The Top Drawer 24 pose at Sunday's celebration. With them, near the center, is former Watkins Glen School Board President Brian J. O'Donnell. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Top Drawer 24 honored

Speeches, awards mark 9th annual gathering

WATKINS GLEN, June 2 -- For the ninth consecutive year, two-dozen outstanding student-athlete-citizens from area high schools were honored Sunday night as members of the Top Drawer 24.

They were presented medallions and certificates during a celebration at the Watkins Glen State Park Pavilion attended by more than 130 people -- honorees, family, friends and coaches.

The group was selected by a committee based on a combination of academic, athletic, and personal achievements. The 24 attend the Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Trumansburg, Bradford, Spencer-Van Etten, Elmira Notre Dame, Horseheads and Edison high schools, along with the Elmira Christian Academy and the Twin Tiers Christian Academy.

As it is every year, the evening was highlighted by speeches -- this time from Hamilton College head football coach Dave Murray, Elmira Psychiatric Center executive director and longtime soccer coach Mark Stephany, former Top Drawer honoree Chelsea Lehman, and WENY-TV sportscaster Jenna Cottrell. Remarks were also issued by Alison Hunt, representing Congressman Tom Reed's office, by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, and by the Top Drawer co-founder, Craig Cheplick.

The emcee was retiring Watkins Glen High School principal Dave Warren, with WENY sportscaster Andy Malnoske handling some introductions, and former Watkins Glen School Board President Brian J. O'Donnell announcing the honorees as each collected a medallion and certificates from the offices of Reed, Palmesano and State Senator Tom O'Mara.

Also presented: the annual Odessa File Athlete of the Year Awards, sponsored by the E.C. Cooper insurance firm. The awards went to WGHS senior Matt Gill (for the third straight year) and O-M junior Dana Roberts. Both are also members of the Top Drawer 24 team.

And as in recent years, the annual Susan Award was presented as part of the evening's ceremony. The award -- given each year to a student who exhibits sportsmanship not only on the playing field, but in the game of life, or overcomes adversity -- is named after Odessa File editor-publisher Charlie Haeffner's late wife, Susan Bauman Haeffner. Past winners have included Sally Wilcox, Courtney Warren, Sophie Peters, Ian Remmers, John Blaha, Devon Shaw, Sam Richardson, Ashley Tieppo, April Ruda, Nicole Colunio, and Felicia Johnson.

This year's honorees were Megan O'Dell of Elmira Notre Dame and Joe Collins of Odessa-Montour.

O'Dell plays varsity sports despite a disability from birth: she was born with one hand. The award was presented by WENY's Malnoske, who in the past has aired a tribute story about her.

Collins was introduced by O-M principal Chris Wood, who said Collins was the kind of person who goes out of his way to help others, always doing "the right thing."

Appreciation awards were also given to three people who have provided support to the Top Drawer effort for years: O-M School Board member Scott Westervelt, WGHS office maven Kathy Crans, and WGHS teacher and coach Ward Brower.

After the speeches, each of the Top Drawer honorees was called forward one-by-one by Brian O'Donnell, whose name adorns the Top Drawer 24 subtitle: The Brian J. O'Donnell Scholar-Athlete-Citizen Team.

Speakers focused on the honorees' future, with Malnoske telling them to "be proud, and stay committed. Success will find you if you keep working hard, moving forward."

Lehman said that life will always deliver challenges, but that when adversity strikes, "how you handle it is what counts." And when adversity is overcome, she added, "you gain a greater appreciation" of life.

Cottrell told the audience that "appreciation is severely undervalued" -- that when opportunities are presented by other people, "being grateful is the highest form of respect." And, she said, "never be afraid to move ahead."

Cheplick told the honorees they would soon be "going out into a broken world" and will be "called on" to help improve it. "Work hard," he told them, "and be honest."

Stephany said that coaches coach because they "love the thrill of being associated with the victories you kids earn," but beyond that because "we want to teach -- teach resiliency and leadership." He told them that "life is hard," but that when challenges present themselves, "live in the moment, do what you've been taught, and you'll succeed."

Murray, who was also a Top Drawer ceremony speaker two years ago, was the keynoter this time, telling students that among the keys in life are teamwork ("an obligation to do your part"), a work ethic ("to be successful at anything, you have to work at it"), and a willingness to give back to your community.

