For 94 years there has been a tradition of athletic excellence at The Stony Brook School. 216 team championships and hundreds of individual honors bear evidence to the fact that Brookers, Blue Jays, Bruins, Shrikes, and Bears–all mascots we’ve adopted over the years–have competed at the highest level. This year was no different.
This past year…
- Eighth-grader Sadhana Sridhar laid waste to League V tennis by finishing the season undefeated at first singles and becoming just the fourth SBS girls’ tennis player to win a Division title.
- Miranda Harrigan won the Division IV title in Cross Country and went on to finish 18th out of 123 runners at the Foot Locker Freshman/Sophomore Championship.
- Rachel & Rebecca Crane knifed through the water this fall, each leaving a school record in their wake.
- And Jyles Etienne distinguished himself as the #1 ranked high jumper in New York and the 9th-best jumper in America with a leap of 6’ 11”.
This year our athletes earned All-League, Conference, County, Long Island, and State recognitions, but beyond achievement on the field, court, track, and course, they distinguished themselves as student-athletes in the truest sense. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the presence of greatness this evening because the group of students seated before us are richly talented. They are leaders, artists, engineers, mentors, musicians, and scholars, as well as athletes who embody the highest qualities of courage, sportsmanship, sacrifice, and perseverance.
The true beauty of athletics is its ability to cultivate virtue and to challenge and stretch individuals as they strive toward their potential. Awards and trophies are tangible evidence of the hard work and dedication you all have invested and they are important, but I care more about the people you are becoming through athletics. One day each of you will put down the ball, hang up the spikes, or lay down the bat. One day the cheers will only be heard in your memories. What matters most is the person you’ve become through your pursuit of athletic excellence. You are all incredible individuals and are uniquely gifted in so many ways. It is my privilege to be able to work alongside you each day.
With that, let’s celebrate some of the individuals who made this year in athletics so special.
Major Athletic Awards
Marvin W. Goldberg Coach’s Award
Awarded to the coach who has demonstrated professionalism, expertise and compassion towards his or her athletic team.
This award is voted upon by the varsity coaches of The Stony Brook School, lending the recipient the admiration of his or her peers. For becoming the only Stony Brook coach to win 300 games and leading the boys’ basketball team to a record fourth straight County Championship and a third Long Island Championship, this year’s recipient of the Marvin W. Goldberg Coach’s Award is…
- Mike Hickey
John Long Manager’s Award
Given to the athletic team manager who shows the responsibility and dedication demonstrated by John Long, Class of ’75.
- Jeanny Li – Girls’ Cross Country
Clyde L. Mellinger Award
Two trophies in memory of Clyde L. Mellinger, the first Director of Athletics at The Stony Brook School, awarded to the eighth grade girl and boy, who have best demonstrated good sportsmanship, courage, and best use of ability.
- Dan Moreno – Wrestling & Baseball
- Sadhana Sridhar – Tennis
The Bear Blanket
Presented to athletes who demonstrate a consistent contribution of quality performances in athletic competition based on a points system and an application.
- Miranda Harrigan – Cross Country & Track
- Rebecca Hollis – Volleyball, Basketball & Track
- Meghan Hutzler – Volleyball, Basketball & Track
- Marlee Painter – Volleyball, Softball & Lacrosse
Thomas W. Brohard, JR ’25 Wrestling Award
Named in honor of the SBS faculty member who is credited with bringing interscholastic wrestling to Long Island schools. This annual cash award, endowed by Thomas W. Brohard III ’65, the late John S. Cather ’35 and his widow Edith Cather, is given to offset the college expenses of a wrestler.
- Thomas Hull
Swanson Trophy for Superior Performance
Two trophies awarded in memory of the late Robert S. and Louise Swanson by Mary Jane and John P. Swanson ’47 for superior male and female athletic performance.
This past fall we dipped our toes back into swimming for the first time in 12 years, not quite knowing what to expect. The history of our swim program is littered with remarkable individuals. Ann Marie Wycoff ’85 qualified for the boys' County Championships while at Stony Brook and went on to win nine National Championships at West Point. Amanda Shapiro ’04 was an All-State swimmer for the Brook before becoming a five-time All-American at Wesleyan. The recipient of this award has written her name alongside those legends. She reset the 100 backstroke record set by Christina Haag ’92, knifing through the water in a time of 1:02.98 seconds to best the previous mark by 3.92 seconds. That’s four lengths of the pool in just over a minute. And she’s only a sophomore. I am pleased to present this year’s Swanson Trophy for Superior Performance to…
- Rachel Crane
This year’s male recipient has already etched his name into the annals of Stony Brook history and his career is not yet over. In fact, his season is not yet over as he still has County, State, National, and World Junior Championships in front of him this summer. Last season he broke our school’s 50-year-old high jump record. This year he extended his own record by an astonishing 5.5-inches. His mark of 6’ 11” placed him at 9th in the country and he is knocking on the door of the Suffolk County record of 7’ 1”. To put that into perspective, he can jump over a 2016 Chevy Suburban (only 6’ 2”), NBA superstar Kevin Durant (a mere 6’ 10”), Tom Cruise balancing the entire Harry Potter book series on his head (6’ 10"), and Abraham Lincoln while wearing his distinctive top hat (6’ 11”). I’m thrilled that his assault on the laws of gravity will continue with us next year. This year’s recipient of the Swanson Trophy for Superior Performance is…
- Jyles Etienne
Swanson Trophy for Best All-Around Athlete
Two trophies awarded in memory of the late Robert S. and Louise Swanson by Mary Jane and John P. Swanson ’47 to the persons whose all-around ability, sportsmanship, and courage in varsity competition enabled them to make the greatest contribution to Stony Brook teams.
