Bitzer becomes first Riverhead boy to receive athlete of year award twice

2012-13 ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Riverhead High School senior Ryan Bitzer was the only repeat winner Thursday evening when Times/Review Newsgroup presented its 2012-13 athlete of the year awards to the top female and male athletes from six area high schools.

Bitzer, a three-sport standout in football, basketball and lacrosse who will go on to play lacrosse for Stony Brook University, became the first Riverhead boy to win the award more than once. He was declared a co-winner along with Matt Crohan, a senior pitcher for Riverhead’s baseball team. The night before, Crohan received the Yastrzemski Award, which goes to the top baseball player in Suffolk County.

Co-winners were announced for Riverhead’s female athlete of the year as well, with senior basketball player Shanice Allen and junior Carolyn Carrera (soccer, basketball, lacrosse) sharing that honor.

The Shoreham-Wading River male athletes of the year are also co-winners, seniors T. J. Fabian (wrestling) and Tim Rotanz (basketball, lacrosse).

The three sets of co-winners are the most ever in the 28 years in which the awards have been presented.

Shoreham-Wading River softball pitcher Chelsea Hawks was honored as Shoreham’s female athlete of the year.

The other athletes honored in a ceremony at the media company’s Mattituck offices were: seniors Cassidy Lessard (tennis) and Raymond Ellis (football, basketball, baseball) of Bishop McGann-Mercy, senior Shelby Kostal (volleyball) and junior Austin Hooks (soccer, basketball, baseball) of Greenport, junior Shannon Dwyer (volleyball, basketball, track and field) and senior Chris Baglivi (soccer, wrestling, lacrosse) of Mattituck, and seniors Nicole Busso (basketball, softball) and David O’Day (golf, basketball, tennis) of Southold.

Coaches and athletic directors nominated athletes for the award, and the Times/Review Newsgroup sports department made the final choices.