By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
While Connie Herzig was
trying to pick out an outfit for
Monday’s Fetterman Award
luncheon, she realized that
much of her wardrobe represented
her 17-year career as
Cooperstown Elementary
School physical education
teacher and girls track coach.
Herzig received the Clark
Sports Center’s annual Patrick
C. Fetterman Award Monday,
given to a member of the community
who is dedicated to
serving local youth, especially
in the area of athletics. The recipient
embodies the meaning
of outstanding sportsmanship,
inspired leadership and caring
service and is named after the
gym’s longtime associate director.
During her speech, Herzig
displayed a number of t-shirts
she either had made or were
given to her, most of which had
sayings which represented her
teaching and coaching philosophy.
``I’ve always tried to teach
kids that how you live life is the
most important thing,’’ Herzig
said. ``If they try their best, and
do their best, what more can
you ask for?’’
Herzig displayed one t-shirt
which read ``Fill a Bucket’’
which she wears to remind her
students to try to help others
and be positive.
``You can either fill someone’s
bucket with a compliment or
good deed, or be a bucket dipper
by being mean or doing the
wrong thing,’’ she said.
Herzig said coaching track is
also a great vehicle to reinforce
the same philosophies she
teaches in elementary school.
``In track, you’re all alone,
there’s no else to bail you out by
making a big shot or scoring a
touchdown,’’ she said. ``They
have to rely on themselves, and
it’s a great character building
sport.’’
For 16 of her 17 years of
coaching, Herzig worked with
boys track coach Don Howard, a
past Fetterman Award winner
who retired from coaching in
2006. Howard and his wife were
on a cruise Monday, but Howard
wrote a letter which was
read by Clark Foundation
Chairman Jane Forbes Clark.
``You are the perfect example
of what this award is all about,’’
Howard wrote to Herzig.
Many of Herzig’s friends and
colleagues also spoke after Herzig’s
speech.
Cooperstown Superintendent
Mary Jo McPhail said she
admired Herzig for volunteering
her time to the Red Hot
Ropers, a popular jump rope
program Herzig began at Cooperstown
in 1992.
``For eight years Connie
coached the program after
school without pay before the
district decided to pay her,’’
McPhail said.
Bud Lippitt, also a CCS Elementary
Phys. Ed teacher,
echoed McPhail’s sentiments,
saying Herzig routinely stays
into the evening hours working
on school related activities.
``Your dedication is priceless,
and you’ve led the way for me,’’
Lippitt said.
Herzig said she felt a bit like
Huck Finn, when the Mark
Twain character runs away
from home and sneaks back to
view his own funeral.
``Everybody usually says
great things about you after
you’re gone, but I’m still here,’’
Herzig joked.
She then ended her speech
by saying: ``In the end, it isn’t
about what you wear it’s what
you choose to do, and how well
you do it.’’
Past Fetterman Award winners
include: 1994: Lavern
``Beanie’’ Ainslie; 1995: Jack
Vineyard; 1996: Ted Kantorowski;
1997: Malcolm Brooks;
1997-98: Jerry Townsend; 1998-
99: Don Howard; 2000: Dick
White; 2001: Pat and Ed Hazzard;
2002: Stephen ``Sharky’’
Nagelschmidt; 2003: Frank Miosek;
2004: Ted Spencer; 2005:
Terry Bliss; 2006: Dave Adsit.
2007: Bob Snyder.
Local Sports
Herzig feted at ceremony
- Local Sports
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CCS swimmer finds diving challenging
COOPERSTOWN’S AARON IDELSON FINISHED eighth Saturday in the Frontier League Diving Championships at Carthage. Idelson, who already has qualified for sectionals in diving, amassed 285.15 points over 11 dives. The remainder of the meet will be completed this Saturday at Watertown.
After a day of highs and lows, Cooperstown’s Aaron Idelson finished in the middle.
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The sophomore diver scored a 285.15 and finished eighth out of 16 divers at the Frontier League Diving Championships in Carthage on Saturday. -
Brothers compete in the pool
Sometimes things are not always as they seem. Just look at Cooperstown’s varsity swimming brothers Sean and Erik Mebust.
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Volleyball team wins tournament at home
The host Cooperstown volleyball team won a six-team round robin tournament last Saturday. The Redskins tied Stockbridge with identical 7-3 records, but owned the tiebreaker by a single point in head-to-head match-ups, winning 25-22 and losing 23-25.
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Lady Redskins come out strong in second half
Nicole Cring’s double, double helped Cooperstown make a decisive second-half run and beat visiting Mohawk 45-28 in a Center State Conference game on Monday. Cring had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots as the
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Redskins scored the first seven points of the second half, stretching a 17-14 lead to 24-14. “There wasn’t much to say.” -
CCS wrestling team competes in championships
Cooperstown teammates Michael Boyle and Jacob Miller had runner-up finishes in the Center State Conference Championships on Saturday at Adirondack.
