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 May 1, 2013)
Dominique Pinto’s passion for softball is unmistakable and so is the genuine enjoyment the Council Rock North senior derives from her sport. “She gets an absolute joy out of playing softball,” coach Hollie Woodard said. “And she gets a tremendous amount of joy out of the sisterhood we get from the team – the friendships, the bond she makes with her teammates. She’s got this unbelievable love of softball and has respect for the game. She’s the absolute team player, and she makes everybody feel like they’re important.” For her part, Pinto can’t imagine softball being anything but a joy. “I don’t think I can be anything but happy playing softball,” she said. “I want other people to love it as much as I do because, in my eyes, I don’t’ see how anyone could not be obsessed by the game.”
As much as she loves softball, Pinto loves one thing even more – her family. “I could go on for days about my family,” she said. “My dad, my mom and my sister – they’re the hands that I hit with and the legs that I run with. A lot of people are like, ‘If it wasn’t for this person, I don’t think I would be here,’ but I’m not kidding – if it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.” Where Pinto is right now is coming down the home stretch of a stellar four-year varsity high school career. She recently surpassed the career 100-hit milestone, an accomplishment that is magnified when taking into account that she did it in three-and-a-half seasons that did not include playoff games. “She’s a fantastic hitter, and as an opposing coach, she’s got a really difficult swing to read,” Woodard said. In addition the talent she brings to the diamond, Pinto is a born leader. “The girls respond to her,” Woodard said. “She can tell someone to do something without making them feel like she’s belittling them or that she somehow thinks she’s better than them.” A fierce competitor, Pinto has earned the respect of her opponents. “Other coaches really like her,” Woodard said. “You don’t want to like her when you’re on the other team, but you can’t help but just have a respect for her and the way she handles herself. She loves the game, win or lose.”
Pinto, a standout catcher, has parlayed her talents into a softball scholarship to the University of Connecticut where she has been accepted into its school of business and will major in finance. Her dream job – the CEO of Goldman Sachs. Woodard has her own thoughts about Pinto’s future. “I’ve said to her, ‘You’re such a natural leader that I think the world needs you in a more important role. I would love to see you go into politics. I would love to see you go into law,’” the Indians’ coach said. “Dom is such an impressive young woman, and I can’t wait to see what she is going to do.”
To read Pinto’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/dominique-pinto-0034445
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of May 1, 2013)
Some people stand out no matter where they are or what they’re doing. Paul Somerville is one such person. The Cheltenham senior made his mark on the soccer team as well as the winter and spring track teams. His true legacy will not be how many goals he scored or how far he threw the discus, but rather in his leadership skills and his commitment to the team. “Paul’s best asset was his dedication to the team,” Cheltenham soccer coach Chuck Gesing said. “Without direction, Paul acted as a role model bringing younger players up to varsity standards. He did this intrinsically through his words and actions. Paul was a pleasure to coach because he was open to playing several different positions at different times during the year. He never hesitated to put the needs of the team above his personal goals.” Cheltenham track coach Robert Beale concurred. “He’s a wonderful young man,” the Panthers’ coach said. “He’s so coachable himself, and he acts like a coach to the younger people coming into the program. He’s a student of the sport, and he really tries to help with the younger athletes. He’s a joy to have around. He’s one of those kids you only get once in a while.”
Somerville wrestled for Cheltenham in his freshman and sophomore years but eventually gave it up to participate in winter track. “I realized I could either get really good at throwing or just be a decent wrestler, so I went for winter track instead, and it’s been a very good decision for me,” he said.
Somerville specializes in the throws, but he’s game for racing as well. “He does whatever we ask him to do for the sake of the team, and not every kid is willing to do that,” Beale said. Somerville was a state qualifier in the shot put during the indoor season, and he is one of the top throwers in the SOL American Conference, boasting personal best throws of 48-4 in shot put and 135-3.5 in discus, but he doesn’t mind doing events outside of his area of expertise. Somerville’s best hopes for going to the PIAA championships are in the discus, where he already is a District One qualifier.
Somerville will continue his education at Millersville where he plans to major in economics. Outside of school, he is a member of the Boy Scouts Adventure Crew. “He’s the type of person who will succeed in life no matter what he does because he understands what it means to be a part of something that’s bigger than he is, and it’s refreshing to see that,” Beale said. “We’re going to miss him when he graduates.”
To view Somerville’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/paul-somerville-0034441
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