I've been swimming, I think like 13 years.

I've been playing basketball since I was four years old, been playing volleyball competitively for about eight years now, but I've grown up around in my whole life.

As soon as I could sign up, I did.

I've kind of grown up in a gym.

Wrestling has been a huge part of my life.

I'd say it's something I think about every day when I wake up.

A big part of my inspiration to play baseball and softball came from my sister.

My dad was a big baseball fan, so he kind of like encouraged me to play.

Softball for me, just play football.

And this led the show so this is something I love to do.

Thing I love about field hockey is the constant movement all the time and the ability to have connection on the field.

I love the thrill of when you score a goal because when you score, it's just so, so rewarding.

I just love the team camaraderie.

I like hanging out with the guys.

It's fun learning the plays and just like playing football.

It is awesome.

I like that I can play with my dad, my sister.

We play together a lot.

Pretty much from October to midsummer, I was always playing on a team, always playing in games.

I actually play for a travel team, so we train all year round.

I travel, I think all over the country to play.

I've been to California.

I've been to North Carolina.

I've been to Florida.

A lot of Maryland, New Jersey trips and Spain.

I think every athlete has to make sacrifices.

I get up on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 530 ish to get like an hour lift and then every day after school four to six, and then Saturdays are usually around like eight to 11.

We do a lot of endurance training, like sprint practices, really just everything to like get into the best shape possible.

I think in the end, those sacrifices are worth it in the long run.

The experiences and memories that I had with my teammates are some of the best parts of running my firm, especially from this year.

I recently went to a my regional meet in Virginia, so we were all just hanging out.

I just played every kind of game Volleyball, basketball, football.

We played everything and it's just good.

Having spending time with my friends played one of the last meets we had together before we go off to college.

I've played other sports in my life, but definitely the people I've ran cross-country with and track, they definitely have become some of my greatest friends.

It's a surreal moment, just with my friends I grew up playing football with and we just went out.

There was one day as I can.

I've learned a lot about myself.

A lot of life lessons as well, like taking things in stride.

I can just apply that to my real life.

You know, obviously winning games is a lot of fun, and that's kind of like hanging out with my friends and playing the game.

I like the competitiveness I really like to be able to play against like some good athletes.

It's a big atmosphere.

You know, you got a lot of fans come in.

It's honestly just a really fun sport.

My long term goals are to just keep basketball close to my heart and keep playing.

I'm playing in college, so I'll do that, but I just want to keep the sport close to my heart.

Welcome to the 2022 Athlete of the Year awards presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, the morning call and PBS 39.

Good evening, Lehigh Valley.

I am so excited to be here once again tonight hosting the ninth annual Athlete of the Year Awards.

Tonight, we're going to be celebrating some of the top student athletes in our region.

This year.

We had 64 male and female student athletes chosen as our Athlete of the Week recipients.

Each one will receive a $500 scholarship.

Tonight we will announce our Athlete of the Year winners.

One male and female Athlete of the Week recipient will each be awarded a $10,000 scholarship at the end of the show.

We will go live to our winners, get their reactions so we all hope our athletes are ready and watching for the big reveal.

Well, this year we have some truly talented student athletes among our Athlete of the Week winners, and I'm sure this isn't going to be the last that we see of them.

While they're each so different in many ways, they do have one thing in common.

They all share an unwavering commitment to their sport, to all of our Athlete of the Week winners who went above and beyond.

Thank you.

Thank you for continuing to show us what hard work looks like and for setting such a great example.

You are all very inspiring.

And speaking of inspiring, we're also going to be hearing from football star Darren Sproles.

Sproles certainly knows all about hard work and the reason why we are here.

We are going to be announcing the winners for several awards, including Coach of the Year, the Community Support Award, our fan favorites and of course, both the male and female athletes of the year.

Choosing this year's adlib of the year was no easy feat.

We've got a huge pool of talent among our winners.

We have Palmerton High's Brianna Ray Moore, a standout soccer player who set Palmer single season scoring record, finishing with 52 goals and seven assists she'll Palmerton reach the district 11 class to a final and the Colonial League semifinals.

She will continue her soccer career at Division One School Duquesne University.

There's also Notre Dame Green Pond wrestler Evan Mack who became the 20th district 11 wrestler to win a fourth gold medal thanks to a first period pin during his class to a £145 championship.

He has 108 career victories and will be going on to wrestle at George Mason University.

Great job Evan.

You know success isn't achieved alone of course not many of our Athlete of the Week winners attribute their success as a student athlete.

To the support of their and the partnership of their families, their coaches and of course, their friends.

Another important partnership in athletics is the one between the student athlete and their care team.

Nobody knows that better than Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute.

Having good partners in your life is important, especially as a student athlete.

A good partner can lift you up when you're having a bad.

