Eleanor Roosevelt High School Names Fall Sports Heroes

Many attending the Fall Athletics Awards ceremony at Eleanor Roosevelt High School on Monday evening knew assistant principal Benjamin Pryor wasn’t kidding when he said that grades come first at the high school and that sports build character and discipline.

Interspersed with acknowledgements of most valuable players, most improved players, unsung heroes, and winners of a host of awards were grade point averages of 4.0 to 4.57. 

The winners included the girls varsity soccer team that defeated Bowie High School this year to reach the state semi-finals.

Martin Pfister, a girls varsity soccer team coach, recalled how he had taken for granted beating Roosevelt’s big rival, Bowie, in his first year coaching when the team had a 5-0 record against them. But then they had a 0-7 record when they couldn’t win a game. He said it made it that much sweeter for him when his team made it to the semi-finals this year.

It was an evening full of reminiscences and brimming with star athletes. Take Greenbelter Charlotte Francoeur for example- a senior and captain of the girls varsity soccer team, who has played soccer since she was six years old.

"Coach Bob," (Bob Sowers) pointed out that Francoeur and most of the soccer players are enrolled in the school’s Science and Technology Center classes.

Francoeur received two plaques on Monday night — the 2011 Coach’s Award and a four-year varsity award. 

Fellow star, senior Becky Sowers also received a four-year varsity award as well as Most Valuable Player.

Throughout the awards ceremony coaches praised student athletes and parents, and parents and athletes praised their coaches. Along with praise, the athletes received plaques and certificates, and the coaches got team shirts with their names embroidered on them. 

The thanks and honoring continued throughout the evening for the athlete-scholars. Freshman Elizabeth Voigt, 14, has already made a name for herself, with a time of 21:02 in a 5-K race at a state meet.

Candy Fosta, said her daughter Katelyn, 17, is a softball champion and team captain who keeps in shape with soccer, cross country, and swimming, while serving as one of the swim team’s captains and maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Senior Justin Ahalt was honored for being an asset to his team in many ways, with his leadership as captain and his speed—a 9:30 2-miler—that makes him a standout at meets. Ahalt was also recognized for his behind-the-scenes efforts, such as motivating the team and helping new players. He has been accepted at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, where he plans to study engineering.