Hibernian Senior Soccer dinner set to honor 21 Mercer County athletes
HAMILTON >> When the 33rd Annual Hibernian Senior Soccer 11 Rich Garton Memorial Dinner takes place on Jan. 27, it will not just be a celebration of top soccer talent in Mercer County.
The 21 honorees possess so much more than just athletic prowess.
“Contrary to popular belief, this award is not bestowed upon individuals who merely possess outstanding ability to play soccer,” said Hibernian Athletic Association President Wayne DeAngelo. “Team play, character and sportsmanship are some other qualities that are taken into consideration. Mentoring is also an important role that we look for. When someone who has a skill invests their skill and devotion to showing and helping someone play soccer, that to us goes a long way.”
The dinner will take place at the Hibernian Club on Kuser Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the dinner begins at 6. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by emailing Rich Dixon at hibofire@gmail.com. Steinert graduate and former University of St. Louis and Rutgers coach Dan Donigan will serve as the guest speaker.
The girls honorees are Allentown’s Alex Searing, Hamilton West’s Lauren Korpics, Lawrence’s Sarah Berardi, Notre Dame’s Abbey Barcless, Nottingham’s Sara Haas and Ivonne Vasquez, Pennington’s Gianna Lucchesi, Steinert’s Gabby DeLisa and Hannah Hart, and West WindsorPlainsboro North’s Jillian Pelosi.
Boys being acknowledged are Steinert’s Max DiPierro and Jared Brunow, Notre Dame’s Kyle Dixon, Robbinsville’s George Fotiou, WW-P South’s Leo Hecht, Nottingham’s Franklin Hytegha, WW-P North’s Brendan Kerins, Hightstown’s Ian Lumkong, Hamilton’s Gerardo Perez, Princeton’s Thomas Reid and Hopewell Valley’s Luke Tartaglia.
“This year’s class is yet another group of stellar athletes, whose character and ability, both on and off the field are inseparable attributes of the true champion and leaders that they are, and hopefully continue to be,” DeAngelo said.
The dinner began in 1986 to honor senior players for their accomplishments on and off the pitch. In 1992 it was separated to honor both boys and girls.
“Mercer County area soccer has always been strong,” DeAngelo said. “We are hoping the players who have been given this award recognize that many hours have been dedicated to watching them play the game and watch their leadership and sportsmanship as they play. We hope that they continue that positive action in their life and hope that they coach those life skills as they grow older.”
DeAngelo feels that having Donigan as the speaker will be a highlight. He is currently running the PDA Hibernian program in an attempt to make it a top-flight club in the state.
“To have someone like Danny be our keynote speaker is incredible,” DeAngelo said. “I have known him since high school and watched his career both on and off the field. He has played in college and professionally at the highest level and I have seen him coach children as well as Division 1 college athletes, and he is a role model for all coaches and players to follow. I know he will help our honorees be better prepared for their college soccer career or the workforce , whichever they go towards. He can help them be better people through the life lessons he learned from soccer.”