Area athletes honored at Central Mass. High School Sports Awards

The top athletes throughout Central Mass. were honored on Wednesday night at the Hanover Theatre as part of the Central Mass. High School Sports Awards ceremony, presented by DCU-Digital Federal Credit Union.

The night was a chance to celebrate the 2022-23 high school sports season in Central Mass. and pay tribute to the tremendous athletes that have been honored this season as Telegram & Gazette all-stars.

Former New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty was the guest speaker, and talked on stage with the Telegram & Gazette's Rich Garven about his career and passed along advice that he has learned throughout his career.

The event also was a chance to celebrate the fantastic season of the North High boys' basketball team, which took home honors as the Team of the Year, topping the West Boylston football team and the Shrewsbury High girls' hockey team for the honor.

The Polar Bears defeated Needham to become the first Division 1 public school from Worcester to win a state championship. North, which entered the state tournament as the No. 6 seed, defeated Wellesley, Beverly, Brockton and Newton North to reach the Division 1 state final for the first time since 1980, becoming the first Worcester public school to reach the Division 1 final since 1997.

The Polar Bears had a busy night, as coach Al Pettway was selected as the Coach of the Year, edging Shrewsbury girls' hockey coach Frank Panarelli and Uxbridge field hockey coach Kelly Rosborough, while Tahlan Pettway was named boys' basketball player of the year and Ty Tabales was given the Courage Award.

Tabales, who recently transferred to the New Hampton School and picked up his first scholarship offer Wednesday from Bryant University, overcame a terrifying ordeal to even return to the court for the Polar Bears. Tabales spent three weeks in the hospital, most of it in the intensive care unit, and underwent two surgeries while doctors tried to determine the cause of his triple-digit fever, the serious swelling on his rib cage and under his arm on the right side, and rash on his chest.

Tabales had strep A and toxic shock syndrome, a rare but life-threatening complication that was attack the nerves in his right arm. Tabales overcame the odds and returned to the court to help North on its playoff run, including a shining moment in a state semifinal win over Newton North, sinking back-to-back 3s in the fourth quarter to finish with 13 points in the win.

Uxbridge track and cross-country star Aidan Ross was named the boys' Athlete of the Year. Ross, who was also named the Boys' Cross-Country Athlete of the Year, repeated as Division 3 state XC champ and then set a school record in the 2 mile in indoor track of 9 minutes, 16.58 seconds while winning the MSTCA Northeast Invitational. In the spring, the Wake Forest-bound Ross was the state divisional champion in the mile and 2 mile. He finished third in the 2 mile at the Meet of Champions and fifth in the 5K at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

More: Uxbridge's Aidan Ross reflects on journey around local running scene on way to Wake Forest

Shrewsbury's Maddie Mrva, who was a three-sport Super Team selection in girls' hockey, field hockey and girls' lacrosse for the Colonials, was named the girls' Athlete of the Year.

More: Shrewsbury High girls' ice hockey team celebrates state championship at Statehouse

Mrva led the Colonials to their first ice hockey state championship this winter, helped Shrewsbury's field hockey team to the CMADA Division 1 championship and the quarterfinals of the Division 1 state tournament and wrapping up a stellar career with 83 points in girls' lacrosse in the spring. Mrva will continue to shine next year at Bowdoin College, where she will play field hockey.

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Several other athletes took home honors as Players of the Year in their respective sports, including:

Baseball: Angel Baez, Leominster

Boys' basketball: Tahlan Pettway, North High

Girls' basketball: Mary Gibbons, Wachusett

Boys' cross-country: Aidan Ross, Uxbridge

Girls' cross-country: Ashlyn Witt, Wachusett

Field hockey: Abigail Zacchini, Nashoba

Football (Defense): Liam Donagher, Grafton

Football (Offense): Tucker McDonald, Wachusett

Boys' golf: Patrick Ginnity, St. Bernard's

Girls' golf: Sophie Kamil, Westborough

Gymnastics: Charlotte Woodbury, Groton-Dunstable

Boys' hockey: Dillan Lowe, Nashoba

Girls' hockey: Maddie Mrva, Shrewsbury

Boys' indoor track: Alan Nguyen, Westborough

Girls' indoor track: Haley McCormack, Tantasqua

Boys' lacrosse: Cam Michaud, Grafton

Girls' lacrosse: Caity Tyldesley, Grafton

Boys' skiing: Declan Varnerin, Nashoba

Girls' skiing: Ella Varnerin, Nashoba

Boys' soccer: Rory O'Neill, Shrewsbury

Girls' soccer: Gabriela Miranda, Algonquin

Softball: Maddie Kiley, Hudson

Boys' swimming: Kevin Dong, Shrewsbury

Girls' swimming: Caitlyn Reitsma, Westborough

Boys' tennis: Kaden Chen, Westborough

Girls' tennis: Mira McLaren, Westborough

Boys' outdoor track and field: Theo Puterbaugh, Parker School

Girls' outdoor track and field: Melinda Haagensen, Westborough

Boys' volleyball: Matt Deeley, St. John's

Girls' volleyball: Quinn Anderson, Westborough

Wrestling: Rafael Knapp, Algonquin

To see a complete list of fall season athletes click here: Fall nominees for Central Mass HSSAs June 28 at Hanover Theatre (telegram.com)

To see a complete list of winter season athletes click here: These Central Mass. athletes were selected as T&G Hometeam winter all-stars (telegram.com)

To see a complete list of spring season athletes click here: Spring nominees for Central Mass High School Sports Awards (telegram.com)

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This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Area athletes honored at Central Mass. High School Sports Awards