Athletes gathered last Wednesday for the fall sports banquet, to celebrate a number of well deserved awards won by our fall athletes, sports teams, and our athletic program as a whole.
After this fall season, Green Level is first in the Conference Wells Fargo Cup as well as the National Wells Fargo Cup for overall sports. Green Level won 2 team state championships, Women’s Volleyball and Women’s Cross Country, and 1 Individual state champion, Caroline Dobrowski for Gymnastics.
The Highlight of the Evening was the Directors awards and the Fall Sports MVPs.
The Directors award was given to one male athlete, Mohommad Mohammad, and one female athlete, Jayla Egerton.
Mohammad is the Cross Country Men’s MVP who competed in states in the 5K. During the race another racer stepped on his shoe with their spikes, taking Mohammed’s shoe off. Mohammad was left with no choice but to continue running barefoot.
“I kept thinking that I have to keep running for my teammates, I didn’t come this far to stop now.” Mohammad said.
He crossed the finish line with a bloody foot and a time of 15:52, finishing 6th in states.
The Women’s Directors award winner, Jayla, won the award because of her grit during the state championship volleyball game, as she made a diving save into the score-keeping table and ended up winning the point. This marked the turning point of the game and started a reverse sweep for the Gators.
Our Athletic Director, Colin Fegley describes his thought process on giving Egerton the Directors Award.
“I was standing in the hallway watching out at the game when I saw Jayla make the diving save and almost take out one of the score keepers. I knew at that moment that I was going to give her the Directors award.” Said Fegeley
The Fall Men’s MVP was Tyler Pigeon, a men’s soccer player. Tyler won external awards as well like all conference, all region, all conference player of the year, an all state nominee and Soccer’s MVP award.
“I felt proud to receive the Fall Sports MVP Award. It was nice to get credit for all my hard work behind my success this season.” said Pidgeon.
The Women’s Fall MVP was a 3 way tie. One of which went to Sadie Wortman, a women’s cross country captain who ran the 5K. Wortman also won the women’s cross country MVP for green level. Another Fall award went to junior gymnast Caroline Dobrowski, and sophomore Scarlett Taylor, a setter on the volleyball team.
Each MVP describes the biggest contributor to their success this season was teamwork.
Tyler Pidgeon doubled the goal scoring record in a season with 24 goals this year.
I think the biggest factor to my success this season was all the support I had from my team. They pushed me everyday and I worked hard for them, especially for my seniors so they could have a memorable season.” Said Pidgeon.
Sadie Wortman finished 7th in states with a time of 18:19.
“I was happy and surprised to receive the Fall MVP award,” said Wortman. “I think the biggest drive behind my success this year was letting go of the pressure, having fun, embracing every meet with an open mind, and focusing on running for my teammates when it got tough.”
“I was really proud of myself and excited to win the award. The biggest factor to my success was probably my team’s attitude, everyone was always hype and gave lots of support, making meets a lot more fun.” said Dobrowski.
Scarlett Taylor also won the MVP of the match during the state championship game.
“I was so honored to be recognized by our athletic director with three other women’s athletes. I have to give credit to my teammates and coaches, everyone is so united and uplifting, I would be nowhere without them.” said Taylor.
Ultimately, the evening at the sports banquet was a reminder that while individual rewards recognize personal performances, the driving force behind this season’s success for everyone was unity and teamwork. The spirit on every team this fall season is the real victory for the athletic program, and Green Level will carry this spirit into winter and spring sports.