Day, keep you motivated.

To help you celebrate your successes.

My dad is probably my biggest supporter.

He comes to every tournament with me for basketball and softball.

He watches every game, whether it's on game change or if he has to because he's at work.

I will tell you, my mom and my dad and my whole family really, they've been there.

They've always been supportive of me and they've always been proud of me.

Everything I've done my dad, just because he's been coach me since I was born, really.

I mean, my parents have given up a lot of for me and made many sacrifices and they were able to give me this opportunity.

Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to be able to play where I am.

Congratulations to all of our Athlete of the Week winners at Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute we are proud to have had the opportunity to partner with many student athletes throughout the region and many of the Athlete of the Week winners.

Both of my parents are definitely my biggest supporters.

My mom doesn't know as much basketball as my dad, but she's always there for me.

Slowly, I would say around like second, third grade.

She's like kind of took over for my dad, so and she always is there.

Basically, this may be like one of the first things that she's not actually here for.

I drove myself and my parents by far.

My parents are my biggest supporters by far.

My major one that I can speak to lives in the same house as me.

They always believed in me before I believed in myself.

And he was like, you can be a state champ.

You can be a state champ.

Congratulations.

To all of our Athlete of the Week winners.

You consistently show us what hard work looks like and it's paid off.

We've watched you grow and challenge yourself over the years.

We are so proud of all that you have accomplished, and we are honored to be celebrating you this evening.

My family is definitely my biggest group of supporters.

I'm homeschooled, so we're all very close and they've been at almost every home game and every away game.

Especially my grandfather.

He he is very he's he's getting to the age where it's, you know, hard for him to walk, but he's still out every single one of my matches.

So it's insane how much it is where he is.

Definitely my parents.

I owe really everything to them for the rides, to games or practices.

My mom, dad and sister, I can always pick them, pick their voices out of a crowd yelling.

It also helps knowing that I have a suppor I can lean on them to help, you know, bring me back.

We look forward to seeing what the future holds for all of you.

And we want to thank you for including us as your partner on your journey.

You all have a bright future, and I'm sure.

We will be.

Hearing more about your success in the years to come.

That support team is so important.

Well, now it's time to recognize our first round of Athlete of the Week winners from the fall each weekly winner is receiving a $500 scholarship.

And.

The Perez give Ebe Regal Stroudsburg tennis Marcus Williams, Easton Football Elena Roman, Freedom Volleyball, Caden STEM Wilson Football Breeze Stock Southern Lehigh Field Hockey Blaze Curry Southern Lehigh Football Brianna Moore Palmerton Soccer Zach Gillan Wilson Football Bryn Dreisbach Parkland Volleyball.

Dominic Lisicki Southern Lehigh Cross Country Natalie Morgan Southern Lehigh Cross Country Jared Grover Amir's Football Hannah Bashir Southern Lehigh Field Hockey Cooper King Northampton Football Taylor Ainslie Northampton Field Hockey Matt Frame Northern Lehigh Football Danny Ola Tyler Parkland Soccer Alex Heidemann Freedom Cross-country Elizabeth Barnes Freedom Volleyball Damian Simpson Wilson Football Anna Record Palmerton Field Hockey James DeNicola Palmerton Football Iris Gluck Southern Lehigh Field Hockey Andrew Sabo Northwestern Lehigh Football Sidney Esquires Parkland Volleyball Ty Census Second Valley Football Julie Erath Allentown Central Catholic Soccer Deontay Crawford Freedom Football Adrianna Hinkle Lee Highton Field Hockey Coltrane's Easton Football.

A hearty congratulations to all our fall winners.

Well, no one ever wants to suffer an injury, of course, not especially student athletes.

It is, though, part of sports.

It does happen.

In order to recover from an injury, athletes need to have a positive outlook, perseverance and of course, the best care possible.

Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute understands what it takes to get student athletes back to their sports safely.

They have been offering student athletes in our region the best sports medicine care for over 30 years.

Each year, physicians from Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute treat thousands of student athletes and help them return to the sport they love.

But there's one particular student athlete they felt was deserving of the Comeback of the Year award.

Everyone in my family, there's six of us, and we all play multiple different sports basketball, soccer or lacrosse.

We all run cross-country and track.

We all just love supporting each other.

And that's just something that we find very enjoying to do with our time.

Hurt my knee playing basketball.

I was at a tournament in Tennessee and I fell and I went for a layup and I felt something step in my knee and I immediately went down with this sharp pain, came back to Allentown, and I saw a doctor look at me.

On examination I could tell right away that she had a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

So we immediately obtain some MRI imaging.

So it was quite obvious that she would require a surgical stabilization in the form of an ACL reconstruction.

Initially, I was really upset because I knew it was going to be a really long recovery.

