CVC coaches hand out season awards
WEST WINDSOR >> The Colonial Valley Conference’s boys soccer coaches got together to honor their top players and two of their own Wednesday night at Mercer Oaks, marking the end of the 2018 season.
Along with revealing their annual All-CVC picks, the coaches wanted to take a moment to honor Lawrence High’s Keith Fithen, who is retiring from coaching after going 238191-40 in 24 years as the Cardinals’ head coach (1987-2006; 2015-18). That makes him the second winningest soccer coach in Lawrence history behind legendary Lou Angebranndt. Fithen also has the rare distinction of having won a state title as a player (at Notre Dame in 1977) and as a head coach (at Lawrence in 1994).
Besides Fithen, West WindsorPlainsboro North’s Trevor Warner was also honored by his peers, chosen as the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Coach of the Year. Warner could give a little of that praise to his senior goalkeeper Brendan Kerins, who was named as the Judge Al Cooper Goalkeeper of the Year.
From there, the individual awards were widespread, beginning with WW-P South senior Elijah Moore McGuinness, who was named the Dom Stillitano Forward of the Year.
Trenton senior Mario Palacios was selected as the Bobby Smith Defender of the Year, and Nottingham’s Franklin Hytegha received the Vince Palm- ere Award.
Robbinsville senior George Fotiou beat out a strong field to be named Billy Gazonas Midfielder of the Year, while his classmate CJ Inverso was the recipient of the Brian “Maynard” Welsh Award.
Goalkeepers:
Brendan Kerins (WW-P North), Pat Luckie (Nottingham).
Mario Palacios (Trenton), Evan Robinson (WW-P North), Chad Nelson (Notre Dame), Ben Morreale (Hopewell Valley), Tegveer Gil (WW-P South). George Fotiou (Robbinsville), Ryan
Defenders: Midfielders:
Grund (WW-P South), Luke Tartaglia (Hopewell Valley), Alex Quezada (WW-P North), Adrian Strawinski (Steinert), Mark Chiriac (WW-P North).
Elijah Moore McGuinness (WW-P South), Daniel Tobito (Hightstown), Justin Brunow (Steinert), Max DiPierro (Steinert).
Forwards: SECOND TEAM Goalkeepers:
Sam Parker (Allentown), Trevor Giordano (Steinert).
Frank Ford (Allentown), Mason Walczak (Steinert), Thomas Reid (Princeton), Josh Breese (Robbinsville), John Chuqui (Hightstown).
Sebastian Ratzan (Princeton), Leor Hecht (WW-P South), Aidan Klein (Steinert), Erick Lopez (Trenton), Joe Zisa (Hightstown), Zach Fedor (Hopewell Valley).
Eric Goldberg (Hopewell Valley), Nick Petruso (Princeton), Jean Anthony Portuguez (WWP North), Ian Lumkong (Hightstown).
Defenders: Midfielders: Forwards: THIRD TEAM Goalkeepers:
Nick Wilke (Notre Dame), Jacob Forst (Hightstown).
Hunter Zytkowicz (Allentown), Jack O’Reilly (Lawrence), Pat Mormile (Hopewell Valley), Connor Staples (WW-P South), Spencer Henry (WWP North), Mike Ilesanmi (Ewing).
Brendan Rath (Notre Dame), Silvio Aparicio (Hamilton), Justin Wood (Ewing), Jackson Monahan (Allentown), Wild Jeff Fileus (Nottingham), Atticus Lynch (Princeton).
Robbie Lotito (Robbinsville), Gavin Grecsek (WW-P South), Roberto Recinos (Hamilton), Chris O’Neill (Notre Dame).
Defenders: Midfielders: Forwards: HONORABLE MENTION
Dan McCormick (Allentown), Charlie DeBlasio (Ewing), Matt Paterno (Hamilton), Kenny Castillo (Hightstown), Ian De Rusha (Hopewell Valley), Cole Heinz (Lawrence), Guilliano Silva (Notre Dame), Devin Coleman (Nottingham), Zad Mahana (Princeton), Jack Billings (Robbinsville), Romario Azer (Steinert), Wilmer Portillo (Trenton), Rohan Joseph (WW-P North), Andy Bae (WW-P South).
Judge Al Cooper Goalkeeper of the Year:
Kerins (WW-P North).
Bobby Smith Defender of the Year:
(Trenton). Mario Palacios
Billy Gazonas Midfielder of the Year:
(Robbinsville).
Dom Stillitano Forward of the Year:
McGuinness (WW-P South).
Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Coach of the Year:
Warner (WW-P North).
Franklin Hytegha (Nottingham).
Vince Palmere Award: Brian “Maynard” Welsh Award: Referee of the Year:
Elijah Moore
CJ Inverso (Robbinsville). Stefan Borota Jr.
Brendan George Fotiou Trevor