Barck, Impact Player Award to Piper Watson, and Best Defender to Emma Tafazoli. The Silver Boot – Most Assists Award went to Piper Watson, Golden Boot – Most Goals to Bridget Gallegos, Best Goalkeeper to Olivia Brown, and Most Valuable Player to Dani Hernandez. Hernandez and Bridget Gallegos both served as team captains.
Coach Mike Clemmons presented the Boys Soccer Awards. The Golden Boot Award went to John Christian Rose for his amazing season, scoring 13 Goals – 1 Assist. Carson Holmes captured The Most Valuable Player Award scoring 10 Goals – 3 Assists, and shared team captain duties with fellow senior, Fulton Gil.
Track and Field completed another amazing season with both the girls’ and boys’ teams placing as 1A State Track and Field Teams Runner Ups at Woodard Stadium in Cullman on May 3-4, 2019. In addition to serving on the state runner up teams, the following students received these awards:
Most Outstanding Performer Field Events Award went to John Christian Rose. Rose was the 1A State Champion in the Triple Jump (43” 2.25”), setting a new SBP School Record.
Most Outstanding Performer – Running Events award was presented to Caleb Guthery, who also won 2 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals in the state meet, becoming the 1A State Champion in both the 800m Run (2:02.78) and 3200m Run (10:44.58), as well as placing as 1A State Runner-Up in both the 4 x 800m Relay (8:52.52) and 1600m Run (4:46.11).
The Most Outstanding Girls Performer – Field Events/ Hurdles Award was awarded to Gracie Loyd who scored 30 Points in State Meet. Setting new SBP school records, Gracie was the 1A State Runner-Up in 100m Hurdles (16.43), 1A State Runner-Up in 200m Dash (26.98), 1A State in Triple Jump (33’11”), taking 3rd place. She also was 1A State Runner-Up in Long Jump (16’ 2.75”).
Seventh grader Emma Powell shined all season and was awarded as The Most Outstanding Girls Performer – Running Events. Powell scored 30 Points in the State Meet, placing as 1A State Champion in the 4 x 800m Relay (10:58.05), 1A State Runner-Up in both 1600m Run (5:44.81) and 3200m Run (12:36.31), as well as 1A State 5th Place in 800m Run (2:39.94)
Coach Calvert said the girls have been the 1A State Champions 2019 for five straight years in the 4 x 800m Relay (10:58.05). Running for the team this year were Claire Sanders, Adrian Smith, Aria McMillan, and Emma Powell.
Joseph Arriaga was presented the Best Impact Performance Award by Coach Calvert. Arriaga scored 21 Points in State Meet earning one Silver Medal and two Bronze Medals. He placed 3rd in the 1600m Run (4:49.60) and 3200m Run (10:53.80), 2nd in the 4 x 800m Relay (8:52.52), and 8th in the 800m Run (2:10.45).
Following the presentation of awards, Fr. Linus Klucsarits presented the Fr. Luke Fazie Award, the highest athletic recognition to be presented annually at the honors and awards event. This award is given in recognition of leadership, performance, and academic excellence. At the recommendation of the combined St. Bernard coaching staff, the 2019 winners of the Fr. Luke Fazi Award are David Kim and Gracie Loyd.
Fr. Joel Martin ended the evening with prayer and invited everyone to enjoy refreshments.
Individual awards:
Joseph Arriaga – 1A State Track and Field Team Runner-Up; Track and Field Impact Performance Award; Scored 21 Points in State Meet – 1 Silver Medal; 2 Bronze Medals; Placed 3rd in the 1600m Run (4:49.60 ) and 3200m Run (10:53.80); Placed 2nd in the 4 x 800m Relay ( 8:52.52) 8th in the 800m Run (2:10.45); Improved 12 seconds in the 800m, 32 Seconds in 1600m, and 36 Seconds in the 3200m from First Meet to State Meet.
