Annual Monroe-Woodbury Parents Football Club honors 2017 Crusaders
![Annual Monroe-Woodbury Parents Football Club honors 2017 Crusaders Photos by William Dimmit Bradley Byrnes receives the 2017 MVP Award from Head Coach Ryan Baldock.](http://www.thephoto-news.com/binrepository/340x432/0c0/0d0/none/1050949/IYGT/SPORTS_171209979_AR_0_0_PN20171205171209979_MG2870859.jpg)
![Annual Monroe-Woodbury Parents Football Club honors 2017 Crusaders Jack Dembia receives the Rookie of the Year Award from Head Coach Ryan Baldock and Assistant Coach Mike Gennaro.](http://www.thephoto-news.com/binrepository/586x432/0c0/0d0/none/1050949/SRNN/SPORTS_171209979_EP_-1_0_PN20171205171209979_MG2870860.jpg)
![Annual Monroe-Woodbury Parents Football Club honors 2017 Crusaders The core of next year's Monroe-Woodbury Varsity Football team: From left to right, Dylan Wynn, Zack Vanier, Chris Calderone, Jayden Prina, Steven Campione, David Strauss, John Braunagel and Tyler Toledo.](http://www.thephoto-news.com/binrepository/531x432/0c0/0d0/none/1050949/HSNB/SPORTS_171209979_EP_-1_1_PN20171205171209979_MG2870885.jpg)
![Annual Monroe-Woodbury Parents Football Club honors 2017 Crusaders Seniors with their awards: From left to right: Garrett Welch, Owen Chambers, Matt Seguinot, Johnny McCormick and Jack Colbath.](http://www.thephoto-news.com/binrepository/597x432/0c0/0d0/none/1050949/PPNN/SPORTS_171209979_EP_-1_2_PN20171205171209979_MG2870904.jpg)
CENTRAL VALLEY — On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3, the Monroe-Woodbury Parents Football Club held its 2017 awards dinner at the Falkirk Country Club.
The club, run by President Tony Cardone, Vice President Pat White, Secretary Kim Quintana and Treasurer Irene West, raises money and organizes help and support for the Monroe-Woodbury School district football program.
The freshman team's Head Coach Pat Tierney and Assistant Coaches James D’Alessio and Stephen Hagen talked about their season and gave awards to their players.
Then the Junior Varsity Head Coach Joe Pesce and Assistant Coaches Jimmy Ehlers and Mark Tooma talked about their teams season and gave awards and recognition to their players.
Guest speaker Brian Smith, a 1991 Monroe-Woodbury graduate, recalled his football experience playing at Monroe-Woodbury, the University of Rode Island and in Arena League Football League.
Varsity Head Coach Ryan Baldock thanked the Football Club for its support over the season and acknowledged his support staff and his players for their effort over the long season.
Ryan was then joined by Assistant Head Coach Dave Colabella and Assistant Coaches Brett Van De Weert, Jordan Bari and Mike Gennaro as they gave out the awards to the varsity players.
The varsity players receiving awards were:
Johnny McCormick, Most Improved Player and Offensive MVP;
Owen Chambers, Defensive MVP;
Bradley Byrnes, Most Valuable Player;
Jack Dembia, Rookie of the Year;
Jayden Prina, Linemen of the Year;
Jack Colbath, Citizenship Award;
Mikey Boyle, Special Teams MVP;
Matt Seguinot, Plays with Hart Award;
Garrett Welch, the Monroe-Woodbury Football Club Scholarship; and
Owen Chambers, the Michael J. Finnegan Scholar Athlete Scholarship.
The Crusaders finished the season with a 7-2 record, losing in the Section 9 Title game.
Although they are loosing 23 players to graduation this year, the Crusaders will have a strong group of experienced players to build another successful season around next year.
- William Dimmit