The 2023 Gold Key Awards and Wildcat Booster Club Scholarships were received by Whitman’s exceptional athletes recently with the addition of the 13th Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction at the Fox Hollow. The Gold Key Award is the highest honor in Section XI that an athlete can receive for sports participation. Recipients are determined by Section XI rules and are awarded to athletes who letter in eight varsity or junior varsity seasons in grades 10-12 throughout their Walt Whitman High School career.
Congratulations to all of Whitman’s award and scholarship recipients:
Gold Key Award Recipients
Thomas Bass - Track & Field, Cross Country Rochester Institute of Technology/ Mechanical and Automotive Engineering
Alex Bogdani - Volleyball, Badminton, Bowling Georgia Institute of Technology/ Biomedical Engineering
Michael Coppola - Track & Field, Cross Country University of CT/ Mechanical Engineering
Olivia DelPriore - Flag Football, Cheerleading, Soccer Elon University/ Exercise Science
Sawyer Diamond - Soccer, Track & Field George Washington University/ Computer Science
Liana Dreusike - Track & Field
Declan Hill - Track & Field, Volleyball University of Delaware/ Business
Ryan Hill - Track & Field, Cross Country Grinnell College
Emma Kowalczyk - Cross Country, Track & Field West Point/ Chemical Engineering
Emily McGowan - Softball, Cheerleading University of Scranton
Shaelyn Scharpf - Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Basketball Akron University/ Actuarial Science
Elizabeth Schreiber - Varsity Soccer/ Track & Field Penn State/ Biomedical Engineering
Maroon and White Scholarships
The Booster Club Awards are recommended by their coaches and selected by the awards committee. These awards are issued to senior student-athletes who are members of the Wildcat Booster Club and have demonstrated the characteristics of a Walt Whitman Wildcat. Booster Club awards are not about being the best athlete on the field, they are about recognizing commitment to their sport, their team and their community.
John Addis - Tennis
Marist College / History
Jordan Badalamenti - Softball
Marist College/ Elementary & Special Ed
Gavin Bermudez - Football, Lacrosse
Marist College/ Business Administration
Jenna Crocco - Badminton, Cheerleading
University of Delaware / Elementary Education
Sienna Guerrero - Track & Field, Volleyball
Quinnipiac University/ Business
Emma Kowalczyk - Cross Country, Track & Field
West Point/ Chemical Engineering
Connor LaRegina - Baseball, Wrestling
SUNY Cortland/ Physical Education
Mason Lockhart - Varsity Badminton
James Madison University/ Engineering
Emily McGowan - Softball, Cheerleading
University of Scranton/ Kinesiology
Colin Murphy - Golf
Clemson University/ Business
Shaeyln Scharpf - Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Basketball
Akron University/ Actuarial Science
Athletic Director’s Award of Excellence
This award selected by the Athletic director is presented to two (2) senior student-athletes who are outstanding representatives of the school and the athletics department. Achieving success in the classroom and in the sports they play. They embody the tradition of a model student-athlete, and display outstanding leadership and commitment within the teams and program they represent. This year's Athletic Director's Award recipients are:
Noelle Decker - Lacrosse, Volleyball University of Buffalo/ Nursing
Sawyer Diamond - Soccer, Track & Field George Washington University/ Computer Science
Principal’s Athletic Award
This award is selected by the Principal of Walt Whitman High School to honor a student athlete who has faced adversity and demonstrated the will to overcome challenges inspiring and motivating others to do the same. The recipient must possess leadership traits that include but are not limited to a good moral compass, integrity, and empathy. The recipient treats his peers, teachers, and staff with respect by accepting differences and valuing the work that others do. Embracing the responsibility required to maintain progress in schoolwork and other personal goal. This year's Principal's Award recipient is:
Kasey Wagner - Basketball, Lacrosse University of Florida/ Biomedical Engineering
Presidential Awards
The Wildcat Booster Club Presidential Awards are selected by the Booster Club President and presented to athletes who demonstrate leadership, determination, commitment, and character on and off the field.
Elizabeth Schreiber - Varsity Soccer, Track & Field Penn State/ Biomedical Engineering
John (JT) Villella - Football, Lacrosse Stevens Institute of Technology/ Engineering Management
Ed Henselder Award
In honor of Walt Whitman Football and Lacrosse coach Ed Henselder. this award is issued to a student-athlete who demonstrates determination and drive while striving to motivate teammates to perform to the best of their ability. Exhibits the "team" mentality, understanding that achieving outcomes in a team sport is about "team" and always looks to perform in the best interest of the team, and demonstrates the spirit of a true Wildcat Athlete on and off the field.