This year’s female recipient not only played on three teams this year but was chosen as one of the captains for each of them. On the soccer pitch she earned All-League honors and was one of the lynch pins of the Bears’ attack. On the basketball court she garnered All-Conference accolades while her 37 three-pointers made her one of the most lethal shooters on Long Island. In the spring she picked up lacrosse for the first time and surprised no one by making an instant impact on both sides of the ball. Beyond her many accomplishments and successes, what will define her career at the Brook is the selflessness, tenacity, sportsmanship, and joy that she took into every practice and every game. The way she wore the blue and white over her six-year career is a model for every Stony Brook Athlete to come. It is my honor to present this year’s Swanson Trophy for Best All-Around Athlete to…
- Annie Skorobohaty
This year’s male recipient, alongside Annie, is an exemplar of what we hope each Stony Brook Athlete will embody. He leads his teammates by example, is slow to anger, is quick to defer praise, and shows grace in victory or defeat. While espousing each of these virtuous qualities, he also happens to be one of our fiercest competitors, pushing himself and his teammates over any obstacle, toward excellence. On the soccer pitch he anchored the defense, earning All-League honors in the process. On the basketball court he did everything. He was not typically the leading scorer, but his defense, poise, and hustle was the engine of the Long Island Champions. For his often unheralded but significant contributions, the coaches of League VIII named him the league’s Unsung Hero for 2016. It is my honor to present this year’s Swanson Trophy for Best All-Around Athlete to…
- Mac Bohuny
O. Floyd Johnson ’32 Scholar/Athlete Award
A plaque endowed by Philip and Gretchen Gaebelein Hull, awarded for excellence in scholarship and athletics.
- Inpyo Ma – Soccer & Badminton
Fall Athletic Awards
Marvin Goldberg Boys’ Cross Country Award
Two plates endowed by the late David W. Cloos, M.D. ’61 and Nancy Cloos Babin.
- Performance: Lucas Otero-Novas Gomez
- Contribution: Matthew Wong
Girls’ Cross Country Award
- Performance: Miranda Harrigan
- Contribution: Nicole Gray
Golf Award
- Performance: Harry Ou
- Contribution: Rosa Jones
Fall Dinghy Sailing Award
- Performance: Joshua Martin
- Contribution: Edward Feldt-Cipkin
Brandon Stuckey Boys’ Soccer Award
Two plates endowed by Phyllis and Schuyler Stuckey with love and pride for their son, Brandon Stuckey ’93.
- Performance: Haban Weon
- Contribution: Benjamin DiRuggiero
Girls’ Soccer Award
- Performance: Morgan Pius
- Contribution: Annie Skorobohaty
Girls’ Swimming Award
- Performance: Rachel Crane
- Contribution: Wuraola Obasanjo
Buyers Girls’ Tennis Award
Two plates donated by Fred and Karen Jordan. Mr. Jordan was the coach of the girls tennis team for its first fourteen years.
- Performance: Sadhana Sridhar
- Contribution: Julia Braat
Volleyball Award
- Performance: Marlee Painter
- Contribution: Alissa Holt
Winter Athletic Awards
Taft Boys’ Basketball Award
Two plates endowed by Lyman Taft ’45.
- Performance: Chester Kayonga
- Contribution: Luke O’Connor
Girls’ Basketball Award
- Performance: Annie Skorobohaty
- Contribution: Rebecca Hollis
Boys’ Swimming Award
- Performance: Christopher Stange
- Contribution: Benjamin DiRuggiero
Norman J. Wiedersum Wrestling Award
Two plates endowed by Norman J. Wiedersum ’39.
- Performance: Kyle Broomes
- Contribution: Harry Hou
Spring Athletic Awards
Boys’ Badminton Award
- Performance: Jong Hyun David Choi
- Contribution: Haban Weon
Girls’ Badminton Award
- Performance: Melinda Chen
- Contribution: Ariel Wang
Swanson Baseball Award
Two plates given by Mary Jane and John P. Swanson ’47.
- Performance: Stefan Kim
- Contribution: Benjamin Tutuska
Girls’ Lacrosse Award
- Performance: Annie Skorobohaty
- Contribution: Marlee Painter
Spring Dinghy Sailing Award
- Performance: Matthew Sparacio
- Contribution: Edward Feldt-Cipkin
Pierson Curtis Boys’ Tennis Award
Two plates given by the family of Mr. Jan C. Parmentier ’43, in memory of the School’s first tennis coach.
- Performance: Philipp Kolligs
- Contribution: Tiger Wong
Downey Boys’ Track Award
Two plates given by the family of Bill and Earl Downey ’45, in their memory.
- Performance: Jyles Etienne
- Contribution: Austin Amadio
Laura J. Shybunko Memorial Girls’ Track Award
Two plates endowed by the family of Laura J. Shybunko, mother of Donna Shybunko ’83 and Anne Shybunko Moore ’89, in memory of her life of courage and strength.
- Performance: Miranda Harrigan
- Contribution: Meghan Hutzler
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