SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Nov. 16, 2011)
Eliana Gilette is defined by her competitive spirit and drive to excel, and it is those traits that have made the Norristown senior such a standout goalie for an Eagle squad that put itself on the map this season. “If I had to look at my team, the first person I would pick to go to battle with would be her,” coach Stacie Staufenberg said. “She was our MVP, and she was extremely important to our team.” Gilette, a two-year varsity starter, has been an impact player since she set foot on the field as a junior, and her stats tell the story. In her two years on the varsity, Gilette faced 520 shots and allowed just 53 goals. Do the math, and it’s pretty impressive – Gilette turned away 89.8 percent of the shots she faced.
For her performance in the goal cage, Gilette was named first team all-league goalie in each of the last two seasons, and it is not a coincidence that the fortunes of the Eagles have improved dramatically with Gilette in goal. Norristown won a total of four games in the two years combined before she came on board. They won seven games when Gilette was a junior and finished 6-6 in league play. This past season they were 7-5 in the league and finished fourth in the American Conference, good enough to earn the program’s first ever berth in the District One AAA Tournament. “Making districts was like a dream,” Gilette said. “I was happy even though we lost 2-0 to the Mount. It was a big step for us.” A step the Eagles undoubtedly wouldn’t have taken without Gilette – who turned away 23 shots in the Eagles’ district playoff loss to Mount St. Joseph Academy.
Gilette also excels in the classroom. She boasts a 4.5 GPA, and her course load includes all honors classes and one AP class. She is hoping to continue her hockey career at the collegiate level and plans to major in business. Gilette is considering East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg and Bloomsburg. In the meantime, Gilette – who hopes to coach hockey one day – is working with the heir apparent to her job. “I have been teaching a goalie at ENGAA for two years,” she said. “Helping her and teaching her – that’s what I love to do.”
To view Gilette’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/eliana-gilette
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Nov. 2, 2011)
TJ Summers is one calm, cool competitor, and it is the Central Bucks West senior’s temperament that may be his trump card on the golf course. “He’s a very even-tempered young man and never seems to get fazed by any particular event, which is a good golf attribute,” West coach Bob Schilling said. Each year of competition, Summers has improved. As a ninth grader, he made the league championship meet. In his sophomore year, he qualified for districts. As a junior, he finished his season at regionals, and this year he placed seventh in the state. He was just the fourth golfer from CB West to qualify for states.
In addition to his accomplishment at states, Summers was selected Sportsman of the Year by the Golf Association of Philadelphia and placed third in the competition for Player of the Year. Improving like he did over his high school career didn’t just happen during the short high school season. A key was heeding the advice of his coach and older teammates who told him he should play in tournaments. “That’s the best way to get the competition you needed,” Summers said. “I pretty much fell in love with (golf) and started playing every day.” The past two years he has been one of two captains. “He leads by example,” Schilling said. “He’s easy to follow in terms of his demeanor and work ethic.”
A member of the National Honor Society, Summers works hard in the classroom where he takes AP and honors courses. He plans to continue his golf career at the collegiate level where he plans to major in sports marketing or golf course management.
To view Summers’ complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/tj-summers
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