Abington honors 37 seniors student-athletes for college commitments

ABINGTON >> This season marked some great achievements from Abington athletics. From the girls basketball team making its third consecutive PIAA Class AAAA playoff appearance to the boys basketball team winning its fourth consecutive Suburban One League National Conference title to the girls volleyball team winning its first District 1 playoff game in school history.

Tuesday night, the school honored all 37 Galloping Ghosts seniors who committed to continuing their athletic careers at the college level.

“Through my four years at Abington this has kind of evolved,” Abington athletic director Todd Vaccaro said. “We just want to bring everybody together at the end of the year one last time. Its just a nice send off through all the hecticness of prom season and graduation season and bring our teams seniors back for one last event.”

While the Ghosts softball team underachieved to its standards this season, failing to make the district playoffs after under performing in conference play, it was well represented Tuesday night as six players were recognized, including pitcher Nikki Ray (Bloomsburg University), catcher Aubrey Cataldi (Wilkes University) and first baseman Jade Sowell (Gwynedd Mercy University). The six players represented from the softball team trailed only track and field/cross country that honored eight student athletes.

“You look back at the success and I really have to speak to the programs that are built by (track and field) coach (Bill) Neely, (softball) coach (Helen) White,” Vaccaro said. “What else we have that is very unique here at Abington is many of our coaches, many of them in attendance tonight are Abington alum. They wore the Maroon and White and I can’t speak enough for the impact I think it has on our school community and our community at large.”

Toni Washington played center field for the Ghosts softball team this season but she was being recognized for her commitment to play soccer at Delaware State University next fall.

Washington was one of several multi-sport athletes on the stage Tuesday night. For some smaller schools this is a much more common practice but for a larger school, AAAA for most, and as athletes tend to focus on one concentration it showed that the multi-sport athlete is not a completely dying breed.

“It’s a little bit of a throwback in the sense to see it in a AAAA soon to be 6A school in some sports,” Vaccaro said. “Its really a credit to the kids. Making that sacrifice and not being that specialized. And that’s a tough choice because that’s not the way interscholastic sports are going but we have many throw back kids who play multiple sports and its good to see.”

Other multi-sport athletes honored included, Leah Simmons (Canisus College) signed for volleyball but was also a key contributor on the basketball team. Simmons volleyball teammate Emma Garg (Kutztown University) is committed to play lacrosse.