But then like 5 minutes later, I just knew it was going to be OK. Like, I felt the doctor look at his confidence and I just I had the feeling that everything was going to turn out fine.

So when we do a reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, what that basically means is we give them a new ligament.

And there's a newer what I think is a revolutionary technique where we harvest the ligament from the central portion of our quadriceps tendon.

It's a newer technique.

I've done about 200 of them and the results and spectacular.

I was very surprised at how quickly they put me back into rehabilitation.

But as soon as I met my two therapists, Katie and Sam, I knew exactly that it was going to be an easy recovery and if I worked hard that I would be back on the court.

In that time.

Sammy excelled in the rehab process.

We almost had to slow her down.

She's one of the hardest working kids I've ever seen.

You know, they all get through the physical part of it, but it's really that mental aspect of them just working, working, working with that one goal in mind, which is they get back on the field.

I really just wanted to be there for my sister for her senior year.

I really wanted to participate in sports again because sports have just been such a big part of my life and I honestly do not know what I would do without them.

And it was just really encouraging to me throughout my whole recovery that I had to get back on the field.

I had to be back on the court.

I had to keep playing the sports.

I wasn't surprised because I knew she had it in her, but I was just so thrilled for her.

It's the best part of my career is when you take a young athlete from the point where they're, you know, really hurting and you get them to the point where they score a goal in a state championship game.

I mean, there's no better feeling.

I was just so happy for her.

And her family.

Congratulations to Allentown, Central Catholic High School's Sammy Roth comeback of the Year.

That type of attitude and perseverance, it's certainly going to take you far in life.

You also maybe heard Sammy say about her sister.

Her sister, Julia, is an Athlete of the week winner and is now recovering from the same injury that her sister had last year.

So between the extra care that she received at Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and her sister's good advice, I have a feeling she'll be just fine for basketball season coming up at Susquehanna University next year.

Now let's take a look at our winter athletes Mattie Ahern.

Nazareth Basketball Jace Levi, Nazareth Wrestling, Ragan Cooper, Notre Dame Green, Pion Basketball, Liam Joyce, Allentown Central Catholic Basketball, Emma Noble, Northern Lehigh Basketball.

Ethan Radio.

Parkland Diving Haley Miller.

Lee Highton Basketball.

Dante Frenzy.

Bethlehem Catholic Wrestling.

Kailey Jr Pinning Freedom Basketball C.J Fritts Northampton Wrestling Skyler Sheer Force Jim Thorpe Basketball Headaches and Gomez Bethlehem Catholic Basketball three L Reading her Wilson Basketball Dante Mahaffey Sucking Valley Wrestling Devon Dameshek Northampton Basketball Will Meeker Parkland Basketball Jalen Waiters Executive Education Basketball Evan Maye Notre Dame Green Pond Wrestling.

Big congratulations to all of our winner athletes.

Well, student athletes juggle a lot of things, right between school practice and, of course, competition.

But many of our Athlete of the Week winners still find time to give back to their community.

Among our Athlete of the Week winners, we have students who volunteer their time with Special Olympics.

Mini Thorn cleaned up trash on the beaches to protect sea turtles and those who use their talent to mentor other young athletes.

But there's one student who really went above and beyond.

Here to tell us more is Tim Phalen, CEO of Lehigh Valley Public Media and PBS.

39 Thanks, Amy.

Every year, the Athlete of the Year award celebrated heroic efforts off the field as well.

This year, the Community Service Award goes to a young soccer player whose definition of community service encompasses two continents while still in high school.

She helped develop the Ameena Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching girls in Africa, and co-founded her school's first black student union.

And as if that weren't enough, she scored two goals in a single game to help bring the seventh consecutive conference championship for her team.

Her compassion and energy seem limitless, and the world needs more of both It is my great honor to present this year's Athlete of the Year Community Service Award to Debbie Otello.

My dad put me into soccer as soon as I could.

He grew up in Nigeria playing soccer on the streets, and he played for his high school.

So he loved the sport.

I grew to love the sport as well, creating a space where the black students can meet each other and just feel comfortable to share.

Maybe a side of them they don't get to express during the school day was really important.

Being able to grow that over the past two years has been really rewarding.

I'm going to Foundation was established a few years ago by a University of Pennsylvania alumna.

I was so passionate about the work they were doing for girls in Nigeria.

I worked there for the past almost two years now.

We have a pilot school in Edo State, Nigeria identified where we will launch the afterschool program.

We plan to focus on health and wellness, some financial literacy for these girls so they can get skills that they don't normally get in the classroom.

Learning the teen mentality and how to work for a group larger than just yourself, it definitely carries over into activism.

And anything I do in the community Congratulations.

The Day Me Ola Kilo, the 2022 recipient of the Community Support Award.

Thank you for everything you've done for our community.

And for setting such a great example.

