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Saratoga Springs track and field star athlete Kelsey Chmiel, second from left, stands with former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, left, Robert Curley, New York Chairman of Berkshire Bank, second from right and Times Union Editor Rex Smith during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. Kelsey won the female Outstanding Athlete of the Year Scholarship award. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessSaratoga Springs track and field star athlete Kelsey Chmiel, second from left, stands with former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, left, Robert Curley, New York Chairman of Berkshire Bank, second
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Glens Falls High School star basketball player Joseph Girard, lll, second from left, stands with former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, left, Robert Curley, New York Chairman of Berkshire Bank, second from right and Times Union Editor Rex Smith during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. Joseph won the male Outstanding Athlete of the Year Scholarship award. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessGlens Falls High School star basketball player Joseph Girard, lll, second from left, stands with former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, left, Robert Curley, New York Chairman of Berkshire Bank,
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Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessFormer NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van
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Saratoga Springs track and field star athlete Kelsey Chmiel shakes hands with, from left, former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, Robert Curley, New York Chairman of Berkshire Bank, and Times Union Editor Rex Smith during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. Kelsey won the female Outstanding Athlete of the Year Scholarship award. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessSaratoga Springs track and field star athlete Kelsey Chmiel shakes hands with, from left, former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, Robert Curley, New York Chairman of Berkshire Bank, and Times
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The Troy High School drum line plays outside the entrance as guest arrive to the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessThe Troy High School drum line plays outside the entrance as guest arrive to the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori
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The Troy High School drum line plays outside the entrance as guest arrive to the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessThe Troy High School drum line plays outside the entrance as guest arrive to the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori
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People get their photo taken in front of a backdrop at the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
People get their photo taken in front of a backdrop at the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Siena men's basketball coach Jamion Christian, left, and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski get their photo taken before the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessSiena men's basketball coach Jamion Christian, left, and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski get their photo taken before the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on
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Siena men's basketball coach Jamion Christian speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessSiena men's basketball coach Jamion Christian speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times
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University at Albany's women's basketball coach Colleen Mullen speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessUniversity at Albany's women's basketball coach Colleen Mullen speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori
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Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessFormer NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van
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Times Union deputy sports editor Bill Douglas sings a song during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessTimes Union deputy sports editor Bill Douglas sings a song during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van
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Guest finish a dinner during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Guest finish a dinner during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Guest listen to speakers during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Guest listen to speakers during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Times Union sports editor Leif Skodnick speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Times Union sports editor Leif Skodnick speaks during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Times Union Editor Rex Smith welcomes guest to the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Times Union Editor Rex Smith welcomes guest to the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Times Union sports reporter James Allen speaks as Times Union sports editor Leif Skodnick listens at right during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessTimes Union sports reporter James Allen speaks as Times Union sports editor Leif Skodnick listens at right during the Times Union's Inaugural High School Sports Awards at the Hearst Media Center on Wednesday,
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Awards showcase area's best
The activities held Wednesday at the Times Union's Hearst Media Center involved a banquet I have dreamed about occurring for decades. That hope came to fruition.
The first Times Union High School Sports Awards were held at the paper honoring the area's finest athletes, coaches, teams and communities.
Let's face facts: This area is pretty special, so what better way to showcase that than to honor the best and brightest when it comes to Section II athletics?
So many people behind the scenes helped generate a 21/2-hour production that came off without a hitch.
In Thursday's edition of the paper, a special 24-page section displays the myriad winners.
The banquet allowed us to honor the recipients of Athlete of the Year awards from the fall, winter and spring, plus recognize awards voted by fans and five staff-selected awards for Male and Female Team of the Year, Coach of the Year and Male and Female Athlete of the Year.
The function also allowed those in attendance to hear from — likely for the first time — new Siena men's basketball coach Jamion Christian and new University at Albany women's basketball coach Colleen Mullen.
Each was able to provide their background and show the athletes why they are so passionate about coaching. The area's top competitors were advised about what to know before entering college.
It is easy to see why Christian and Mullen were hired at their respective schools.
The evening's keynote speaker was Ron Jaworski, the 17-year veteran NFL quarterback, a former member of the Monday Night Football broadcast team and a successful businessman who is part owner of the Arena Football League's Albany Empire.
What many football fans may not remember about the NFC's Player of the Year in 1980, when he led the Philadelphia Eagles to the franchise's first Super Bowl, is Jaworski grew up in Lackawanna, N.Y.
The man affectionately known as "Jaws" regaled those in attendance with his football exploits and the cadre of coaching greats he played for in the NFL: Chuck Knox (Los Angeles Rams), Dick Vermeil (Philadelphia Eagles), Don Shula (Miami Dolphins) and Marty Schottenheimer (Kansas City Chiefs).
But what really resonated with the audience was his story about his father refusing to allow his son to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball because he wanted him to graduate from college.
Jaworski said it was the most impactful decision of his life, that the education his father insisted he pursue in addition to playing football at Youngstown State allowed him to successfully transition into life after football.
"I had to start using this," Jaworski told the captivated audience as the 67-year-old, who has the energy of someone 17, pointed to his head.
Before helping hand out the evening's awards, Jaworski, who along with New York Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik received medals from Pope John Paul II during his 1979 papal visit to Philadelphia, implored the athletes to strive for greatness and listen to those around them.
When Jaworski spoke about being grateful for the people who have helped the 2018 Times Union Sports Awards winners, especially when it came to parents, he got choked up.
Anyone that was sitting in the room at that time, as Jaworski fought with his emotions, realized here is someone who was done it all in life imparting wisdom on teenagers in the formative stages of discovering themselves.
It was truly powerful stuff, and I have to admit I got a little emotional hearing the final portion of the impassioned speech.
My main task for the evening was a simple one: read off all of the spring, winter and spring honorees and later inform everyone the winners of the evening's final five awards.
It was a special evening for all and one I very much look forward to becoming an annual tradition.
jallen@timesunion.com • 518-454-5062
https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Awards-showcase-area-s-best-12992691.php
