High school and middle school students who played on an ACS sports team during the 2018-2019 school year received recognition for their participation, leadership, and athletic abilities at awards programs on May 31 and June 3. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, along with members of the Varsity Baseball team, also made a special presentation to recognize and thank Varsity Baseball head coach Ray Picking, who announced he is retiring this year. Picking has served as the head coach since 2014. CLICK HERE to view photo galleries of the high school and middle school sports awards programs.
At the high school awards event, it was a time to celebrate and reflect on a memorable year of achievement. The Varsity Girls’ Soccer team won the Tri-State Christian Athletic Championship and senior Lola Oguntuase was named the conference MVP. In basketball, both Varsity teams made it to the TSCAC Championship game, but suffered disappointing losses, and the Varsity Baseball team posted an undefeated season and was headed to the championship game the next day. The ACS girls’ and boys’ teams took first place in the TSCAC track meet. In addition, a number of athletes put their names in the ACS record book, including 10th grader Olivia Chapman, who ran the 200 meter in 27.2, and 10th grader Sydney Pearson, who pulled down 500 career rebounds this year.
Cougar Award Winners 
Billy Robinson Award Winners
Elijah Chapman and Rebekah Darragh received the Cougar Award, given to one senior boy and one senior girl who have demonstrated outstanding Christian character, leadership, responsibility, and commitment in the area of athletics. Ryan Lomangino and Lola Oguntuase were chosen by the Athletic Department to be the recipients of the 2019 Billy Robinson Award that recognizes one high school boy and one high school girl for significant achievement, Christian testimony, and athletic ability. Ryan will be attending Stockton University in the fall, where he will be playing on the men’s baseball team, and Lola has received a full scholarship to attend Thomas Jefferson University, where she will be playing on the women’s soccer team.
At the middle school sports awards program, students who participated in soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and cheer were recognized and honored. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner thanked the coaches for an outstanding year and one of the most memorable for middle school teams in the school’s history. In particular, she noted the strong winning season of the girls’ soccer team in the top Division 1 of the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, the undefeated 12-0 season and first place ranking of the boys’ soccer team, and the 2nd consecutive year of earning first place for the girls’ softball team. The middle school boys’ and girls’ track teams also came in first place in the TSCAC track meet. Two new banners recognizing undefeated seasons, which will be hung on the gym walls, were unveiled during the program — for the boys’ soccer team and the girls’ softball team.
Hitchner also thanked and recognized two new first-year coaches for their efforts — Lee Martin (boys’ basketball ) and Grant Miller (girls’ basketball). The other head coaches of Middle School teams, who presented certificates to their players and spoke about their accomplishments, were: girls’ soccer — Casey Hopwood (unable to attend, Hitchner gave remarks), boys’ soccer — Tom Ellison; baseball — Rob Barberio; softball — Mike Bohs; cheer — Kelly Flynn. The athletes and family members enjoyed ice cream sundaes at a reception following the ceremony.
