High school seniors who have distinguished themselves in the classroom and the athletic arena were honored on Thursday, June 1, at the annual Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Scholar Athlete Awards Breakfast held at the Country Club at Otterkill in Campbell Hall. About 275 people, including honorees, their families, school district personnel, members of the OCIAA Executive Committee and sponsors attended the event.
The keynote speaker for the morning was Luke Fedlam, a partner at the law firm of Porter Wright in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Fedlam leads the Sports Law practice for the firm and regularly advises professional athletes and sports-related businesses.
Fedlam was a standout distance runner on the Jeff-Youngsville High School cross country and track and field teams. He finished second in the 800-meter run at the 1997 state meet.
Fedlam spoke about how what he learned as a high school athlete helped him navigate his career and life. He explained how the skills of CRAFT (creativity, resilience, autonomy, flexibility and teamwork) that athletes develop can be used throughout their lives.
Robert Zayas, Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), also spoke at the breakfast, along with Orange-Ulster BOCES Chief Operating Officer Deborah McBride Heppes and OCIAA Interscholastic Athletic Coordinator Christopher P. Mayo.
The master of ceremonies was Warwick Valley Athletic Director Greg Sirico. Jeffrey Morgan (Eldred HS) was the recipient of the Tyler Muise Award. Middletown was the OCIAA Community Service Challenge Award winner. Valley Central scholar athlete Alix O’Connor sang the National Anthem.
The OCIAA Scholar Athlete Awards Breakfast is coordinated by the Orange-Ulster BOCES Athletic Coordinator’s Office, which is part of a BOCES cooperative service offered to school districts. The office serves the needs of the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA), the Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) and Section IX Athletic Council. In addition to coordinating the breakfast, some of the office’s many functions include scheduling interscholastic athletics, scheduling and paying officials, providing in-service courses for coaches, conducting championship contests, maintaining a website for athletic scheduling and mentoring athletic directors.
Local honorees:
Rylee Merli (Newburgh Free Academy)
Rylee Merli ranks 4th in her class with a 99 grade point average. She participates in Game Day/Competitive Cheerleading, Wrestling and Unified Basketball. Academic Honors/Extracurricular Activities: National Honor Society; Science Honor Society; Student Council; Student Body President; Key Club Athletic Honors: Team Captain for Gameday and Competitive Cheerleading Community Service: Boys and Girls Club Volunteer Future Plans: University of South Carolina to major in Pre -Law.
Joseph Ponesse (Newburgh Free Academy)
Joseph Ponesse is ranked 37th in his class with a GPA of 97. He is a member of the varsity football, wrestling and baseball teams. Academic Honors/Extracurricular Activities: National Honor Society; Eagle Scout. Athletic Honors: State Qualifier; Varsity letters in Football, Wrestling, and Baseball Community Service: 300 hours of community service with the Boy Scouts; volunteer at Newburgh Armory; Future Starts. Future Plans: SUNY Cortland to major in Physical Education or Athletic Training.
Tyler Reed (Cornwall)
Tyler Reed has a GPA of 97 and is a member of the varsity wrestling team. Academic Honors/Extracurricular Activities: National Honor Society; Peer Mentor; Jazz Band; Orchestra; Student-Athlete Leadership Council. Athletic Honors: 2-time Team Captain; 2023 Section IX 160lb Champion; 2023 NYSPHSAA 160lb State Champion; represented Section IX at the NYS Tournament as the Sportsmanship Award Winner; School Takedown Record Holder (392); Career record 118-23. Community Service: Volunteer at Orange County Food Bank, help coach at youth classes for Deep Roots Wrestling Club. Future Plans: Binghamton University to major in Engineering and join the Wrestling team
Karrilynn Baloga (Cornwall)
Karrilynn Baloga has a 94 GPA and is a member of the varsity Cross Country; Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field teams. Academic Honors/Extracurricular Activities: Student-Athlete Leadership Council; Girls in Sports Day; Girls on the Run Athletic Honors: National Cross Country Champion (2022)—Champs Sports Nationals - **8th fastest all time**; 9 total NYS Titles Track/Cross Country Champion; 2-time NYS Cross Country Federation Champion (2021, 2022); Section IX Course/School Record, #2 All-Time, Bear Mountain 2022; Five-time Orange County Champion (2018-2022); 5-time Section IX Champion 2018-2022; 2-time Manhattan Invitational Eastern States Champion, 1st place since 7th grade at Manhattan invite; 11th place U20 World Championships-3kSteeplechase (2022); 13th place U20World Cross Country Championships (2023) Community Service: CCHS Leadership Council, Girls on the Run Hudson Valley. Future Plans: University of Colorado to major in Communications and participate in Cross Country and Indoor/Outdoor Track.
Madison Brown (Washingtonville)
Madison Brown was ranked 4th in her glass with a 102.52 GPA. She participated in swimming and diving, indoor and outdoor track and field and lacrosse. Academic Honors/Extracurricular Activities: Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors; Seal of Biliteracy; Seal of Civic Readiness (pursuing); National Honor Society; World Language Honor Society; Science Honor Society; English Honor Society; Math Honor Society; Orange County Music Educators’ Association All-County Band; MedAchieve Scholars at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine; Washingtonville Seahawks Swimming Club Team; New York State School Music Association Solo Festival; Washingtonville High School Jazz Band; Wizards Against Cancer Club; Mock Trial; Hispanic Scholarship Fund Finalist; George Eastman Young Leaders Award Athletic Honors: Team Captain of Girls Swimming and Diving; Scholar-Athlete; Varsity letters for Girls Swimming and Diving Community Service: Girl Scouts (Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award); COVID Cardiac Screening Clinic; Peer Tutoring Future Plans: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to double major in Biology and English, as well as minor in Spanish. I am deciding between a pre-med and pre-law track and hope to make a difference in either field by advocating for social parity.
David Rodriguez (Washingtonville)
David Rodriguez ranks 11th in his class with a 99.49 GPA. His is a member of the varsity soccer team. Academic Honors/Extracurricular Activities: High Honor Roll; Outstanding Musician Award; Tri-M Music Honors Society; National Honor Society; Quiz Bowl; Jazz Band; Pep Band; 3x NYSBDA All-State Jazz Band; Hispanic Scholarship Fund Finalist; The Gates Scholarship Semi-Finalist Athletic Honors: Scholar Athlete Award NYSPHSAA; Varsity 845 Player of the Week; US Club National Cup Finals 2021 (winners); Class AA All-Star Team Selection; All-Section Team; Varsity Letter Community Service: Country Kids Food Pantry; Recreational Soccer coaching and refereeing; Garlic Festival hosted by the Kiwanis Club Future Plans: Illinois Institute of Technology to major in Aerospace Engineering and play Soccer.