Port Jefferson Athletes Recognized at Awards Night

More than 60 high school seniors in the Port Jefferson School District were recognized for their athletic accomplishments at an awards ceremony on June 5 in the high school auditorium.

During the evening, the students’ coaches honored every athlete, sharing memories of their accomplishments on the field, during tournaments and in games. All honorees were presented with senior athletic awards, as well as NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team awards for teams whose members maintained at least a 90 percent GPA during their sports season. 

One highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Friends of Christine Stoddard scholarship to boys varsity baseball team member Morgan Sakovich and girls varsity soccer player Mairead Swards.

The second highlight came as Debra Ferry, the district’s director of physical education, health and athletics, presented this year’s Outstanding Athlete awards to soccer and basketball player Olivia Racanelli and track and field athlete Jasper Rubin-Sigler, who was unable to attend the ceremony, as he was competing at the state championships.

Along with Ferry and the coaches, Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Bossert thanked the athletes for their hard work and their parents for supporting them.

“I am very proud of our athletic program and am most proud of how you each prioritized athletics, academics and community service,” Bossert said to the athletes.

 “You should be proud to be part of a team,” Ferry said. “You all have the common bond of being a Port Jefferson athlete. Take pride in what you have done.”

Serving as a guest speaker was Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant, who told the students that their time as athletes has given them life skills, including etiquette, sportsmanship, fair play, how to lose gracefully, how to win gracefully, how to be a team player and how to close out a match.

“You are all Port Jefferson champions,” Garant said. “May you always move forward with the wind behind your back.”