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 Jan. 9, 2013)
Simone Jacques is the undisputed leader of this year’s Plymouth Whitemarsh basketball squad. The senior captain is a four-year starter and leads the team in both scoring and rebounding. “She’s a quiet leader,” PW coach Daniel Dougherty said. “She’s the one in the locker room that is just so positive. She never yells at her teammates in a negative way. She’s just a real positive leader all the time.” Former PW coach Becky Duffy also cannot talk about Jacques without mentioning her positive outlook. “She just has such a great perspective on life,” Duffy said. “Basketball aside, she’s a very positive individual, and she’s a very mature individual.”
Jacques suffered a setback when she tore her ACL in March of her freshman year. Midway through her sophomore season, she was back in PW’s lineup armed with a new perspective. “It made me realize that basketball is something that’s big in my life, and I enjoy playing it,” Jacques said. “I definitely think I’m a stronger and better player because of that.”
Jacques, whose mother lost her battle with breast cancer when Simone was in eighth grade, credits her upbeat personality to her father. “Things aren’t always going to go your way, so you have to roll with the punches,” Jacques said. “You have to handle what life gives you. Life is too short so why sit there being miserable or critical when you can be positive and keep a smile on your face.”
Just as she excels on the hardwood, Jacques also excels in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society, she is in the top 10 percent of her class and boasts an unweighted GPA of 4.0. A member of the Class of 2013 steering committee, Jacques also is a Senior I-Block Buddy, serving as a mentor to freshmen.
Jacques, who plans to major in marketing, has already been accepted into the business programs at Fordham and Hofstra. Her top choice is NYU, and Emory is also high on her list.
To read Jacques’ complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/simone-jacques-0031269
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Jan. 9, 2013)
Caleb Witzaney plays defense for the North Penn ice hockey team. He also happens to be the team’s leading scorer. “I think he’s the most talented player in the league,” said coach Kevin Vaitis, whose squad is in first place in the Continental Division of the SHSHL. “He plays primarily on defense, but we just recently moved him up to forward also. We did that to create more offense for our team up front.” Mission accomplished. Witzaney, an assistant captain, has tallied several hat tricks this season and has been instrumental in some key victories.
Witzaney was selected to the 2012 SHSHL Travel All-Star Team. He also worked as a mentor to younger players on the Ice Dogs travel program and also for the North Penn squad. “He’s a leader by example,” Vaitis said. “He’s always one of the first ones to show up at practice, and he’s first in line to do drills. He comes through at critical moments in games, and he has a lot of experience. He has a tremendous work ethic. The big thing with Caleb is that not only is he very talented, but he’s the most respectful young man I’ve come across.”
Whether it’s on the ice or in the classroom, Witzaney excels. He is a 4.0 student at North Penn. He takes all honors courses, including Advanced Placement science and math and statistics. Witzaney is a member of the French Club. He has tutored other students, and he helped organize the annual toy drive to benefit the North Penn Boys and Girls Club. He plans to pursue engineering in college, most likely at either Penn State or Pittsburgh.
To view Witzaney’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/caleb-witzaney-0031268
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