Ponik, Romel named athletes of year at Posen

Posen student-athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators gathered this week to celebrate the past sports season and hand out awards. The season marked many firsts for the program, including a basketball team which went 25-0 before losing in the state semifinal game and a football team which won the school?s first district championship. Named as athlete of the year were seniors Courtney Romel and Matthew Ponik. For Ponik, it is his second consecutive honor as athlete of the year, while Romel is a first time winner. Ponik earned the most valuable awards in football and basketball, earning all-state in both sports. His 1,378 career points is first all-time and he is a two-time winner of the North Star League most valuable player. He is the son of Paul and Doris Ponik.

Romel participated in basketball, softball, and volleyball, earning most valuable in volleyball as the team?s leading setter. She is the daughter of Joe and Cindy Romel. Earning most valuable for their sports were: Whitney Meeder, girls basketball; Amanda Pieczynski, girls track; Bethany Julian and Jennifer Ciarkowski, softball; Courtney Romel, volleyball.

WINNERS OF most valuable for boys sports were: Matt Ponik and Aaron Hincka, basketball; James Sobek, track; Nicholas Goupell, golf and baseball; Matt Ponik, football. Coaches of each sport handed out other awards. Tom Schellie, girls basketball coach, awarded the most improved and high rebounder awards to Roxanne Hincka, free throws and offensive player to Whitney Meeder.

Track awards were given by coach Chuck Wozniak to Amanda Pieczynski for spirit and middle distance; Whitney Meeder for field events and distance; and Bethany King as most improved. John Dietlin gave volleyball awards to Kimberly Donajkowski, most improved; Jill Krajniak, spirit; Courtney Romel, top setter; Elizabeth Wozniak and Amanda Pieczynski as top servers; Jaclyn Szczerowski, top blocker; and Whitney Meeder for most digs.

SOFTBALL COACH Glenn Budnick awarded Megan Haske rookie of the year; Mary Calhoun, most valuable infielder; Katie Lewandowski, most valuable outfielder; Jennifer Ciarkowski, leading batter; and Megan Pieczynski, most improved. Ron Misiak handed out basketball awards to Matt Ponik, for best offensive and defensive player; Aaron Hincka, top rebounder; James Sobek, most improved; and Jordan Hincka, as rookie of the year. Chuck Wozniak gave track awards to James Sobek, sprint and middle distance; Steven Lijewski, field events; Curtis Beach, distance; and Josh Worthington as most improved. Baseball coach Pat Kowalski presented Nicholas Idalski the rookie of the year award; Matthew Szczerowski, most valuable outfielder; and Nicholas Goupell as most valuable infielder and offensive leader.

Glenn Budnick gave football awards to Robert Romel for the coach?s award; Richard Kroll, offensive player; Matt Ponik, defensive player; James Sobek, lineman award, and most improved to Aaron Hincka and Isaac Kowalski. Sally Goupell awarded golf honors to Lauren Flewelling as rookie of the year; David Karschnick, most improved; and Nicholas Goupell, best nine hole gross score and best average low gross score.

HONOR WAS GIVEN to long-time principal and athletic director Clifford Kelly, who faces an uncertain future after 38 years at the helm. Board of education president Ken Wozniak told the audience that because of financial uncertainties, the board has not decided what Kelly?s role will be in the future. Earlier in the evening, Glenn Budnick presented Kelly with Viking football jersey number one with his name on it. Other coaches praised the support he has given them over the years, praising his organizational skills, his hard work, and abilities. Kelly thanked the audience for their standing ovation and for their support of Posen athletics. He said that although he never

played sports, because old St. Casimir High School did not have a sports program, he very much wanted the athletic director?s position back when he was interviewed for the position many years ago. His years in the position have taught him many lessons.

?I LEARNED that like the awards and trophies given out here tonight, many things have a base. The athlete on the trophy doesn?t stand and isn?t stable unless they have a base. That is a lot like the old proverb, which says, ?it takes a village to educate a child,? it takes a community to run a program like this. You have done it and I thank you very much,? he said.

He said the school had many outstanding performers this season, including the MVPs of the North Star League in football, basketball, and softball. State Sen. Jason Allen presented the school with a certificate mentioning the many great accomplishments of the school this year.