Berty Awards Preview: Championship Moments, Record Breaking Performances highlight awards

The 2025-26 Berkshire Athletics Awards Show will celebrate one of the most memorable years in recent Badger history, honoring athletes and teams across Berkshire athletics. This year’s ballot features nominees from every Berkshire athletic program and includes conference champions, state qualifiers, record breakers, and historic team accomplishments. Male Breakthrough Athlete nominees include Tripp Wadsworth, Trent Holland, Carter Chamblin, Peyton Conrad, Colton Miller-Gabbard, Christopher Brancel, Evan Tromba, Chase Bajzel, and Peyton Pollock. Female Breakthrough Athlete nominees include Catherine Toth, Addison Jones, Marissa Karl, Violet Zelle, Piper Geiss, and Maya Mendolera. The Best Individual Performance categories feature Nathan Benson’s 8-goal, 6-assist soccer game, Cam Beam’s 20-point, 10-rebound performance against Cardinal, Danny Starr’s 18-kill volleyball match, Kyle McGuire’s perfect 50/50 shooting performance, Ethan Miller’s 225 bowling game, and Evan Pollock’s 37 at Punderson. Female nominees include Ivy Martin’s 163-yard, 3-touchdown flag football performance, Stella Bateman’s 23-point, 14-rebound basketball game, Moira Wonders’ 18-strikeout softball performance, Kelly McCandless’ 5-goal soccer game, Maggie Boyd placing 3rd in her first wrestling tournament, Samantha Snow’s 183 bowling game, and Makenna Felker scoring in four events at the Berkshire Invitational. The Record Breaking categories include Kelly McCandless becoming Berkshire soccer’s first All-American, Whitney Davis setting multiple softball records, the girls volleyball team setting a new wins record while winning a district title, and the girls wrestling team producing three district qualifiers in its inaugural season. Addison Jones, the girls basketball team, the boys soccer team, Sam Barcikoski, and Caden McGranahan are also nominated for historic accomplishments this year. Team Best Game nominees include Boys Track & Field winning the CVC Championship, Boys Basketball defeating Madison on a buzzer beater, Baseball’s comeback win over Geneva, Boys Volleyball’s reverse sweep over Eastlake North, Boys Wrestling winning the CVC Tournament, Boys Soccer defeating Grand Valley, Boys Golf defeating Rootstown, and Football defeating Wickliffe. Female Team Best Game nominees include Flag Football’s comeback win over Madison, Girls Volleyball winning the district championship, Girls Basketball ending Rootstown’s 33-game home winning streak, Girls Cross Country qualifying for regionals, Girls Wrestling placing 4th at the CVC Tournament, Softball defeating Rootstown to secure a share of the CVC title, Girls Track & Field winning the Berkshire Invitational, and Girls Soccer winning at Lakeview in tournament play. The Play of the Year categories feature Danny Tiller’s comeback win at the state wrestling tournament, Caden Klingman winning a CVC title through a difficult bracket, Paden Brent’s home run robbery at Kirtland, Sam Barcikoski’s 72-yard run against Chagrin Falls, Angelo DeCarlo’s round at Boulder Creek, and Ethan Miller’s 221 bowling game. Female Play of the Year nominees include the Flag Football team’s game-clinching interception sequence against Madison, Julia Young’s two-thirds court shot against Kennedy Catholic, and the soccer connection of Clair Corbett to Kelly McCandless against Wickliffe. The Athlete of the Year categories recognize Berkshire athletes for success across multiple sports and seasons. Freshman Male Athlete of the Year nominees are Evan Tromba, Tripp Wadsworth, Alex Sustin, Carter Chamblin, Peyton Conrad, Christopher Brancel, Trent Holland, and Peyton Pollock. Freshman Female Athlete of the Year nominees are Catherine Toth, Bridget Miller, Kaylee Boyk, Maya Mendolera, and Violet Zelle. Sophomore Male Athlete of the Year nominees are Ezekiel Townsend, Estevon Huesca, Xander Sanislo, Will Slattery, Colton Miller-Gabbard, Evan Pollock, Aiden Hollingsworth, Caleb Tiber, and Angelo DeCarlo. Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year nominees are Addison Passow, Addison Jones, Piper Geiss, Stella Bateman, Moira Wonders, Makenna Felker, Emma Rucinski, and Emma Hipp. Junior Male Athlete of the Year nominees are Danny Auth, Caden Klingman, Danny Starr, Ethan Miller, Bear Masink, and Oliver Miller. Junior Female Athlete of the Year nominees are Samantha Snow, Ivy Martin, Madison Bower, Whitney Davis, Clair Corbett, and Hayden Tomsic. Senior Male Athlete of the Year nominees are Brady Wadsworth, Danny Tiller, Roman Percic, Luke Stute, Sam Barcikoski, Quin Sirl, and Jake Patterson. Senior Female Athlete of the Year nominees are Jillian Smetana, Marissa Rish, Mallory Durosko, Julia Young, and Kelly McCandless. Mr. Badger finalists are Roman Percic, Brady Wadsworth, Danny Tiller, Caden McGranahan, and Patrick Brancel. Ms. Badger finalists are Jillian Smetana, Kate Miller, Mallory Durosko, and Kelly McCandless. The Berty Awards will take place Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:00 p.m. as Berkshire Athletics celebrates an outstanding year for Badger sports.