Ciarkowski, Konieczny named athletes of the year in Posen
Posen junior Shannon Ciarkowski and senior Josh Konieczny were named female and male athletes of the year at the annual Posen High School all-sports banquet last Thursday. Of the four female sports offered at PHS, Ciarkowski was named most valuable player of three of the teams. She was the MVP of the basketball team, and earned co-MVP honors for softball and volleyball.
That makes it three years in a row a Ciarkowski has captured the top female athlete award. Shannon?s sister Marlene earned the award in 2001 and 2002. Konieczny was named the most valuable player on the baseball team and shared MVP honors with Tom Romel in football. Konieczny was a member of the 1,000 yard club for the second year in a row and earned all-state recognition at the catcher?s position for the third straight year.
The prestigious athlete of the year award is given to two student-athletes who have lettered in at least two varsity sports and as juniors or seniors have made significant contributions to the Viking sports program.
COACHES, DURING their speeches, commended parents, the athletes, assistant coaches, the media, as well as statistic and time keepers. Members of the football and softball team were honored with special awards for their history-making accomplishments. The softball team won the school?s first-ever regional title, before losing at quarterfinals to Mason County Eastern June 11. They also repeated as district and North Star League champs.
The football team was the first to ever to post a 10-0 record and win a home playoff game. Both teams were coached by Glenn Budnick. Budnick praised the parents for their support of the softball program, telling those in attendance, ?we have a good thing going here.? He also commended the way the players conducted themselves.
THE PLAYERS stuck together, even when junior first baseman Danielle Smolinski went down with a season-ending knee injury. The Vikings outscored their opponents 338-208 and outhit teams 352-209 over 225 innings. ?We are right there,? Budnick said of the program. ?We?re a team on the brink, and we have a good returning group.?
Administrator Cliff Kelly handed out the awards to what he called ?this very deserving team.? The awards for softball included: rookie of the year, Beth Julian; most improved, Courtney Romel and Julie Lewandowski; and most valuable outfielder, Katie Lewandowski. Ciarkowski shared the leading batter award with Courtney Romel and the MVP award with Michelle Bednarski.
BUDNICK SAID the 2002 football team ?raised the bar? for future teams. He said they conducted themselves well. Kelly also gave the football players commemorative medals. Other football awards included: coach?s award, Ryan Misiak; offensive player, Konieczny, defensive player, Tom and Paul Romel; lineman award, J Richards; most improved, Ron Kroll. In return, the players gave Budnick and the other coaches a hand-crafted wooden trophy, which was topped by a signed mini-football.
During the award presentation for golf, coach Sally Goupell announced she wouldn?t be returning, and urged members of the golf team to ?beat the bushes? for a new coach, or Posen would be dropped from the North Star League and the conference wouldn?t be able to compete in golf without five schools. Sophomore Nick Goupell was the MVP, while the rookie of the year went to David Karschnick. The rest of the winners include most improved, Dillon Wirgau; and best average low gross score, Goupell.
IN VOLLEYBALL, award winners include: most improved, Kyrie Kuffel; spirit award, Amanda Altman; top setter and server, Courtney Romel; blocker/spiker, Shannon Ciarkowski; most digs, Julie Lewandowski. Julie shared team MVP honors with Ciarkowski. In boys? basketball, sophomore Matt Ponik won four of the seven categories. He was the team MVP, top offensive and defensive player as well as the top rebounder. Most improved was Ron Kroll, while the coach?s award went to Aaron Hincka. Luke Hentkowski edged Ponik at the charity stripe for the free throw trophy.
Ciarkowski earned four of the six trophies in girls? basketball. She was the best offensive and defensive player, the MVP, and the best free throw shooter. Kendra Krajniak was the most improved, while Megan Latz was the top rebounder.
BASEBALL COACH Pat Kowalski reiterated the goals from early spring when he wanted his players to compete with the upper level ball clubs. ?We proved we could play,? said Kowalski. One of the highlights was the tournament win over 10th-ranked Gaylord St. Mary. ?It was a tremendous victory.? Baseball award winners included: rookies of the year, David Karschnick and Matt Szczerowski; most valuable outfielder, J Richards; most valuable infielder, Konieczny; most valuable pitcher, Russ Kamyszek; offensive leader, Ponik; and utility player, Jesse Romel. Kowalski made it through the awards with little trouble, but became emotional when he came to the Viking baseball team MVP.
Kowalski never said Konieczny?s full name during the team MVP presentation. He was overcome with emotion and couldn?t say anything for a couple of seconds but then softly said ?Josh,? almost not able to get it out.
Heather Budnik won the spirit award in cheerleading, while Grace Schmitz earned cheerleader of the year honors.
WITH THE low number of athletes on his squad, long-time girls track coach Ch
The boys? track winners include: sprint, Kalin Diffin; field events, Patrick Bronikowski; hurdles, Dale Lewandowski; middle distance, James Sobek; and most improved, Curtis Beach. The most valuable players were Dale Lewandowski and James Sobek.
Tom Romel, outgoing president of the Pep Club, won the Pep Club award. Shannon Ciarkowski received a plaque for her renditions of the National Anthem at sporting events throughout the school year.