YMCA Celebrates Bergen County Student-Athletes During Annual Banquet

By: Mollie Shauger | Thursday, January 2, 2025 | News

From left, Aidan, Julie, Brian, and Evan Morrow

NEW MILFORD, NJ - The New Milford YMCA Program Center, a location of the Greater Bergen County YMCA, gathered Bergen County’s premier high school athletes, coaches, and officials together on Nov. 26 to celebrate their accomplishments and ensure more children in the community have access to athletic program opportunities. The 59th Annual Sports Award Banquet took place at The Terrace in Paramus and was a tremendous success, raising over $50,000 for the Y’s financial assistance program. 

During the event, friends and family of honorees gathered to recognize each of the 34 award recipients. Nominations are collected from Athletic Directors from across the county. Student athletes are selected based on their athletic and academic merit, while coaches and officials are selected based on their cumulative careers supporting our young athletes.

Julie Morrow, a longtime Y professional who has coordinated the Sports Award Banquet since 2006, was honored as YMCA Person of the Year. Morrow, a Hasbrouck Heights resident, has worked for the Y for 35 years, starting as Membership Services Director at the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. Over the years, she has taken on new roles and new projects, including the YMCA's first Annual Campaign to support families in need. The Sports Award Banquet was revitalized under Morrow's leadership, increasing donations by 50 percent in her first year. During the pandemic, she successfully transitioned the event to a virtual format, and in 2021, brought back in-person gatherings, raising over $396,000 since 2006.

In 2022, Morrow transitioned to a Revenue Accountant role in the YMCA's Finance Department, continuing to lead the Sports Award Banquet through 2023. Growing up playing soccer in high school and rec leagues, she has always believed that sports are important to the development of our youth. 

All those recognized are deserving of congratulations, along with those on the Sports Award Banquet Committee. Join the Y in celebrating the great work of our award recipients and Committee.

2024 Honorees

For Honoree Bios visit, https://givebutter.com/SportsAwards24

College Athlete
Jenna Rogers
Shane Griffith

Thomas L. Della Torre Special Achievement
Tom Curry

Richard Poor Service to the Community
Cory Doviak

Inspirational Adult
Mike Simmel

Service to Youth
Jenny Jurjevic
Tom Gallione
Mike Nangle

Special Achievement
Rob Ortiz
Manny Bernardez

Assistant Coach
Mike Petruccelli

Inspirational Student Athlete
Anthony Edson

Female High School Student – Athlete

Samantha Serrano - Academy of the Holy Angels
Christina Allen - River Dell High School
Layla Giordano - Northern Valley Old Tappan High School
Abigail Dennis - Northern Valley Old Tappan High School
Bree Cooney - Ridgefield Park Jr. Sr. High School

Male High School Student – Athlete

Jack Small - Northern Valley Old Tappan High School
Deron McLaughlin - Park Ridge High School
Ryan LoCicero - Don Bosco Preparatory High School
William Kirk - Ramsey High School
Peyton Seals - Ramapo High School

J. Barry Stanford Special Achievement

Juliana Brophy - New Milford High School
Taylor Miller - Northern Valley Demarest High School
Erin Fahy - Cresskill High School
Amanda Polyniak - Pascack Valley High School
Isabella Gabay - River Dell High School
Maya Giordano - Northern Valley Old Tappan High School
Grace McQueeney - River Dell High School
Cole Hughes - Park Ridge High School
Ryan Ford - Bergen Catholic High School
Ayden Jones - Hackensack High School
Benjamin Garcia - Don Bosco Preparatory High School 

2024 Sports Award Banquet Committee

Beth Del Vecchio, Chairperson

Lorenzo Baratta

Brian Carr

John Gorman

Jessica Hogan

Jim Jacobsen

Brendan McGovern

Michael Raimondi

Joseph Ricciardelli

Marcin Szorc

Ed Salvi

Joe Spafford

Jason Kelly

Bob Kilmurray