Once a year the member schools of the Berkshire League, under the organizational guidance of their respective athletic directors, honor young athletes who have achieved First Team All-Star status in their chosen sports. This year’s Berkshire League All-Star banquet was held June 5 at the Aqua Turf banquet facility in the Plantsville section of Southington.
Locally, both Northwestern Regional High School and The Gilbert School have been participating in the event since joining the Berkshire League (Northwestern in 1978 and Gilbert in 1982). This year’s event attracted nearly 800 people, including 200 athletes. Following a family-style dinner, Gilbert Athletic Director Mike Gamari served as the master of ceremonies for the 17th consecutive year.
The league recognizes All-Stars from 17 varsity sports, including field hockey, volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross-country, swimming, boys and girls basketball, wrestling, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, softball, golf and baseball. Team sportsmanship awards are also given.
This year, Gilbert shared the all-important Sportsmanship Award in baseball with cross-town neighbor Northwestern. Gilbert Head Coach Pat Cooke and Northwestern co-head coaches Jim Davidson and Tom Germano accepted the trophies on behalf of their respective programs. Gilbert picked up a second Sportsmanship Award in boys tennis, which was coached by Bill Sanders.
Northwestern athletes who achieved All-Star status for the 2007-08 season included Kelsey Twarog (volleyball), Jordan Cesca, Matt Janco and Doug Tracy (soccer), Alyssa Maschi (diving and track and field), Colleen King (swimming and diving), Chris Laudati (basketball), Kat Woods (basketball, track and field), Amanda Warchol (tennis), Janelle Boratko, Candice Berman and Michelle Levesque (track and field), Renrick Pesce (track and field) and Josh Seibold (track and field), Aizlyn Pieszak and Sarah Lippincott (softball), Nick Bardino (golf) and Chris Davidson (baseball).
Gilbert’s list of All-Stars included Jackie Vaccari (soccer), Jim Bunel and Adam Vaccari (basketball and golf), Tony Decato, Pat Upton, Tori Lovetere and Marshall Deane (wrestling), Jennifer Hunter (track and field), Thomas Scarangelo (track and field) and Thomas Schibi (track and field), Nikki Hoxie (softball) and T.J. Monka and Jorge Pimentel (baseball).
