Mike Goga, Taylor Dadig earn top honors at Baldwin

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 25, 2018 | 11:35 PM

Baldwin's annual athletic senior awards banquet was May 20 at Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The top award recipients were two well-known names in the Baldwin athletic scene, Mike Goga and Taylor Dadig, who were honored as the male and female senior athletes of the year.

Goga, a basketball and volleyball standout, plans to attend Pitt, where he will study engineering.

“I am extremely honored to have been named male athlete of the year,” Goga said. “It was a really nice way to end my career at Baldwin. It especially means a lot to me considering all the great athletes at Baldwin who also deserve recognition.

“I feel that all the time spent with my great teammates and coaches was enough of a reward for me, so winning the award is just icing on the cake of so many great experiences that I've had at Baldwin. I will always cherish the relationships and memories I made in my time at Baldwin.”

Dadig plans to continue her softball career at George Mason. She also will study engineering.

“It was a great experience to see my hard work be recognized by the school,” Dadig said. “I would like to thank my teachers and coaches for guiding me along the way and helping me pursue my personal goal to always continue to work hard both academically and athletically.”

Dadig also received the Highlander Scholarship Award from the Baldwin-Whitehall Schools Athletic Booster Association, as did Sam Barbano.

“It was an honor to receive the award,” Dadig said. “I owe a lot of my accomplishments to my teammates, coaches and teachers, who put in a lot of time to help me succeed in the classroom and on the field. It felt amazing to be honored with a scholarship that will help me make the most of my opportunities at George Mason.”

Another leading award recipient at the banquet was Emelia Zandier, who landed the coveted Karpa Award.

The Karpa Award is presented to a senior letterwinner who displays loyalty, devotion, a sense of humor and a deep concern for others, and offers the greatest overall contribution to Baldwin athletics.

“What a great group of student-athletes,” said Vince Sortino, Baldwin's athletic director and softball coach.

Other recent award winners at Baldwin include:

BRESS AWARD

2017 — Casey Conboy, Maddi Sgattoni

2016 — Nick Altavilla, Jaimie Schleicher

2015 — Doug Altavilla, Josie Karabinos

2014 — Luke Smorey, Carla Nicola

2013 — Dorian Brown, Alexa Stahl

2012 — Eric Michalski, Taylor Wentzel

2011 — Paul DeGregorio, Belma Nurkic

KARPA AWARD

2017 — Katie Knezevich

2016 — Mackenzie Voelker

2015 —Mara Meyer

2014 — Alicia Mastroianni

2013 — Juliana Fortunato

2012 — Laura Hall

2011 — Phillip Wright

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin