The Williamsonian Fall 2012 | Page 23

SPORTS 23 NEWS New Era Begins For Football and Soccer New eras for both the football and soccer teams began this fall, when both teams opened up pre-season camp under new leadership. Heading up the soccer program is interim head coach John Curran 0W5, who takes over after the death of longtime head soccer coach Tony Wolski who passed away this past Memorial Day. When soccer camp began, it was the first time in 16 years that someone new was in charge of the program. Though new as head coach, Curran could not be more familiar with Williamson and the way Wolski ran his program. He played three years under Wolski and then was an assistant under him for five years. He currently is the assistant paint shop director. Heading into his first campaign as head football coach is none other than current head basketball coach Bill Michaels. He took over the dual roles of head football/head basketball coach when he was hired in December after the school decided to make a coaching change. He too is very familiar with the school having spent the past 10 years as the head basketball coach. During that time he won two USCAA Division II national championships with his teams playing in the title game four times during that 10-year span. He is the school’s career leader in wins and closing in on his 200th career win at Williamson. “This is definitely a time of transition, but it is one we are excited about. We will never be able to replace Coach Wolski, but if anyone can get us through this difficult time it is Coach Curran. And while Bill Michaels is “untested” as a head football coach, let’s face it, with his track record, there is no one we’d rather have than him at the helm,” commented athletic director Dale Plummer. “We are always the underdog in both sports, but with these guys in charge, we surely hope that changes in the very near future.” Abrams ’12 Voted Athlete of the Year Andrew Abrams 1W2 was named the George W. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year at the 46th annual Sports Banquet in May. Long-time athletic director Dale Plummer said, “The award is the most prestigious athletic award we offer. It’s even more special because it is the only award we offer that is selected by our student-athlete themselves; every other award is selected by a coach, conference, or national organization. As far as being worthy, no one could argue that Abrams was more than deserving.” At the banquet, he took home awards for being named first-team All-Seaboard Conference in football as both the top punter and kicker as well as the Special Teams MVP award. In soccer, he was named the team’s Defensive MVP award winner as well as a firstteam all ESSL selection. He also was named the baseball team’s Kevin Scott award winner as the team’s top pitcher for the year. Additionally, he was given an award at the banquet for lettering in four sports (soccer, football, basketball, and baseball) during the 2011-12 school year. For his career, Abrams earned nine varsity letters (two in soccer, three each in football and baseball, and one in basketball. He was a first-team all ESSL selection in soccer during the 2010-11 school year as well as the Sal Intelisano Memorial award winner as the baseball MVP the same year. Athletic Director Dale Plummer (left) shakes hands with Andrew Abrams 1W2 for being named the George W. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year. Football Coach Bill Michaels Soccer Coach John Curran 0W5 Athletic Dept. Busy This Summer, Joining EPAC And ASAC The 2012 summer, while dormant for some athletic departments, was anything but for Williamson’s as the school helped in the formation of two new conferences and also saw football added as part of the USCAA’s overall growth and expansion plan. “It was a busy time, but an exciting one for the school, our programs, and our student-athletes,” commented athletic director Dale Plummer, now entering his 25th year at the helm of Williamson’s Athletic Department. The first move the school made was to become an inaugural member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) as part of Region XIX of the NJCAA. It joined 11 other schools in Pennsylvania in doing so. “We have always been a member of Region XIX, which encompasses 32 colleges from Penn