Sara Barck – Girls Soccer, Most Improved Award
Olivia Brown – Girls Soccer Best Goalkeeper Award
Ella Buckingham – Girls Tennis, MVP
Thomas Fortson – Baseball Senior Award
Bridget Gallegos – Girls Soccer Golden Boot –Most Goals Award; Soccer Team Captain
Fulton Gil – Varsity Boys Soccer, Team Captain; Senior Award, 3 years varsity soccer
Caleb Guthery – 1A State Track and Field Team Runner-Up; Most Outstanding Performer – Running Events. Won 2 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals in the State Meet; 1A State Champion in 800m Run (2:02.78) and 3200m Run (10:44.58); 1A State Runner – Up in 4 x 800m Relay (8:52.52) and 1600m Run (4:46.11)
Dani Hernandez- Girls Soccer- Most Valuable Player Award, Soccer Team Captain
Carson Holmes – Varsity Boys Soccer, Most Valuable Player; 10 goals- 3 assist; Soccer Team Captain; Senior Award – 4 years varsity soccer
David Kim – Boys Tennis, Impact Player Award; 1A State Track and Field Team Runner Up; Senior Award; 1 Year Letterman; 2019 1A State 3rd Place in 4 x 400m Relay ( 3:40.25); 2019 State Qualifier in 400m Dash; Personal Records 100m (12.21) 200m (26.15) 400m ( 54.94) Long Jump 16′. 5 ”
Jay Kim – Boys Tennis, Most Improved
Alex Lewis – Girls Tennis, Most Improved
Gracie Loyd – 1A State Track and Field Team Runner Up; 2 year Letterman; Most Outstanding Performer – Field Events/Hurdles; Scored 30 Points in State Meet and Broke 3 School Records; 1A State Runner-Up in 100m Hurdles ( 16.43 ) SBP School Record; 1A State Runner-Up in 200m Dash (26.98) SBP School Record; 1A State Runner-Up in Long Jump (16’ 2.75”); 1A State 3rd Place in Triple Jump ( 33’11”) SBP School Record
Joey McCarthy – 1A State Team Runner Up; 5 Years Letterman; Qualified for State Track Meet 2018 and 2019; 2018 2A State Champion in 4 x 800m Relay ( 8:46.06); 2019 1A State Runner-Up in 4 x 800m Relay ( 8:52.52); 2019 1A State 4th Place in 3200m Run (11:03.63); Participated in 9 different events during his career; Personal Records 800m (2:22.16), 1600m (5:41.50 ) 3200m(11:03.63) 300mH (50.65) Discus (48′ 11″)
Aria McMillan – 1A State Champion in the 4 x 800m Relay (10:58.05)
Emma Powell – 1A State Track and Field Team Runner Up; Most Outstanding Performer – Running Events; Scored 30 Points in State Meet; 1A State Runner –Up in 1600m Run (5:44.81) and 3200m Run (12:36.31); 1A State Champion in the 4 x 800m Relay (10:58.05); 1A State 5th Place in 800m Run (2:39.94)
John Christian Rose – Boys Soccer, Golden Boot Award; 13 goals-1 assist; 1A State Track and Field Team Runner-Up; Most Outstanding Performer Field Events; 1A State Champion in the Triple Jump (43” 2.25”) SBP School Record
Clare Sanders – 1A State Champion in the 4 x 800m Relay (10:58.05)
Adrian Smith – 1A State Track and Field Team Runner Up; 1A State Champion in the 4 x 800m Relay (10:58.05); 5 Years Letterman; Qualified for the State Meet in Multiple Events in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019; 3 Time State Champion in the 4 x 800m Relay 2016. 2018, 2019; Personal Records 400m (1:08.38) 800m (2:37.72) 1600m (5:44.43) 3200m (12:40.96) 4 x 800m Relay (10:13.62)
Emma Tafazoli – Girls Soccer, Best Defender Award
William Tang – Boys Tennis, MVP
Piper Watson – Girls Soccer, Impact Player Award; Girls Soccer Silver Boot- Most Assist Award
Gavin Whaley – Baseball Senior Award
Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
