Student-athletes awarded at 2024-2025 Sports Awards Celebration

After a year of competing in sports and balancing their academics, Mount Vernon City School District student-athletes were recognized for their achievements at the 2024-2025 Sports Awards Celebration on Thursday evening. You can view the full ceremony on Facebook by clicking here.

Click to view the full photo gallery!

Athletic Director and Coach Bob Cimmino and Mount Vernon High School Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce welcomed families to the ceremony, where there was food available for everyone to enjoy while they celebrated the student-athletes.

“It is with great pride and heartfelt enthusiasm that we welcome you to this year’s annual sports awards ceremony: a celebration of dedication, perseverance, teamwork, and the incredible spirit that defines our athletic community,” said Dr. Pearce. “Tonight, we honor not only the victories on the scoreboard, but the character, growth and resilience shown by our student athletes throughout the year.”

Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith congratulated the athletes and recognized the boys and girls track and field teams, who will be competing at Nationals in North Carolina from June 20-22. You can read more about their Nationals trip on our website by clicking here.

“Being an athlete is a beautiful thing; it develops character, sportsmanship, helps students go to college, and I’m so proud of you for all of that,” said Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith.

The entire Pioneer League team, which is a part of the New York Special Olympics, was recognized while wearing their medals from the season. Coach Jared Dendy announced the winner of the Coach Rocky Alianiello Overall MVP Award, Aaron Santino.

Coaches for each fall, spring and winter sport then came up to the podium to recognize all of their players and announce the awards for their team.

View the full list of awards below or by clicking here to view the full program.

Special Awards

Tony Veteri Coaches Award (leadership, determination to succeed, hardworking): Tavien Tyler and AvaAllen 

Ed Williams Memorial Sportsmanship Award (exceptional sportsmanship): Mehki Pinkney and Mia Vazquez

Gloria T. Coleman Memorial Award (determination to succeed, history of community service & academic achievement: Ivan Irigoyen and Ellie deGrandpre

The Linda Gordon and Andy Butler Scholar Athlete Award (combination of outstanding academic & athletic achievement): Isaac Amazou and Tianna Patten

Dave Rider Track & Field Award (selected by boys/girls track coaches): D'Andre Shephard and Kimora Morrison 

Arthur Sean Rose Memorial Football Award (selected by football coach): Dwight Findlay 

Marcquis Abney Memorial Football Award (selected by football coach): Edward Ababio 

Lloyd & Shirley Wallace Memorial Basketball Award (selected by girls basketball coach): Tiandra Martin 

Shamoya McKenzie Memorial Basketball Award (selected by girls basketball coach): Tianna Patten 

Marcquis Abney Memorial Basketball Award (selected by boys basketball coach): Dwight Findlay 

William Davis Basketball Award (selected by boys basketball coach): Tavien Tyler 

Donny Dendy Memorial Award (willingness to help others, community service, academic success) (Selected by track coach): Elijah Holman and Amanda Fevrier 

Julie Feldman Memorial Scholarship Award (outstanding sportsmanship, determination to succeed, works to her greatest potential): Tianna Patten

Friends of Julie Feldman Memorial Scholarship Award (outstanding sportsmanship, determination to succeed, works to her greatest potential): Kimora Morrison 

Kayla Green Memorial Cheerleading Award (selected by cheer coach): Sara-Marie Wells 

Team Awards

Boys Varsity Football

Outstanding Performer – Deshawn Terry 
Sportsmanship – Edward Ababio 
Scholar Athlete – Edward Ababio 
Most Improved – Naquann Keitt

Boys Varsity Cross Country

Outstanding Performer – Elijah Holman
Sportsmanship – Jesus Valerio
Scholar Athlete – Ivan Irigoyen
Most Improved – Edward Robinson

Girls Varsity Cross Country

Outstanding Performer –Najylah Aarons-Barksdale
Sportsmanship – Amanda Fevrier
Scholar Athlete – Kimora Morrison
Most Improved – Emmanuella Mathieu

Boys Varsity Soccer

Outstanding Performer – Brian Alves
Sportsmanship – Alinson Santos
Scholar Athlete – Isaac Amouzou 
Most Improved –Thokozani Sambakunsi

