Friends of Section 9 2024 Banquet of Champions Award Winners

So much to celebrate at the 2024 Friends of Section 9 Banquet of Champions! Below are just some of the highlights from an incredible 2023-2024 wrestling season as well as a list of all of the special award winners from this year’s banquet! Congratulations to everyone who was recognized and a huge “thank you” to the dozens of people not mentioned here who do so much work behind the scenes!

2023-2024 Season Highlights – Chronological Order

Eastern States Classic – Boys
– 3 champs Soto (NFA), Duke (MV), & Monchery (Midd), 12 total placers
– PJ Duke wins Most Outstanding Wrestler and Champion of Champions
– Minisink Valley won team title; 1st S9 team since Port won it in 2008
Eastern States Classic – Girls
– 1 champ Deslandes (MV), 5 finalists, 14 place winners
– Minisink Valley won girls team title
Section 9 Duals
– Middletown defeats 5X defending champions Minisink Valley
NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational
– 2 champions Sullivan (MW) and Brennan (NP); 8 total place winners
– Minisink Valley wins team title
NYSPHSAA Dual Meet Championships
– Minisink Valley wins their pool and places 2nd to Plainedge
Section 9 Championships
– D1 Champs – Minisink Valley – MOW PJ Duke (MV)
– D2 Champs – Port Jervis – MOW Justin Coiteux (NP)
– Girls Champs – Minisink Valley – MOW Alyssa Reed (PJ)
NYSPHSAA Championships
– S9 wins for 3rd straight year; 229.5 points (most ever for S9)
– Minisink Valley wins team title for 3rd straight year
– 5 D1 champs; Soto & Merli (NFA), Satriano (VC), Duke (MV), Monchery (Midd)
– D2 finished with 74 points (most ever for a S9 D2 team)

Friends of Section 9 Banquet – Special Awards

DeCapua Most Exciting Match D1 – 138 – Aviles (Midd) vs Boice (MV)
DeCapua Most Exciting Match D2 – 124 – Celestine (RH) vs Harrison (PJ)
Pat D’Aliso Most Improved Wrestler – EJ Vass (VC)
Referee of the Year – Wayne Carroll
Orange/Sullivan Officials Sportsmanship Awards – Bryson Tibbs (Midd)
Modified Coach of the Year – Dom Gambino (Kingston)
Fan of the Year – Hector Mercado (NFA)
Coach’s Wife of the Year – Erin Vrydaghs (Goshen)
Most Improved Team – Port Jervis
Dave Simmons Most Courageous Wrestler – Ryan Ross (PJ)
Girls Comeback Wrestler of the Year – Alyssa Reed (PJ)
Parent of the Year – Chris Herriman (FDR)
Scorekeepers of the Year – Natasha Santiago (FDR), Lillyana Uhrig (MV)
Comeback Wrestler of the Year – PJ Duke (MV)
FS9 Person (People) of the Year – Cathi and Jeff Greiner (MV)
Girls Senior Wrestler of the Year – Zoe Kip (Liberty)
Girls Senior Wrestler of the Year – Brook Tarshis (Pine Bush)
Pat D’Aliso Scholarship – Justin Coiteux (New Paltz)
John Bell Lifetime Achievement Award – Frank Ciliberto (New Paltz)
Frank Tschan Team of the Year – Minisink Valley
Mark Faller Coach of the Year – Kevin Gallagher (Minisink Valley)
Assistant Coach of the Year – Eugene Noboa (Middletown)
FS9 Coach of the Year – Jason Lichtenstein (Middletown)
Troy Bouzakis Senior Wrestler of the Year – Stephan Monchery (Midd)
DeCapua Scholarships:
– Chris Herriman (FDR)
– Jacob Roger (Middletown)
– Stephan Monchery (Middletown)
– Justin Coiteux (New Paltz)
– Zoe Kip (Liberty)
– Brooke Tarshis (Pine Bush)