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Niekro, Ozzie to return for Hall of Fame Classic
The Knucksies and Wizards will go at it again this June in Cooperstown. The Baseball Hall of Fame announced Monday that Hall of Famers Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith will return as team captains for the fourth annual Hall of Fame Classic at Doubleday Field.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Redskins hit century mark
If at first you do succeed, try to do even better next time. Dave Bertram led the Cooperstown boys basketball team to its highest points total in his 10 years as head coach Tuesday, when the Redskins thumped visiting Morrisville- Eaton, 106-51, in a Center State Conference Division III game.
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Davine, king of Cooperstown assists
If you need help, try calling Jay Davine. Senior point guard Davine broke Cooperstown’s all-time assists record last Thursday and scored 13 points to lead the Redskins to a 71-43 boys basketball thumping of visiting Westmoreland in a Center State Conference Division III game.
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Fox has big night for Hartwick women
Cooperstown graduate Samantha Fox scored a varsity-high 14 points Friday to lead the Hartwick College women’s basketball team to a 59-49 victory over visiting St. John Fisher in the Empire 8 Conference.
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Patriots hold off Gilbertsville-Mount Upton with score of 59-53
A varsity-high 27 points from Kyle Jaquay led host Cherry Valley- Springfield to a 59-53 Tri-Valley League boys basketball victory Monday over Gilbertsville-Mount Upton.
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CCS wrestles with the ‘Big Dogs’
Cooperstown’s wrestling revival got a reality check on Saturday in the form of visiting Dolgeville. Both teams came in undefeated in the Center State Conference, but only the Blue Devils left that way after a 64-10 win over the Redskins. “Dolgeville is definitely a tough team. Top to bottom, they really don’t have any weak spots on their roster,” Cooperstown coach Micaiah Abts said.
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Coach says he thinks his girls will return to top of their class
Close, but not there yet. That’s the story of Cooperstown’s volleyball team this season, and it played out again on Monday in a 3-1 loss to visiting Waterville in a Center State Conference match.
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Clark Sports Center hosts tournament
The Clark Sports Center recently held its eighth annual Pat Fetterman Memorial Tournament. There were six girls’ teams and six boys’ teams from as far away as West Philadelphia, according to a media release from the sports center.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 19, 2012
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Boy one step closer to seeing football dreams come true
Since Cowboy Stadium in Dallas opened in 2010, football fans have marveled at the massive, modernstadium. Over the holidays, Cooperstown Central School freshman Michael Perrino got to play two games in it himself.
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CCS coach and player earn recognition
Cooperstown’s soccer season has been over for a couple of months now, but the awards haven’t ended. Redskins’ coach Frank Miosek has been named Center State Conference coach of the year, while junior mid-fielder Michael Rowley won co-player of the year.
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Milford girls thump G-MU
Avalon Ward scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Milford topped visiting Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, 44-30, in a Tri-Valley League girls basketball game Tuesday. Milford held a 38-14 lead after three quarters before being outscored, 16-6, in the final period.
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Wrestling team focused on improving as end of season nears
Three Cooperstown wrestlers placed at the Central New York WrestlingTournament on Saturday at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school, giving the Redskins confidence going into their final matches and the end of the season tournaments. Mikey Boyle (113) and Jacob Miller (138) each placed fourth, and Kevin Segit (195) placed sixth in the tournament. Cooperstown finished 14th overall.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 12, 2012
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Redskin ladies are red hot: CCS remains undefeated
Holli Erkson scored a game-high 13 points and Nicole Cring had eight blocks and 12 rebounds as Cooperstown stayed undefeated in the Center State Conference with a 44-29 victory over visiting Sauquoit Valley at Bursey Gymnasium on Tuesday. The Redskins (9-1, 5-0) had early foul trouble and problems on offense in the game. Fortunately for them, they had no problems on defense.
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Free throw caps 46-45 victory over Hamilton
Nicole Cring had a double-double and Holli Erkson hit a walkoff foul shot as host Cooperstown edged Hamilton, 46-45, in a Center State Conference Division III girls basketball game last Thursday. Alexis Bloomfield went 1-for-2 from the foul line with 30.2 seconds left to tie the score at 45 for the Redskins (8-1, 4-0), who stole Hamilton’s last possession with 7.5 seconds to go.
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Hall welcomes Cincinnati kid in third year of eligibility
Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was the lone selection by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. And Larkin’s admission into the National Baseball Hall of Fame came in a landslide. The Cincinnati native who grew up cheering for the man he’d replace at shortstop Dave Concepcion garnered 86 percent of the vote. Seventyfive percent is needed for election.
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