Well, now we are thrilled to be able to recognize this year's spring athletes Kayla Johnson.

Parkland Swimming Patrick Gilmore, Liberty Swimming McCormick Carter Banger Basketball.

R.J. Farina.

Notre Dame Green Pine Swimming.

Tori Finn.

Pocono Mountain East Swimming.

Jared Richardson.

Bethlehem Catholic Basketball.

Jada Leask.

Martina Dear of Basketball.

Ryan Crocker Sorkin Valley Wrestling Jordan Berkeley.

Bethlehem Catholic Softball Matt Tancredo Southern Lehigh Baseball Madison Trout.

Southern Lehigh Track and Field Connor Bevin Freedom Lacrosse Bryn Valley Northwestern Lehigh Softball Krista Farrah Kuchu Phone Moravian Academy Lacrosse Cassidy Sweeney Parkland Softball.

Dillon Sarkozy Freedom Tennis Well done.

Congratulations to all of our spring winners.

Well, Darren Sproles was gracious enough to sit down with the Morning Call's Keith Growler for a prerecorded interview.

Darren, of course, is well known in our area.

He won a Super Bowl as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 season.

He also knows what it's like to be a student athlete as a senior in high school.

He was named Kansas Hall of Fame Player of the Year.

He went on to star at Kansas State University from 2001 to 2004.

Darren then spent 15 seasons from 2005 to 2019 playing in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers the New Orleans Saints.

And of course here with the Philadelphia Eagles a versatile runningback and return specialist.

Sproles had an NFL record for most all purpose yards in a single season And he's actually currently still ranked fifth in NFL history in that same category.

Darren retired from the NFL in 2019 and he is now a personnel consultant in the Eagles Football Operations Department.

He stood officially only five foot six, but he was a giant in the national Football League for 15 seasons, three different teams.

We're talking, of course, about one of the most dynamic players that we've seen in a long time.

Mr. Darren Sproles.

And Darren, welcome to the Athlete of the Year awards.

How did you get involved in the sport of football?

My first boy ever was a soccer So like a I play soccer for like three years and then I love soccer.

But then my dad was like my dad was like, Hey, let's try football.

So I was with it.

I was with my mom.

Didn't like, you see, to like no, that's not to, like, match it.

So my dad was like, let's see, first, you know, I'm saying, let's see.

Then my first Carrie, my first Carrie, I had oh, I have scored a touchdown.

And my mom was like a mom was like, OK, like a he probably.

As you got more involved in the game, what did you really, really like about the sport of football?

Like, I really liked that.

You can go and, like, tackle people, hit people without getting in trouble.

This is a sport that we think about, big guys, six to 250, whatever.

You never approached that height or that weight but yet you were still such a dynamic player.

So did it come easily to you?

It can't came to me, but I still had to work to get to a level that I ended.

It When you were working hard and you were trying to find your way and you wound up going to one of the great schools in the mid in the Midwest, Kansas State, what did you specifically want to work on as you progressed through the sport of football?

In high school, I they never let me like returner points and stuff like that.

So when I got to college, like I could not get a point to save my life.

So like I had to I had to really add to really put in the work to really like learn how to catch a plane.

It was a challenge.

It was a challenge.

But I had to practice.

I had to catch adequate 50 points right after practice.

Well, not only could you catch those points, eventually you knew what to do with those points.

You were one of the more dangerous punt returners in the National Football League for, for many, many years.

When did you say, Hey, this is my life, this is my career, I'm going to be a professional football player?

What was the point in time that that that occurred?

That was always my dream.

But but I kind of knew when I when I got into college and I started getting like I start getting like the like a lot of public stuff like that.

That's when I kind of knew, like, it could be possible but I never really lied.

I never really, like, had a Haddie like like on my mind.

I just look, I just pretty much just love to play football and all what I was doing.

You love to play the game, however.

And, you know, this Darren, a guy your size, there's a lot of doubters.

Oh, he's too small.

He can't make plays in the National Football League.

He can't even play Kansas State You proved a lot of folks wrong every single step of the way.

Tell me how you got through that and managed to make that dream of yours.

A reality.

I went to high school.

They said like I'd be too small to play high school ball.

Down with the college.

They said the same thing.

And I got to NFL They said the same thing.

So I just had to I just had to keep my head down and had to keep on grinding.

Was that kind of doubt that others had of you?

Was that fuel for you?

Was that extra motivation for you to prove them wrong?

That's what kept me going.

That's to prove everybody wrong and to accomplish like what I accomplished.

Like that kept me going.

To make it into college football.

And then, of course, last 15 years in the NFL, so much sacrifice has to be made You know, you can't hang around with friends, maybe going as far back as high school and college.

You have to stick to it.

You have to hit that weight room when no one else feels like being in that weight room.

