Class of 2019 student-athletes celebrate Athletic Commitment Day
Warwick Valley High School held its first Athletic Commitment Day event on June 6 to honor senior student-athletes who will compete in Division III sports in the fall, at the colleges of their choice. Family members, coaches and friends joined them in the school auditorium for a ceremony hosted by Athletics Director Gregory Siricco.
Wakeley Banker – Boys soccer
College/Team: SUNY Polytechnic Institute, NCAA Division III in the NEAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Jerome Peterson as a center back for the Wildcats; they finished 6-9-3 in 2018.
Career Highlights: 2-year starter and captain for John VanPelt (tied for the lead in season goals). All-Section All-Star, Times Herald-Record 2nd Team All-Star. NHS member.
Major: Engineering
Parents: Wayne and Ann Banker
Brendan Eder – Cross country/ Track and field
College/Team: SUNY Plattsburgh which competes in the NCAA Division III SUNYAC. Recruited by Coach Andrew Krug to run cross-country and track for the Cardinals.
Career Highlights: 5K time of 18:34; 2-mile of 11:34 and mile time of 5:25. Part of Section IX champions boys team; they finished 6th in NYSPHSAA. Member of the WVHS Orchestra.
Major: Education
Parents: Karl and Kathleen Eder
Stephanie Menoutis – Girls tennis
College/Team: SUNY Oneonta, NCAA Division III SUNYAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Lonnie Mitchel to compete for the Red Dragons; they finished 16-8 in 2018. Stephanie is a 2-year captain of the tennis team and was undefeated the past two seasons.
Career Highlights: 2nd place finish in counties and 3rd in sectionals as a doubles player and state qualifier. Drama Club member; Meistersinger member; Summa Cum Laude.
Major: Accounting
Parents: Steve and Gloria Menoutis
Gabriela Gaibur – Volleyball
College/Team: Athletic scholarship to attend Southern Connecticut State University, which competes in NCAA Division II Northeast-10 Conference. Recruited by Coach Lisa Barbaro as an outside hitter for the Owls; they finished 21-9 in 2018.
Career Highlights: 4-year varsity player; scored 277 points as a senior, including 228 kills (school record). First team all Section selection; invited to play with the Dominican Republic national team in 2020.
Major: Speech pathology and communication disorders
Parents: Kristel Medina and Jaime Gaibur
Josiah Joseph – Boys basketball
College/Team: SUNY Farmingdale, NCAA Division III in the Skyline Conference. Recruited by Coach Brendan Twomey as a point guard for the Rams; they finished 20-8 in 2018.
Career Highlights: 2-year starter who averaged 15 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game. Shot 84% from the free-throw line, and 33% from 3.
Major: Business management
Parents: Byron Joseph and Lakeisha Bennett
Zachary Goldstein – Boys basketball
College/Team: SUNY Farmingdale, NCAA Division III in the Skyline Conference. Recruited by Coach Brendan Twomey as a forward for the Rams; they finished 20-8 in 2018.
Career Highlights: 3-year starter that averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds per game. Scored 1,017 career points for the Wildcats (2nd All Time). Varsity 845 First Team All-Star.
Major: Business management
Parents: Mitch Goldstein and Pam Goldstein
Jonah Bevacqua – Boys basketball
College: Hunter College, NCAA Division III in the CUNYAC Conference. Recruited by Coach John Pelin as a center/power forward for the Hawks; they finished 7-18 in 2018.
Career Highlights: 2-year player who averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. Captain in senior season. Courses include AP Government, Honors English and Yearbook.
Major: Communications
Parents: David and Sharon Bevacqua
Anthony McGee – Boys lacrosse
College/Team: SUNY Brockport, NCAA Division III SUNYAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Ben Wineburg as a defender/midfielder for the Golden Eagles; they finished 6-8 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 4-year varsity player, two-time All-Division and 5th Team All-State selection; 58 groundballs gathered. Unified basketball partner; Warwick youth football coach; 2-year varsity football player; Yearbook Club.
Major: Special education
Parents: Charles and Antoinette McGee
Chris Malota – Boys lacrosse
College/Team: SUNY Cortland, NCAA Division III SUNYAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Steve Beville as a midfielder for the Red Dragons; they finished 14-5 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 2-time All-Section selection and 2018 Warwick offensive MVP scoring over 100 career goals.