Girls Varsity Soccer

Outstanding Performer – Tanya Henry
Sportsmanship – Jahia Huttson
Scholar Athlete – Hawa Massaqoui
Most Improved – Karen Hernandez

Girls Varsity Volleyball

Outstanding Performer – Anna Santos
Sportsmanship – Jailyn Smith
Scholar Athlete – Mizzen Bajramoski
Most Improved – Shannan Thomas

Boys Varsity Volleyball

Outstanding Performer – Elijah Salcedo
Sportsmanship – Kyhiem Massaquoi
Scholar Athlete – Alexander Jones
Most Improved – Raheem Morgan

Varsity Cheerleading - Fall

Outstanding Performer – Payton Baxter
Sportsmanship – Sara Marie Wells
Scholar Athlete – Sasha Panell
Most Improved – Jailah Rice

Girls Varsity Tennis

Outstanding Performer – Carol Fuentes
Sportsmanship – Arionna Strong
Sportsmanship – Kaitlyn Leslie
Scholar Athlete – Carol Fuentes
Most Improved – Alaa Farea

Girls Varsity Swimming

Outstanding Performer – Ellie Degrandpre
Sportsmanship – Nevaeh Manning
Sportsmanship – Natalie Medina
Scholar – Ellie Degrandpre
Most Improved – Emily Negrete

Boys Varsity Basketball

Outstanding Performer – Tavien Tyler
Sportsmanship – Dayshawn Staggers
Scholar Athlete – William Robinson
Most Improved – Chase White

Girls Varsity Basketball

Outstanding Performer – Tiandra Martin
Sportsmanship – Shannan Thomas
Scholar Athlete – Tianna Patten
Most Improved – Naari Davis

Varsity Wrestling

Outstanding Performer – Deshawn Terry
Sportsmanship – Eric Rodrigues
Sportsmanship – Amari Coakley
Scholar Athlete – Mehki Pinkney
Most Improved – Caiden Hylton

Girls Varsity Indoor Track and Field

Outstanding Performer – Honesti Ellis
Sportsmanship –Taj Lovell
Scholar Athlete – Najylah Aarons-Barksdale
Most Improved – Dameish Mitchell

Boys Varsity Indoor Track and Field

Outstanding Performer – D’andre Shephard
Sportsmanship – Jasten Johnson
Scholar Athlete – Ivan Irigoyen Rojas
Most Improved – Elijah Holman

Varsity Cheerleading - Winter

Outstanding Performer – Eryn Marie Webb
Sportsmanship – Madison Bennett
Scholar Athlete – Isabel Ferriera
Most Improved – Hailee Norwood

Boys Varsity Swimming

Outstanding Performer – Jayden Martes
Sportsmanship – Shea Santana
Scholar Athlete – Roscoe Browne
Most Improved – Roscoe Browne

Boys Varsity Tennis

Outstanding Performer – Sebastian Kulik
Sportsmanship – Dylan Perez
Scholar Athlete – Carsten Kattick
Most Improved – Felipe Da Fonseca Parmezani

Girls Varsity Softball

Outstanding Performer – Ava Allen
Sportsmanship – Tanice Fairclough
Scholar Athlete – Leylani De Los Santo
Most Improved – Mizzen Bajramoski
Most Improved – Ashley Moreno

Boys Varsity Baseball

Outstanding Performer – Adriel Vasquez
Sportsmanship – Nay-Quon Gardner
Scholar Athlete – Adam Acevedo
Most Improved – Gabriel Vidaurre

Flag Football

Outstanding Performer – Tianna Patten
Sportsmanship – Tiandra Martin
Scholar Athlete – Natalie Medina
Most Improved – Heyli Marte

Boys Varsity Outdoor Track and Field 

Outstanding Performer – Elijah Holman
Sportsmanship – Joshua Elliot
Scholar Athlete – Isaac Amouzou
Most Improved – Jahmari Johnson

Girls Varsity Outdoor Track and Field

Outstanding Performer - Emmanuella Mathieu
Sportsmanship – Nailah Boodie
Scholar Athlete – Amirah Arroya
Most Improved – Kayla Williams