Tell us about some of the sacrifices you have made to have such a wonderful career.

It takes a lot of sacrifice.

My dad had told me, you have a choice.

Do you want to be good or you want to be great?

If you want to be good, you don't take much to be good.

If you want to be great, it takes more like it's a lot more sacrifice.

Like you can't you're going to go to these parties.

You also have to put in that extra work.

It's like when everybody else is watching.

Like, he's got to just do it, like on your own.

When you supposed to be a day off, then there's no days off.

Absolutely.

And that's the sacrifice that so many of our great high school athletes have had to make.

Already to become such successful at the at the young level that they're at each step along the way.

Darren High School, College Pro You had challenges and you had to raise your game, maybe raise your level of dedication and determination to succeed at each level, correct?

Yes.

From high school.

The speed of the game speeds up Like when you get to college, then from college to the to the pros, like the game gets even faster.

Players get bigger, faster, stronger, smarter.

So each phase, like my career, I had to get better.

And you certainly did.

And yet every year, as you know, more guys are coming into the mix.

More guys, whether it's at the college level.

Here comes another recruiting class.

If it's the National Football League, here comes another draft class.

So each step along the way, I would think, Darren, there was a new set of challenges just for you to be on that team and make that starting lineup.

When I first got to the Chargers my rookie year, I had a guy I had a guy, Lorenzo, new play for a long time, a fullback He was like a he would like a good job, a young fella, a major NFL.

But now but now the hardest part is staying in the moment.

The moment you get drafted, they are trying to find you or your your replacement in the next draft.

So you've got to prove yourself each and every year.

No one who is being honored with this current 2022 class of honorees of high school group that we have.

No one has done it without support.

Who are some of the supporters that made Darren Sproles who he was?

My parents, my family I had some coaches.

I also had some teachers that I still talk to.

Now, but but I had a big support system.

Did you ever, like, want to pack it in and say, hey, I can't do something, it's over for me, that kind of stuff.

And if if if that ever crossed your mind, how did you get through it, Darren?

There was a time when I. I broke my arm and then I tore my knee.

So, like, so, like, with the um, the rehab process with that, um, there's a time where I was like, you know, like, I think it's time.

Whatever.

But my wife is like my wife is like, no, it's not time yet.

You.

You still got more to prove.

And she told me that that's what.

That's what kind of got me out of my home.

How about any advice?

Obviously, a lot of high school kids are watching this interview.

What's the best advice you can give to that high school athlete ready to take the next step in their journey?

Always continue to work like that.

That's what got me through.

And finally, you played in San Diego.

You played in New Orleans.

And near and dear to most of the people around here.

You were a Philadelphia Eagle.

You were a member of the 2017 Super Bowl champion just your thoughts on that magical time, that magical season.

That whole year was special, Matt.

And that's one of my top that's one of my top memories like of my football career and and with Philadelphia, like, they ring at the top like there's no city like Philadelphia.

To fans, to fan.

The fans in Philadelphia are honest.

Like if you're playing terrible, they're going to tell you you play a terrible but he playing good, they're going to give you your praise.

You've got to be tough.

You got to be a tough minded player to play in Philadelphia.

Absolutely.

Darren, I'll tell you what, you are a testament to what hard work, dedication and commitment can do.

You had doubters.

You prove them all wrong.

You were Super Bowl champion.

It was a special night, not only for Darren Sproles.

That was a special night for so many people around here.

We are so thankful to have you be part of this special night.

For our local athletes.

All the best to you.

And whatever you're doing now, we know you're going to keep working hard and be a testament to all the good stuff.

That you were raised with.

You obviously had a great family.

We wish you well going forward.

We'll never forget Darren Sproles.

Thank you thank you.

Great to have you with us.

A special thank you to Darren Sproles for taking time out to speak with us.

He's got a very inspirational story.

You heard about all the things that he overcame and he's a Super Bowl champion.

I'm sure like many athletes out there, he had several great coaches who helped him along the way.

A great coach can really help elevate student athletes and help them achieve their goals.

Coaches put in countless hours to help students, student athletes better themselves, and coaches serve as mentors and as role models.

Coaches are often the driving force behind student athletes successes and their efforts do not go unnoticed.

Good evening.

I'm Craig Larimer, sports editor at the Morning Call.

It's my pleasure and honor to be a part of this evening's program.

Let's talk a bit about great coaches and effective coaching styles.

There's no single way to coach every athlete.

Every effective team leader knows that every player is unique and requires the right blend of discipline, thoughtful communication, mutual understanding and respect.

For example, emotional displays might work for some but could have a negative effect on others.

You have to teach, motivate, lead and tailor your message to each athlete.

This is not easily done.

This is a special gift that the very finest coaches share with their players.

The elite coaches understand this, and when share with individual athletes, the results can be amazing.

