Last week, Seneca High School capped off its “‘award season” with the first-ever Goldie award ceremony.
This award show honored the 2015 senior athletes for their hard work and dedication to the program.
“Athletics is such a big part of our curriculum and I say that because there are so many lessons to be learned in athletics,” Athletic Director Brad Bauer said.
This Seneca version of the ESPYs — an annual awards show hosted by the sports television station ESPN — was hosted by assistant athletic director Kathy Donoghue and Shawn Kirby and put together by the Seneca Varsity Club advisors.
Similar to the ESPYs, there was a pre-show leading up the event and a series of special categories created to recognize unique achievements.
Athletes were greeted at the door by the paparazzi and photographed with teammates as they walked the red carpet leading up to the event that was held in the auditorium.
The Golden Eagle mascot was also in attendance as he hopped in some photos and livened up the crowd with his antics.
There were eight different award categories that were voted on at the end of May by all of the head coaches and their assistants.
The three athletes with the most votes were honored at the Goldies award presentation. The athlete with the most overall votes won the Goldie award.
“When we created the Goldies, we deliberately did not create an unsung hero award,” Donoghue said. “This is because all of you are our unsung heroes.”
The eight topics were the Fred Rucker Spirit Award, the Bird’s Nest Fan Of The Year Award, the Rookie Of The Year Award, the Comeback Performance Of The Year Award, the Senior Scholar Athlete Of The Year Award, the Community Service Athlete Of The Year Award, the Team Of The Year Award and the Fearless Leader Award.
Every group of nominees were divided into males and females, so two students brought home each award.
Seneca boys lacrosse stole the show with five players bringing home awards.
Vaughn Butler won the Fred Rucker Award, Clem Green won the Bird’s Nest Award for best fan (but is on the boys lacrosse team), Kevin Gray won the Fearless Leader Award, Tyler McCormack won the Comeback Performance Of The Year Award and the team received Team Of The Year.
“I give credit to the seniors in this class. Their four-year record was 67–14 and they made it to the sectional championship three times and state semifinals one time,” boys lacrosse Head Coach Rob Davidson said. “They always stayed focused and were a great group to coach. They will be missed.”
Every team was recognized in one way or another, whether it was from a player taking home an award or it was during the segment prior to the award distribution in which every team was called up by season and photographed with the mascot.
“All of you have committed your time, your energy and your passion to your sport, your teammates and your coaches,” Donoghue said.
Rich Watson was recognized for his services, as this was his last season coaching at Seneca High School. He has been the boys cross country and winter track head coach since the doors of the school opened in 2004.
“He has spent countless hours away from his family to create and nurture two programs here at Seneca,” Bauer said. “There is no doubt these two teams will continue down a path of success because of the road that he has paved for them.”
Bauer could also not say enough about what this senior class has done for the path of the school’s athletic department and how well the players handled themselves on and off the field.
“Seniors, as you leave the halls of Seneca for the last time as a student here and move on to the next stage of your life, know that life will present you with many challenges and chances that will test you each day. Meet those challenges with perseverance and the hard work that goes along with it, and be guided by the character of the good person that you can be. If you do, some day you will look back on the journey that has taken you to a life of fulfillment, satisfaction and the true happiness that I wish for all of you today. I wish you all the best of luck in the future, and you will always be a part of our Seneca family,” Bauer said.
