Student athletes from Glendale high schools were recognized at the second annual ACE Awards held at the Alex Theatre. Among the recipients was the Crescenta Valley High School girls’ water polo team that took home the Female Team with Character and Ethics award.
By Brandon HENSLEY
What athletes are most measured by when they play sports is whether they win or lose, but for the last two years those at the high school and college level have been recognized locally for much more than that.
On May 25, student athletes from Glendale Unified School District high schools and Glendale Community College were recognized at the second annual ACE Awards at Glendale’s Alex Theatre. The show was sponsored by The Character and Ethics Project, which is dedicated to promoting and building good character and ethical behavior at home and in the community.
Comedian Bill Dwyer was the master of ceremonies and former Sports Illustrated writer and current ESPN personality Rick Reilly delivered a video recording of his keynote address, praising the athletes nominated and asking the question, “When can you turn pro?”
The ACE awards are all about handling oneself with integrity, but Crescenta Valley High School would have been the school to gloat if that wasn’t the case. CV took home wins in five of the nine high school categories available. The other schools involved were Glendale and Hoover high schools.
Senior softball sensation Erin Ashby received the award for Scholastic Female Athlete with Character and Ethics.
“I think it demonstrates a lot about our community and how involved in how much we promote athletics and scholastic [achievement] and people who demonstrate great character and so I think it was a great honor to receive the award,” said Ashby, who will attend Stanford University in the fall.
Ashby credited her coach Dan Berry with giving his players the tools to succeed on the field, and also how to win and lose with dignity. “I think it’s important to show that you have great integrity and character to whoever you’re playing,” Ashby said.
“I think it says a lot about your school and your program and so Coach Berry has built such an amazing program over the many years he’s been there, and it is displayed in each girl as they go through the program.”
Falcon Joshua Choi won Male Athlete with Character and Ethics. The CV soccer team won Male Team with Character and Ethics, and the girls water polo team won Female team for the same award.
Pete Loporchio coaches girls water polo and he also won Coach of a Female Team with Character and Ethics. Falcon football player Levi Walker was nominated for Scholastic Male Athlete with Character and Ethics, but Hoover track star Andrew Lee took home the award. W a – ter polo star Kimberly Fraisse was up for Female Athlete with Character and Ethics, but Hoover volleyball player Meagen Knight won the award.
The GCC teams, players and coaches had their own section, as they battled each other for awards. Former Falcon basketball player Narbeh Ebrahimian was nominated for Male Athlete with Character and Ethics. Baseball player Scott Hong was the recipient instead.
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