Major: Education with a minor in business
Parents: Joy and Robert Malota
Niko Sfugaras – Boys lacrosse
College/Team: SUNY Purchase, NCAA Division III SUNYAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Michael Bocklet as a defender for the Panthers; they finished 10-8 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 2-year varsity defender with 22 groundballs gathered; 3-year football player; wrestled for one year.
Major: Undecided
Parents: Mike and Barbara Sfugaras
Matt Hansen – Boys lacrosse
College/Team: Clarkson University, NCAA Division III Liberty League. Recruited by Coach Kyle Mummau as a face-off specialist for the Golden Knights; they finished 8-8 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 4-year varsity contributor; 225/288 faceoff wins; 115 groundballs gathered. NHS member, Warwick male scholar-athlete of the year. Academic All American, NYS football Class-A scholar-athlete of the year. Division and Section IX ski champion.
Major: Engineering
Parents: Hillary and Scott Hansen
Patrick Tully – Boys lacrosse
College/Team: Clarkson University, which competes in NCAA Division III Liberty League. Recruited by Coach Bill Bergan as a defender for the Golden Knights; they finished 8-8 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 3-year varsity contributor; 2-year starter on defense for the Section IX champions. Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society; Robotics Club. Twice All-Division defender and defensive MVP for Wildcats (senior captain). Varsity football player (defensive end).
Major: Engineering
Parents: Kevin and Leigh Ann Tully
Kayla Datys – Girls lacrosse
College/Team: Johnson and Wales University, NCAA Division III Great Northeast Conference (GNAC). Recruited by Coach Jessica Scannapiecio as an attack player for the Wildcats; they finished 17-5 (11-0 in conference) in 2019.
Career Highlights: 4-year varsity player; captain in the senior season; 44 goals (led the team) and a hat trick in sectional final and state regional game. Completed a senior project and over 200 community service hours.
Major: Hospitality event management
Parents: Harry and Kathy Datys
Jaqlyn Jordan – Girls lacrosse
College/Team: SUNY New Paltz, NCAA Division III SUNYAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Keith Detelj as an attack/midfielder for the Hawks; they finished 8-8 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 75 goals and 70 assists as a 4-year varsity player. Played outstanding in 2018 section final to rally back from a deficit to defeating Minisink. President Empty Bowls, Art Club member.
Major: Communications
Parent: Tara Jordan
Ryan Mitchell – Baseball
College/Team: Rockland Community College, NJCAA Region XV Conference. Recruited by Coach John Greeley as a catcher and first baseman for the Rockland Hawks; they finished 32-9 in 2019.
Career Highlights: Caught every game for the Wildcats in 2019 batting .321 with 2 HR, 31 RBI’s and a .981 fielding percentage.
Major: Business administration and finance
Parents: David and Ana Mitchell
Ian Ritchie – Baseball
College/Team: Utica College, NCAA Division III Empire 8 Conference. Recruited by Coach John Perrotta as a pitcher for the Utica Pioneers; 
they finished 15-24 in 2019.
Career Highlights: Starting pitcher for the division champions Wildcats; had an ERA of 0.00 through 7 appearances as a junior; varsity football player.
Major: Sports management
Parents: Robert and Tracy Ritchie
Sebastian Pelaez – Baseball
College/Team: Mercyhurst Northeast, NJCAA Division II Region III Conference. Recruited by Coach Jake Collins as a first baseman for the Saints; they finished 23-20 in 2019.
Career Highlights: Career batting average of .411 as a 3-year varsity baseball player for the Wildcats, division champions; standout varsity football defensive lineman.
Major: Business
Parents: Elizabeth Hunsberger and Luis Pelaez
Paul Dreizler – Baseball
College/Team: Ramapo College, NCAA Division III NJAC Conference. Recruited by Coach Ryan Rinsky as a pitcher for the Roadrunners; they finished 26-14 in 2019.
Career Highlights: 2-year varsity player, division champion, 1st-game starter in playoffs with 70% strike to ball ratio for the Wildcats, division champions. Played travel ball for the New Jersey Eagles, District 19 Champions.
Major: Business
Parents: Marianne and Paul Dreizler