Jacob Somer - Football, Track & Field SUNY Cortalnd / Physical Education (Major) Business Management (Minor)
Laura DelColle Service Award
Renamed in 2021 in honor of Booster Club board member Laura Delcolle, this Service Award is presented to the student(s) who have dedicated time in service to the Booster Club. Assisting in events, managing concessions, or helping to raise funds for the club. They demonstrate the care and service the same as the heart of the award's namesake.
Patrick Soulias - Volleyball, Bowling, Badminton SUNY New Paltz/ Engineering
Vin Altebrando Humanitarian Award
In honor of Coach Vincent Altebrando, this award is issued to one male and /or one female senior student. Coaches nominate candidates who exemplify humanitarian qualities. Mentors and supporters who help bring out the best in others. Leaders who guide their teammates or give back through participation in youth programs. Demonstrating quality of character on and off the field while maintaining academic requirements.
Alex Bogdani - Volleyball, Badminton, Bowling Georgia Institute of Technology/ Biomedical Engineering
Luke Avolese Football Scholarship
The Luke Avolese Scholarship is issued to two student athletes selected by the foundation. Luke was a 4 year Varsity Football and Basketball player at Walt Whitman High School. The scholarship is funded each year through monies raised at the Two Brothers Memorial Golf Outing held in honor of Luke Avolese and Matthew Giannuzzi.
Gavin Bermudez - Football Marist College/ Business Administration
Luke Avolese Basketball Scholarship
The Luke Avolese Scholarship is issued to two student athletes selected by the foundation. Luke was a 4 year Varsity Football and Basketball player at Walt Whitman High School. The scholarship is funded each year through monies raised at the Two Brothers Memorial Golf Outing held in honor of Luke Avolese and Matthew Giannuzzi.
Rufino Oliva - Basketball
SHYLAX Athletic Scholarship
This award is issued by South Huntington Youth Lacrosse to one male and one female senior lacrosse athlete. The recipients must have participated in the SHYLAX program and met community service requirements and will be pursuing higher education after graduation. Recipients receive a $1000.00 Scholarship Award
Nicole Yerys - Lacrosse Kutztown University
Trevor Galgano - Lacrosse Stonybrook University/ Business
HBC Soccer Award
Jenna Cullen - Girls Varsity Soccer
Wilmer Flores - Boys Varsity Soccer
2023 Hall of Fame Induction
1986 Girls Varsity Soccer Team The 1986 Girls Varsity team won the NYS Championship by the score of 7-2. They scored 5 goals in the first 20 minutes against a power house upstate team from Vestal, NY. The coach of Vestal remarked “I never saw a team that could run like that.” The team was a mix of juniors and seniors from the 1985 NYS Championship team, as well as, a group of talented sophomores. Whitman was the first Suffolk County team to win back-to-back NYS Championships. The teams overall record was 19-2-1 and they were ranked #1 in NYS and #3 in the nation. They scored 69 goals and had 11 shutouts.
This team produced 2 high school All-Americans and 6 All-County Players. 5 girls from the team received full and/or partial scholarships and 3 went on to become college All-Americans.
Coach: Joe Comforto; Asst. Coach: Ray Pellegrino
Maureen Altavilla, Valerie Bambaderie, Erica Bottcner, Janet Covella, Denis Dion, Christine Dreher, Lorna Drummond, Jeanne Durst, Traci Goodwin, Jennifer Harris, Lee Hendrickson, Stacey Hocknell, Valerie Johnson, Jean Marie Nopper, Christy Musco, Erika Sagel, Debbie Tripoli, and Tracie Yrigoyen.
The Booster Club Hall of Fame's newest inductees, 1986 Girls Varsity Soccer Team.
Coaches and athletes celebrated the 13th annual event at the Fox Hollow.
In honor of the late Booster Club board member Laura Delcolle, Patrick Soulias earned the Service Award for his dedicated time in service to the Booster Club. Booster Club President, Damien Caldwell, presented Patrick the award for demonstrating the care and service the same as the heart of the award's namesake.
Alex Bogdani is a recipient of the Gold Key Award and the Vin Altebrando Humanitarian Award.
Sawyer Diamond and Noelle Decker recieved the Athletic Director's Award as two senior student-athletes who are outstanding representatives of the school and the athletics department.
Congratulations to all of the award and scholarship recipients at this year's Gold Key Awards!