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 March 28, 2012)
Laura Altenburger knows how to make a good first impression. Coach Dave Chichilitti got his first glimpse of the Neshaminy senior when she was trying out for the Carpenter Cup team he was helping to coach. Watching Altenburger field, Chichilitti said, “I want one. The kid is just incredible. She’s diving all over during the tryout. I turned around to the other coaches and said, ‘Where can we get one of these?’” Little did Chichilitti know that that he’d soon be Altenburger’s high school coach when she transferred to Neshaminy as a sophomore. “She’s very intense,” the Redskins’ coach said. “She practices and plays harder than anybody, and she expects everyone to do the same. Laura plays a fearless, incredible shortstop. She’s inspiring…some of the plays she puts her body on the line for – it’s ridiculous.”
Last season, Altenburger hit .545 – the best in the area – and was named the Offensive MVP of a team that finished 20-5 overall, including a third place finish in the District One Tournament and a berth in the state semifinal game. “Laura was one of the first people to believe in me,” said Chichilitti, who took over as coach at Neshaminy last season. “I was going to come in and try to take the team to the next level because they had the talent. And she was one of the first who bought in and started to believe and played a big part in the run we made last year.” Altenburger is a senior leader of this year’s squad and is the ‘big out’ in the Redskins’ lineup.
Altenburger will be taking her talents to West Chester University next year.
To view Altenburger’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/laura-altenburger
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of March 28, 2012)
Jesse Prante is a throwback. The Norristown senior has been playing three sports since he was five years old, and this year he split time as the varsity goalie of the soccer team and has excelled in wrestling and lacrosse. He had a career best wrestling season, compiling a 40-11 record with 23 pins. He finished first in the Section Three Tournament and placed fourth in districts to qualify for regionals for the first time. He also was named First Team American Conference. What makes his accomplishment this year even more significant is the fact that he was wrestling at 220 pounds when his natural weight was only 185. “On any other team, he would wrestle 170,” coach Mark Harner said. “He found a way to wrestle the bigger kids. He got really confident. He was pretty good when he was younger, and he seemed to regain confidence this year that he didn’t have the last couple of years of high school.”
Prante’s success in wrestling is carrying over to the lacrosse field where he has been a four-year starter for the Eagles. “Each year he has gotten a little better,” coach Jeff Calhoun said. “He has real good stick work. I show him a play, and he knows how to run it after one time through. He’s very coachable and smart.” Prante, who plays attack, is also unselfish. “If I need him to play midfield a couple of shifts, there’s no problem,” Calhoun said. “He’s a team player.”
Prante will be attending Hartford University next year. He selected Hartford over IUP and Temple because of its communications department. He is interested in sports journalism, and he hopes to play for the lacrosse team as a walk on.
To view Prante’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/jesse-prante
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