This might not always translate into wins, but you will get the most out of every player and foster strong relationships to help them grow as better people.

This is what great coaching is all about.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Show me a great coach and I'll show you a great person.

I've been lucky to have a few very special coaches in my life.

Their meaningful and inspiring messages I carry with me every day and for that and from my heart, I thank them.

And fortunately in our local community, there are many like them.

So let's celebrate what makes a great coach tonight.

To be a good coach, you have to be able to really motivate people.

I think a good coach is personable.

Someone that just truly cares about the sport and cares about bettering people in the room.

And able to show love and tough love.

I think that's really important.

I love when my coaches are always positive shows.

Not only interest in sports, but also our education helped.

Players grow the best they can while being supportive with them and for.

Them coming off like a negative mindset pushed me more towards a positive one.

Whether it's doing extra things like outside the gym, such as community service and things like that.

She's really inspiring.

People have told me that I was good at sports, but he made me feel like I really had something special.

The ability to be able to coach you, but still like have a sense of like caring and compassion for you as a person and a player.

I always look as a coach, as someone you could you could go to and talk to whenever he whenever you need that, whether it's, you know, out of sports.

They really show you a lot of life lessons.

If you don't have a good coach, you guys won't be guided in the correct direction.

She's always giving us such good guidance and lifting us up at practice.

And me and my teammates really appreciate having a coach like her.

Who knows how to train us and he knows how to keep the sport enjoyable.

It's become like a father figure to me.

He was always there for us.

She was always there for me whenever I needed her.

I am inspired by all of my coaches.

They want to see you succeed.

In.

The morning calls, sports team helped us pick out several nominees for male and female coach of the Year and the finalist for this year's Boys Team.

Coach of the Year, Chad Sherk.

Silicon Valley Wrestling.

The Panthers were the last 218 tournament champions this year and had nine team members qualify for the state individual tournament.

He was also selected by his peers as the eight to a coach of the year.

Rick Vows Liberty Swimming Vows earned his 600th win as the Hurricanes coach and mentor of the state's Class three.

A Swimmer of the year, the Liberty Boys earned three gold medals as the eight championships and play six overall in class three Ken Rolex Nazareth Cross-country The Blue Eagles were Eastern Pennsylvania and District 11 Class 318 champions and this year's male coach of the year is Chad Shirk.

First.

I would like to thank Pbl's 39 Elvis in the morning Paul for organizing this incredible that I'm honored and humbled to accept this award as there are so many incredible coaches and athletic programs here in the Lehigh Valley.

I believe most coaches would agree with me I would not have been considered for this award if it was not for the amazing student athletes that were on our team this year.

Without their hard work and sacrifices, none of this would even be possible.

I'm very honored to accept this award on behalf of the SOC and Valley Wrestling family.

Thank you.

Congratulations to coach Usher.

Well, this year, a female coach of the year pool was so large.

We have four finalists.

They are Sue Booth, Steven from Imus Field Hockey.

Sue recorded her 1,000th win.

She won 44 straight games of the past two seasons and led her team to the district 11 championships where they won their 14th RPI double title.

Rob Spencer Central Catholic Soccer.

It is only his third season as head coach but Rob Lowe the lady right gets to the district 11 class two championship and the pay double a two way title and also at Parkland basketball Parkland finished the year in 19 and nine winning 11 of their final 13 games and the district 11 title and John trend Parkland girls wrestling John started this program which is now one of the state's biggest and best he also spends soft season working with wrestlers at all schools.

He's a trendsetter truly in this sport and the winner is Sue Booth save it.

It's an honor to receive this award and many thanks to our assistant coaches who do an amazing job and to our student athletes for their dedication and excellence on the playing field and in the classroom.

Continue to support to be resilient and adapted to all situations and have fun while participating thanks to my husband Bob for his support.

Thanks to our athletic trainers who keep our athletes on the playing field.

Shout out to our East Penn School District Administration, our booster club alums, parents, supporters of these fans.

School District.

Congratulations to all the athletes for their accomplishments.

So proud of our players, for their accomplishments and an honor to be their coach.

Thanks to Lehigh Valley Health Network, Morning Call and PBS 39 for this award.

These coaches have all provided inspiration for numerous athletes throughout our region.

Congratulations to both Chad and Sue.

Amazing coaches of the year.

You know, most sports fans have a favorite athlete or maybe even two that they follow.

That's no different here in the Lehigh Valley.

We asked the community to vote for their favorite male and female athlete from our pool of Athletes of the Week winners.

And we will choose the fan favorite.

This year's female fan favorite is Schuyler Cyr, boss Jim for basketball with 1332 votes and this year's male fan favorite with 767 votes Cooper King Northampton football and basketball.

Congratulations to both of our fan favorite winner.