Photos in text:

Top: Top Drawer 24 honoree Nicholas Machuga of Bradford High School is congratulated after being presented a medallion and certificates. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Second: Susan Award honoree Megan O'Dell of Elmira Notre Dame with emcee Dave Warren, retiring Watkins Glen High School principal. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Third: Susan Award honoree Joe Collins of Odessa-Montour, with O-M principal Chris Wood. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Fourth: Speaker Jenna Cottrell, WENY-TV sportscaster.

Fifth: Keynote speaker Dave Murray, head football coach at Hamilton College.

------------

The selectees on the Top Drawer 24 team are as follows, by school and grade:

WGHS

12th Grade

Matt Gill -- cross country, indoor track, track -- 3rd year on the Top Drawer team
Samantha Gill -- swimming, track -- 2nd year on the Top Drawer team
Lindsey Suddaby -- swimming/diving, bowling, track-- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Caitlin Connelly -- indoor track, track -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

11th Grade

Mikayla Elliott -- volleyball, softball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

10th Grade

Ian Chedzoy -- football, wrestling, lacrosse -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team.
(Pictured at right)

Bradford

12th Grade

Nicholas Machuga -- soccer, basketball, baseball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

O-M

12th Grade:

Jordan Little -- swimming, bowling, softball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Maia Rumsey -- swimming, bowling, track -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Jenelle Bleiler -- swimming, bowling -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

11th Grade:

Dana Roberts -- soccer, cheerleading, track -- 2nd year on the Top Drawer team
Hailie Searles -- soccer, basketball, track -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Trumansburg

12th Grade

Mitchell Swartwood -- soccer, basketball, baseball -- 2nd year on Top Drawer team
Abby Van Soest -- cross country, indoor track, track -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Spencer-Van Etten

12th Grade

Maia Kunzman -- field hockey, track -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Eliot Deppe -- football, basketball, baseball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Hayden Grover -- football -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Elmira Notre Dame

12th Grade

Tom Agan -- football, basketball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Elmira Christian Academy

12th Grade

Abram Newcomer -- soccer, basketball, track -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Twin Tiers Christian Academy

12th Grade

Heidi Depue -- basketball, soccer, volleyball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Thomas A. Edison

12th Grade

Tyler Troccia -- football, baseball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Katelyn Warren -- volleyball, basketball, softball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

Horseheads

12th Grade

Erin Strollo -- soccer, basketball, lacrosse -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team
Jennifer LaViola -- soccer, basketball -- 1st year on the Top Drawer team

****

Photos in list:

From top: Top Drawer 24 honoree Ian Chedzoy of Watkins Glen High School. (Photo by Don Romeo); Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, with emcee Dave Warren in background; speaker and former Top Drawer honoree Chelsea Lehman.

****

For thumbnail sketches of the honorees, click here.

*********

More photos from the Top Drawer 24 party

Odessa File Athletes of the Year Dana Roberts (Odessa-Montour) and Matt Gill (Watkins Glen High School) with Mike Stamp of E.C. Cooper Insurance, the award sponsor.
(Photos by Don Romeo)

Left: Spencer-Van Etten honorees Maia Kunzman and Hayden Grover. Right: O-M honorees Jordan Little, left, and Jenelle Bleiler.

Top Drawer 24 honorees Mitchell Swartwood of Trumansburg and Mikayla Elliott of Watkins Glen High School. (Both photos by Don Romeo)

At the microphone, from left: Craig Cheplick, Mark Stephany and Andy Malnoske.

Left: Brian J. O'Donnell, introducing the honorees. Right: Honoree Tom Agan of Elmira Notre Dame is congratulated by speaker Jenna Cottrell after receiving his awards.

Left: WENY-TV's Andy Malnoske prepares to interview Top Drawer honoree Erin Strollo of Horseheads High School. Right: WGHS honoree Lindsey Suddaby.

Left: WGHS honoree Samantha Gill is congratulated by speaker Jenna Cottrell after receiving a medallion and certificates from emcee Dave Warren. Right: Honoree Abram Newcomer.

Left: Alison Hunt, representing Congressman Tom Reed.
Center: Top Drawer honoree Hailie Searles of O-M.(Photo by Don Romeo)
Right: Honoree Abby Van Soest of Trumansburg.

Left: WGHS honoree Caitlin Connelly.(Photo by Don Romeo)
Right: Horseheads honoree Jennifer LaViola.

Left: Top Drawer honoree Eliot Deppe of Spencer-Van Etten. (Photo by Don Romeo)
Right: O-M honorees Maia Rumsey, left, and Dana Roberts.