by Ryan Mosher
At the Berlin High School’s spring sports awards on Thursday night, June 11, the school honored not only the spring sports athletes, but gave the CHVL Senior Awards and the Most Outstanding Athlete trophies as well.
The Lady Mountaineers softball team had an excellent season as they won their first sectional game in several years and advanced to play at Clifton Commons in the semifinal round. Coach Art Schmich gave his Most Improved Player award to Deanna Nash. His Most Valuable Player Award went to Emily Dooley. The baseball team had a tough season, but a few bright spots helped them along the way. Coach Mellor and Coach Santarcangelo gave their MIP award to senior Matt Morse and their MVP award to Eric Remington.
The track team had an excellent year, as they took a large group of freshmen athletes and a few seniors and put them together for a great result. This year’s team set seven new school records, and four of them are now held by these freshmen. The girls MIP went to Ency Burhans while the boys MIP went to Patrick Harrington. The girls MVP went to Ashley Rokjer. Ashley holds four Berlin track and field records (3200 meter relay, 1600 meter relay, 400 meter relay and the 200 meter race) and competed once again this year at the State Qualifier meet.
“No one works harder and still has as much fun on the track as she does,” said Coach Jen Burhans of Ashley.
The boys MVP went to Casey Gilbert. Casey ends his high school career with a firm grip on 8 of the 18 Berlin Track and Field records. Those include the 200 meter race, 400 meter race, 110 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, high jump and the 1600 meter relay. He also competed at States as a junior and again this year as a senior.
The CHVL Senior Awards went to seniors who show good sportsmanship throughout their careers. This years winners were Eric Remington and Ashley Rokjer. The Most Outstanding Athlete Awards go to a male and female athlete who competed in at least two varsity sports. The female winner was Ashley Rokjer. Ashley has been a member of the girls cross country team that has won four Patroon Conference Championships and advanced to the State Championship race this season. She also is an excellent runner on the track team. When asked about a favorite memory from her athletic career at Berlin, Ashley remembers the fun times they had, especially her first few years on cross country with Abby Ingraham.
“We would walk the cross country trails before the meets singing and get other teams to join in with us and sing along,” she said, “It was a lot of fun.”
The male winner was Casey Gilbert. Casey started high school playing soccer, scoring the overtime game winner three years ago that clinched the CHVL Championship against New Lebanon. This year he switched to running cross country where he won the Patroon Conference Championship, Section II Class D Championship and finished in third place at the New York State Championship. This winter he was an Honorable Mention CHVL All-Star in basketball. In the spring Casey competes on the track team, and, after signing his National Letter of Intent to compete at Binghamton earlier this week, he became the first Berlin track and field athlete to go on to compete at the Division I level. Casey’s best memory came just last week when he beat his rival, the favorite in the 400 meter hurdles, Shane Wagner at the State Qualifying meet.
“I love being the underdog and the pressure was great. Crossing the finish line before him was an amazing feeling,” he said.