Apr 19, 2017 7 min read

The Special Recognition Award at the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Coach of the Year Banquet recognizes an athlete who has either won a state individual title or was named to one of the all-state teams by the Pennsylvania Coaches Association or Pennsylvania Sports Writers Association.

This year’s group will be honored at the banquet, which is at 5 p.m. Sunday at the DoubleTree by Hilton in the Meadow Lands.

All proceeds from the banquet benefit Special Olympics.

Only athletes from schools in the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association are eligible for the award.

The following is a brief bio of each honoree:

Haley Altemus, South Fayette: An outside hitter, Altemus helped South Fayette to a fourth-place finish in the WPIAL. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

Jaden Altomore, Monessen: Altomore finished with 1,593 career points, which ranks second only to A.J. Jackson’s 1,757 on Monessen’s all-time scoring list. Altomore averaged a team-leading 22.5 points per game and made 64 three-point field goals. He was named first team All-State by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Association.

Chyna Beck, Canon-McMillan: Beck was an All-State selection by the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association. She placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 39-11 ½.

Bailey Bennington, West Greene: Bennington went 7-0 as a pitcher and hit seven home runs and drove in 35 runs while hitting .519. She had a 0.61 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Sabrina Bryan, Canon-McMillan: Bryan was a key component to Canon-McMillan’s run through the postseason that ended with a PIAA championship. The Drexel recruit scored 31 goals and had 28 assists. Bryan was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

Brenna Cavanaugh, Bentworth: Cavanaugh was an All-State selection by the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association. She placed first in the long jump with an effort of 19-07.25.

Kaitlyn Dittrich, Chartiers-Houston: The sophomore struck out 96 batters, had a 3.33 ERA and a 14-8 record for the playoff-qualifying Bucs. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Alexus Eicher, Frazier: Eicher led the Commodores to the section title last season and a spot in the WPIAL playoffs. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Brendan Furman, Canon-McMillan: Furman won the heavyweight title in the PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. Furman decisioned Isaac Reid of Kiski, 5-3, in the finals.

Bryce Gabelhart, Peters Township: Gabelhart helped the Indians to the Section 2 title in Class 4-A and a spot in the WPIAL playoffs. He was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

Garrett Geresti, Avella: Geresti was an All-State selection by the Pennsylvania Foootball Writers Association. He was the Eagles’ top receiver with 41 receptions for 675 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the football 33 times and rushed for 22 yards and five touchdowns.

Hannah Greene, Fort Cherry: The senior middle hitter led the Rangers to a third-place finish in the WPIAL playoffs and a spot in the state tournament. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

Koryn Jozwiakowski, Fort Cherry: Jozwiakowski won the PIAA Class AA triple jump title with a leap of 37-9 on her third attempt at Shippensburg University. It was her second straight state medal for the University of New Hampshire recruit.

Mia Kness, Peters Township: Kness shot an even-par 144 over the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York to win the PIAA Class AAA golf title. She defeated Lauren Freyvogel of Pine-Richland to capture the top spot in the PIAA West Region Golf Championship.

Sierra Kotchman, Trinity: The senior was not only named first team, but honored as Player of the Year in Class 5-A by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Association. Kotchman’s season was highlighted by her becoming the school’s all-time basketball – boys or girls – scoring leader with 1,706 points, which ranks third for girls players in Washington County history. Kotchman averaged 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game. She shot 50.2 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range.

Madison Lampe, West Greene: Lampe batted .473 with 13 stolen bases and 52 runs. Lampe hit six home runs and accounted for 80 total bases. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association. Lampe also was third team All-State basketball in Class A, averaging 18 points per game.

McKenna Lampe, West Greene: Lampe keyed West Greene’s offense, batting .618 for the year with 33 stolen bases from the leadoff spot. She drove in 24 and scored 57 runs in 28 games. Lampe was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Moriah McGuier, McGuffey: McGuier went 14-2 with 104 strikeouts for the Highlanders. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Jonah Moore, Canon-McMillan: A left backer, Moore led the Big Macs with 10 goals. He posted three assists. He was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

A.J. Myers, Chartiers-Houston: Myers was named second team All-State in Class AA by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Association. Myers averaged 22.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.1 steals per game this season for the Bucs. A four-year starter, Myers helped the Bucs make another postseason run.

Aideen O’Donoghue, Canon-McMillan: O’Donoghue played midfielder on the Big Macs’ state championship soccer team. She scored 27 goals and added 20 assists. The Pitt recruit was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

Matt Popeck, Washington: Popeck is the only player to be named Observer-Reporter Boys Basketball Player of the Year two times. He shot 63 percent from two-point range and 50 percent (53 for 106) from three-point range. Popeck also made 110 of 137 free throws (80.3 percent). He was named second team All-State in Class AAA by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Association.

Madison Renner, West Greene: The Observer-Reporter Softball Player of the Year led Pennsylvania in home runs (nine) and RBI (66), according statistics compiled by MaxPreps. Renner struck out just once in 92 plate appearances. Renner had a 19-2 record with 118 strikeouts over 134 innings. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Justice Rice, Monessen: Rice averaged 20.3 points, seven assists and six steals per game He led a Monessen offense that averaged a WPIAL-best 78.8 points per game. He was named first team All-State in Class A by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Association.

Linda Rush, Canon-McMillan: The Drexel recruit hit .702 with 41 RBI to push her career total to 131. She finished with 36 career home runs. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Kate Tarr, Burgettstown: Tarr’s arm and bat propelled Burgettstown to another strong season and appearance in the WPIAL playoffs. Tarr compiled a 15-7 record and 1.20 ERA. She batted .377 with 26 RBI and 25 runs. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Gavinn Teasdale, Jefferson-Morgan: Teasdale won his third straight PIAA Class AA wrestling title and ran his varsity record to 122-0 with a 13-5 major decision over Austin Clabaugh of Bermudian Springs in the 126-pound finals. Only 44 wrestlers in PIAA history have won at least three titles.

Dana Vatakis, Monessen: Vatakis helped the Greyhounds compile a 15-7 record and a run through the WPIAL playoffs. Vatakis compiled a 13-3 record and recorded 167 strikeouts, third-best in the district. She was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association.

Alexa Williamson, Chartiers-Houston: Williamson helped Chartiers-Houston to its first WPIAL championship ever and the first for a Washington County girls team in 25 years. She averaged 23 points, 12.5 rebounds and four blocks per game and scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds in the WPIAL championship win over Vincentian. She had a career-high 35 points and 12 rebounds in a PIAA playoff loss to Bellwood-Antis.