Category: Awards

The namesake of this awarded being none other than former NYCHSFL President and legendary Chaminade Head Coach, Joseph Thomas,”; during his 40 years of service to the Flyers; the Philadelphia born gentleman brought a new level of toughness to the Metro football scene!! And “toughness” and “guts” are exactly the traits one needs in order to prosper as an Offensive and/or Defensive lineman!! As the old adage proclaims, “This game is won and lost in the trenches”; and thanks to the selfless and unrelentless courage displayed by these three “unsung heroes”, their respective schools relished in sweet victory considerably more often than they tasted bitter defeat (27-11 combined record) en route to all advancing to Championship weekend!! One of our selections a true “Ironman” who refused to come off the field; the other two serving as dominant Left Tackles who paved the way for explosive offensives that each averaged 26.5

Named in tribute to legendary/ Hall-of-Fame Coach, Vince O’Connor (St. Francis Prep); if defense really does win championships as the saying suggests; then there is not a more appropriate namesake than a man who retired having won more games and titles than anyone in NYCHSFL history (341 wins; 16 crowns)… The award that perhaps carries with it the greatest lineage of future successes at higher levels of the sport; when we look at past selections such as former NFL players— Maurice Evans (2005; Christ the King), Gavin Heslop (2014; Archbishop Stepinac), and Trill Williams (2017; Archbishop Stepinac); as well as more recent recipients—Zyian Moultrie-Goddard (Iona Prep; playing at Syracuse) & Ian Strong (St. Anthony’s; playing at Rutgers); it is easy to see that correlation that exists between winning this trophy and then realizing your dreams… Comprised of two DL and a “Do Everything LB”, our 2024 picks “owned property” in

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Whether it be a long kick return or a big boot in the closing moments for a game-winner; names such as Deion Sanders, Gale Sayers, Devin Hester, Brian Mitchell, Adam Vinatieri, Shane Lechler, Jason Elam, Ray Gay, Lou Groza, Sammy Baugh, Justin Tucker, and Harrison Butker are iconic… An area of the game that garners the least attention; but has every bit as significant an impact on determining the verdict; the ability to dictate starting field position or deliver clutch points at the perfect time is never to be taken for granted… The unit is called “special” teams because it requires a special kind of person to be entrusted to answer the call to duty when it rings!! And speaking of “rings”; it is not by mere coincidence that the stellar performances given by two of 2024 selections would be rewarded by the football

Presented in the name of League Founder, Monsignor Matthew Peter, the award for Student-Athlete of the Year is the most heralded/renowned prize that an individual can receive… The time-honored tradition of the trophy dating back to its inaugural recipient in 1962 (World famous Ophthalmologist, Thomas Liesegang; Chaminade); the “Peters” has come to be regarded as a bridge and/or pipeline to a future of both educational and professional prosperity… The list of winners reading like a chronicle of one success story after another; selections have included multiple doctors (such as Liesegang), several U.S. Naval Offices (ex- Liam Brown; 2018; Chaminade; USNA), a U.S. Naval Pilot (Brandon Coleman; 2014; Archbishop Stepinac; USNA), an NFL player (Caraun Reid; 2008; Mount St. Michael Academy; Princeton); a present-day Florida judge (Kevin Hellmann; 1983; Cardinal Spellman; Harvard University); and a wealth of captains of industry in the fields of finance, banking, investment, and whatnot!! The esteemed