Of course, good teamwork leads to success.

It's important even individual sports like cross country or diving a good team can help push an athlete to be at their best.

The Morning Call sports crew chose one male and one female team that they felt worked especially well together.

And then the public voted for their favorite or male team of the year.

Finalists are Parkland High School Boys Basketball Northampton Area High School Football and Nazareth area high school wrestling and the winner with 334 votes Parkland High School boys basketball.

The boys won the EP three and district 11 68 championships in route to being selected as the morning call boys basketball team of the year now our female team of the year finalists are Allentown Central Catholic Girls Soccer team Jim Thorpe girls basketball team and the amazing field hockey team the winner with 540 votes Allentown Central Catholic Girl's Soccer.

The girls were this year's state champions.

Congratulations to both team winners.

All right.

It is that time.

It's the moment we've all been waiting for a time for us to recognize the two top Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute's Athlete of the Year winners.

Well, this young man and woman exemplify what this award is all about.

Their leaders in their sport leaders and academics and leaders in their communities and at their schools.

We can tell you how great our male and female Athlete of the Year winners are, but we thought it might mean a little bit more coming from their families and their coaches.

Conner is one of a kind.

He's a great kid on and off the field.

He's a great leader for us.

The kids look up to him tremendously sports is a big part of Connor's life.

He started at a very young age in both lacrosse and wrestling, and he's continued with them.

Throughout his career.

He puts everything he has into into everything that we do in practice.

He put everything he had into the team this year.

He just gives 100% all the time.

And I think that's that's what's special about Connor.

He's been around the sport for a while.

His older brother played for me, and he was always on the sideline we would go to his games, watch him when he was younger.

He's just always been what we call the Lacks rat.

So this year I've really noticed he's able to shoot for much further out, which is really exciting.

So people don't know where he's going, what he's doing.

He fakes to the left and then he shoots and scores.

Favorite memory of Connor playing this year, beating UMass where he scored six goals during the game and also having over 200 points in the cross and beating Freedom's single score record.

This year.

It's very refreshing to see such a high energy kid come into our program, and it made things easy for us because we knew who the leaders were in our room.

And you ended up being one of those leaders, and I fully expect you to be that leader when you get to the collegiate level.

Connor, I love you and I'm so proud of you.

Connor, congratulations.

You're one in a million, and we're very proud of you.

Big congratulations to Connor.

You know, generally at this point, we will go live to Connor's house, but Connor isn't home tonight.

That's because the Freedom Lacrosse team played this evening in Delaware Valley.

So Connor's coaches, they've been in touch with us.

They're standing by there on the bus with Connor right now.

So let's go there now.

So, Connor, congratulations.

Also, you just won districts tonight, and.

I'll go there now.

So, Connor.

How are you feeling?

You just won the $10,000 scholarship as our male athlete of the year.

I think your teammates celebrating a little bit, too.

I don't you hear me, Connor.

Thank you so much.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

I share.

Goes a little bit.

We're on our way home.

We just took a victory for Del Valle.

Now we're gonna be playing on Thursday.

You guys are may, I guess, is that.

We're going to go this championship.

Let's go oh, now, Connor, I don't know if you can hear me.

I hope you can, because I'm standing right next to a check for $10,000.

What does it mean?

To be the winner of that $10,000 scholarship and hear me.

I hope you can, because I'm standing right next to a check for ten.

Thousand dollars.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

I like that there were on a little bit of a delay so I can hear everybody kind of get excited for you back there.

You just won.

You're on the bus.

We really appreciate you taking this time out.

What do you had to say as far as a thanks out there?

I know you probably a lot of people to thank.

Excited.

My friends, teammates, coaches, everybody that pushed me.

Hard in academics and.

Athletics.

To get this award and this scholarship.

Thank you, Lehigh Valley.

And I'm going to use it for my college academics.

That means according to their cornea.

All right, Connor, congratulations.

And best of luck, obviously, as you continue your season.

And now it's on to the next level.

We appreciate Connor Summer.

Bye listen.

That's why it's great the teammates are back there cheering for him.

It was fun.

All right.

Congratulations to Connor.

Well, it's now time to surprise our female Athlete of the Year winner.

Julia has been playing soccer probably since she was five years old.

Loves playing soccer.

She just loves she likes playing all sports.

At a young age.

It's it's mostly like kickball and just having fun with your friends.

But she couldn't wait to get to the next level and always wanted to put in more time for things.

Julie's a really special athlete.

I mean, she's been a four year starter on four different varsity athletes, so 16 varsity letters over her high school career, which is truly incredible.

And you're talking about a person who plays multiple sports in the same season, which is very difficult to do.

And has been really a top performer at every team that she's played on.

All my kids play sports.

And for us, when we go and watch them play, we go as a family.

So it's just fun.

