Anthony Kitching was named Pete Curkendall Male Athlete of the Year and Addison Taft named Eileen Collins Female Athlete of the Year at Elmira High School’s awards ceremony June 10.
Kitching’s play on the defensive end was a key in Elmira’s Section 4 Class AAA title in boys soccer. He was a key part of the Express’ 12-6 basketball season, and he was named the team’s track Most Valuable Performer in outdoor track & field.
Taft helped the Express win the Section 4 Class AAA girls basketball title and was among Section 4’s top softball players. She was named team Most Valuable Player for basketball and co-MVP for girls soccer.
The other nominees for Male Athlete of the Year were DJ Corprew, James Harris and Spencer Wheeler.
Nominated for Girls Athlete of the Year along with Taft were Ashaya Wallace, Madisen Jones and Addisyn Chorney.
Other awards:
Athletic Director Award: Tim Reidy.
Marty Harrigan Sportsmanship Award: Evan Martin.
Mark Stephens Foundation Wrestling Scholarship: Max Collins, Zahkye Jenkins, Joey Mastrantonio.
Duff and Miranda Novitsky Memorial Scholarship: Mia Capilli.
Bee Stephens Award: Ashaya Wallace.
Volleyball: MVP – Madisen Jones; Coach’s Award – Camille Sconiers.
Girls swimming & diving: Molly Swimming Award – Willow Roof; Coach’s Award – Ava Sherman; MVP – Madelyn Cavalier.
Fall cheerleading: Jennifer Mustico Award (MVP) – Aryonna Brooks; Coach’s Award – Kallie Burdick.
Girls soccer: MVP – Ashaya Wallace and Addison Taft; Coach’s Award – Lilly Rice.
Boys soccer: Andy Lucas Memorial Award (MVP) – Spencer Wheeler; Sam Kutchukian Coach’s Award – Anthony Kitching; Seth Benedict Award – Luca Capilli.
Girls cross-country: MVP – Ella Devlin; Coach’s Award – Madelyn Wise.
Boys cross-country: MVP – James Lovell; Coach’s Award – Jaydan Roberts.
Football: Carl Raymond Award (offensive lineman) – Chance Olsen; Tom Hurley Award (MVP) – Marcus Brooks; Lou Pirozzolo Award (defensive lineman) – Tyron Hendrix; Kevin O’Dea Award (most improved) – Ta’hjay Molina’Bacome; Dana Carpenter Award – Cam Wright, Brandon Bertelsen; Coach’s Award – Nolan Edwards.
Boys golf: MVP – Jackson Cavalier; Coach’s Award – Ryan Ferraro.
Unified soccer: MVP – Alexavier Wilder; Coach’s Award – Ben Cheuvront.
Girls tennis: MVP – Kylie Besecker; Coach’s Award – Molly Cady.
Boys swimming & diving: MVP – Aiden Ranck; Coach’s Award – Cameron Eden.
Girls basketball: Vanessa Morgan Award (MVP) – Mariah Matias; Mike Holleran Basketball Award – Ashaya Wallace; Coach’s Award – Addison Taft.
Boys basketball: MVP – James Harris; Coach’s Award – Zyquise Matias; Defensive MVP – Anthony Kitching; Most Improved – Malaki Banks.
Winter cheerleading: Jennifer Mustico Award (MVP) – Emily Meck; Coach’s Award – Madison Aber.
Boys bowling: MVP – Alex Gublo; Coach’s Award – Trent Belloma.
Girls bowling: MVP – Madison Smith; Coach’s Award – Bella Wood.
Boys wrestling: Natalie Phillips Award – Max Collins; Jeff Reese Award (Most Outstanding Wrestler) – Ryder DePadua-Reese; Coach’s Award – Zahkye Jenkins.
Girls wrestling: MVP – Mackenzee Davis; Coach’s Award – Savannah Hartford.
Boys indoor track & field: Track MVP – Ta’hJay Molina’Bacome, DJ Corprew; Field MVP – Chase Smith; Coach’s Award – Ayden Coleman.
Girls indoor track & field: Track MVP – Ella Devlin; Field MVP – Azvyanna Morgan; Coach’s Award – Madelyn Wise.
Softball: Mike Holleran Award – Addisyn Chorney; Bill Emmick Award (MVP) – Addison Taft; Coach’s Award – Ava Sherman, Ryleigh Ogden.
Baseball: Coach’s Award – Joe Disbrow, Nolan Edwards; MVP – Logan DeMember, Aedan Palmer.
Girls golf: MVP – Mary Collins; Coach’s Award – Hannah Reynolds.
Girls lacrosse: Coach’s Award – Atlanta McCoy; Ella Kennedy; MVP – Sadie Norman, Reagan Reidy.
Boys lacrosse: Coach’s Award – Trent Edwards; Defensive MVP – Luca Capilli; Offensive MVP – Landon Cook.
Boys track & field: Mike O’Buckley Award (sportsmanship) – Nicholas Shellenberger; Coach’s Award – Braxton Houghtelling; Track MVP – Anthony Kitching; Field MVP – John Charles Walton.
Girls track & field: Track MVP – Arrianna Jones; Field MVP – Isadora Cyr; Coach’s Award – Alexsys Bristow.
Unified basketball: MVP – Austin Manning; Coach’s Award – Damion Locke.
Unified bowling: MVP – Lukas Cole; Coach’s Award – Madisen Jones, Kylie Stickler, Addisyn Chorney.
Flag football: MVP – Madisen Jones; Coach’s Award – Kylie Stickler, Miley Baker.
Boys tennis: MVP – Russell Lewis; Coach’s Award – Kerry Klein.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira High names Taft and Kitching its Athletes of the Year for 2024-25
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
