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 Sept. 7, 2016)
Erin Chioffe found herself at a crossroads. Although only in seventh grade, the now Central Bucks South senior had to choose between playing field hockey for her middle school team or moving into the world of more competitive dancing. She opted for field hockey, a decision she’s never regretted. “I think if I didn’t play field hockey I would still be a dancer to this day because I really did love it,” said Chioffe, who had been taking dance lessons since she was four. Field hockey became one of Chioffe’s passions, and she is co-captain – along with Lauren Dougherty – of a squad whose seniors have the dubious distinction of playing for four different coaches in four years. The Titans advanced to the district title game three years ago and the state semifinals when Chioffe was a sophomore but last year won just three games.
The hockey program opened another chapter this season when veteran coach Pat Toner took over the helm and was joined on her staff by former South coach Meg Hutchinson. Chioffe has been instrumental in the smooth transition. “Having four different coaches with four different expectations and systems of play has no doubt been difficult for the seniors,” Toner said. “Every day I see improvement, and with the help of our captains, I think we’ll be able to put CB South back on track to being successful. Having been around a long while, I know that no team is successful without players like Erin who are willing to adjust and adapt to whatever is played in their path.”
An excellent student, Chioffe is a member of the National Honor Society. She is involved in Titans Connect and Athletes Helping Athletes and is active in her church youth group. Chioffe plans to continue her hockey career at the collegiate level where she hopes to pursue a career in nursing. For now, the senior co-captain’s focus is on her final high school season, providing leadership for a Titan squad that is laying the foundation for a bright future. “Being able to be successful in hockey requires a group of people moving towards the same goal – literally and figuratively, talent, hard work and leadership,” Toner said. “I am thankful to have the leadership and calm presence Erin provides.”
To read Chioffe’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/erin-chioffe-0064105
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Sept. 8, 2016)
An axiom passing the test of time: It’s not what you say but what you do that counts. And what Connor McMenamin did for the Souderton track team one day two years ago still reverberates. “He helped us beat Pennridge in track in 2014 by running multiple events with no rest,” Souderton coach John Donahue said. “He makes sacrifices for the team.” After missing last spring’s track season with a bone stress reaction, the “sacrifice” against the rival Rams remains vivid in McMenamin’s mind. The Indians were in a close meet with a Pennridge team that were champions that year, and McMenamin’s day appeared to be done after finishing third in the 1600 and a narrow second in the 800, but one didn’t need a 4.6 weighted GPA and be an aspiring math or physics major at either the Naval Academy or Bucknell to do the simple math. What stood between a season-defining win and close loss was the need for his team to place at least third in the pending 3200.
A distance event, on such little rest, seemed to be pushing the bounds of reality. “I heard the score and I walked over to the coaches and I said I wanted to run the 3200,” said McMenamin. “I said, ‘No way am I walking off this track without the team winning.’ I ran the race, I got third place and we won the meet.” He also won the respect and admiration of the team. It was no mistake that his teammates voted him captain as a junior.
Coupled with his near flawless academic record along with multiple activities – National Honor Society, Principal-Souderton Advisory Council, Jazz Band and being an Eagle Scout – McMenamin’s prowess in cross country and track has created exciting opportunities. During the cross country season last fall, he made history, literally, in a tri-meet with CB West and Quakertown when he ran a school-record 15.57. After a successful cross country and winter track season, he sustained the bone stress reduction while training for the spring season and was out of action for the season. This fall, a healthy McMenamin is ready to pick up where he left off as the captain of the cross country team and the second-year captain of the track team.
To read McMenamin’s compete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/connor-mcmenamin-0064104
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