Because we spend all the weekends.

Watching all of our kids play sports.

I'd just like to say congratulations.

I mean, I can't think of a a player, a person, an athlete who's more deserving.

I think the the mark of a real athlete is can your coach learn as much from you as you learn from them?

And I think that was certainly the case with George.

My daughter has always been a.

Star to me.

And having the community recognize and see how bright that star shines is just a wonderful thing and and a.

Wonderful thing for her.

Julie, I'm so proud of you.

All right, Julia, I know you're watching.

You're at a special watch party that your family has set up for you.

There it is.

Everybody taking this game so, junior.

Why don't you come outside?

We can see your race cheering.

I love it.

Come on outside, Julie.

We'd love to hear from you.

And congrats.

On what.

She's going to become, and we'll see where she goes.

They had a special set up.

There's her mom and dad.

Dad's waving at the camera.

Appreciate that, Dad.

The special set up for her to watch her win.

There she goes.

It's all real.

Live.

I love it.

Live action.

She's coming back there it is.

There's the.

Check.

They're going to come outside and celebrate.

Beautiful night here.

In the Lehigh Valley.

All right.

Perfect.

Let's let's chat with Julia now.

She gets her big check for $10,000.

A hug from her, her mom there and a little sister.

And her dad also heard from her sister, Sammy earlier.

Who was our comeback athlete of the year.

All right, there she is.

Julia, can you hear me?

Oh, you know, I know she can't because she's getting her her earpiece in.

They're going to pick her up right now and give her all set.

Julia, this is Amy here in the PBS.

39 studios.

Can you hear me?

Down in here?

Yeah, I can hear you first.

Congratulations.

How surprised you got.

You were just at dinner, right?

Oh, thank you so much.

This is so exciting.

I can't believe it.

This is incredible.

Did you think you guys were just watching just as a group, thinking that's something fun to do.

Let's all go out together.

Yeah, we were all together to celebrate Sammy getting come back after the year.

So, I mean, this is just such a great surprise, and it's so nice to have so many friends and family here to celebrate because they've been with me through everything.

So it's just so great to have them all here to celebrate.

I got to ask you, we heard from some of your coaches and they said you're a four year starter in four sports every year.

16 varsity letters.

There's overlap there.

How in the world do you make that work?

Well, I definitely couldn't have done it without my family, especially my parents.

They made it work with all the busy schedules and especially my coaches.

They, you know, had a lot of patience with me to just let me do everything they let me.

And it's just it's been such an awesome experience.

I can't thank them enough.

All right.

So you got that.

You saw us talking to Connor and you were thinking, oh, that's kind of nice.

And then you walk outside and there's a giant check standing right there.

What do you think about winning the $10,000 scholarship?

It's incredible.

I appreciate it so much.

Just thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

We heard from so many different coaches on what they have meant.

Are the players what they meant for their coaches and vice versa.

What are some of the people that you can kind of attribute your success to?

Oh, 100%.

My parents they've done everything for me.

They've always been there and been so supportive.

And then I have my three siblings who have always been pushing me to, you know, do the best I can and be really competitive with them and all my coaches that I've had forever.

They've stayed so supportive, especially through high school, even if I had them in middle school, and they just always been there for me and it's just been so great.

So I know that you recently had a knee injury.

We obviously saw Sammy, but you can't win comeback player next year.

OK, that's all done.

You're out.

You're going on to university now.

How are you feeling and how do you think your outlook is going to be when you head to college next year?

I'm really excited.

The coaches at Cisco had to have been so supportive, especially through the injury.

So I can't wait to get on the court and be playing there with all my future teammates.

It's going to be so fun.

All right.

We just want to say congratulations.

Anything that you want to say to everybody watching at home on PBS?

39 thank you so much to everyone.

It's this is such an honor.

Thank you so, so much.

Julia.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate you.

Congratulations and all your friends and family in the back there.

Congrats.

Thank you.

Well, that brings an end to our incredible evening.

Congratulations to everyone.

We want to send a special thanks to Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, PBS.

39 The Morning Call, and, of course, all of our wonderful sponsors for making this truly a night to remember.

Congratulations to all of our outstanding student athletes.

We wish you so much, all the best as you move forward to better days coming ahead You know, I've said it before, but honestly, every year we stand in all of these athletes that we honor here at these awards.

As athletes, you all have a set of skills that will not only serve you well, but will elevate you in life.

You are all strong, motivated and driven.

And as people, you are truly great teammates, impactful leaders, and you understand what it means to never give up.

So keep grinding, keep shining and keep leading.

We're so excited to see you fly high.

All of you, congratulations to Connor and Julian and all of our winners.

I'm Amy Fidel.

It's been an honor to be with you tonight.

I wish you all a good night.

Be well and stay safe.

You know, speaking.