STAWARDS03B

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Fear Factor #2 - Most Likely to Psyche Someone Out
Meghan Crowley	Meghan clearing at Class B	Matt Grendal
Meghan Crowley. I don’t know what it is but she just carries the aura that she can beat you. It isn’t even that she is dominant yet. It’s more like the fastball pitcher that lacks control. You’re back on your heels waiting for the walk and just hoping not to get hit and then – bang, bang, bang, - three quick strikes and you're out. There’s no solace. She can look totally off her game and then jump 5’4. With Meghan it ain’t over till she says its over.		I don’t know about you but Matt Grendal sure psyches me out. Is it his high energy on the high jump pad? No! I’d be afraid that if I cleared the height he’d chest bump me. So I just knock the bar down and go home in one piece.
UNSUNG HERO
Erin O'Brien - Elise Bognanno Jen Deschenes	One of the NA 4X400M relay trying to keep his identity secret.	The NA 4X400 Relay
Erin O’Brien has been a steady force at Oliver Ames. Scoring points for her team through endless doubles Erin has given constant credibility to the program. While some may think she runs in the shadow of Sara Powell, think again. She may not get all the accolades but those in the know consider her one of the most respected around. She is not only a hero for her team but for the league as well.		The North Attleboro 4X400. Who are these guys? Put them in a line-up and well, you’ve never seen them before. They’re just the ones who kick butt at the end of any meet. Plus they’re scattered throughout the events mostly picking up seconds and thirds. 300MH, 100, 800, 400, 100MH, 200. They’ve been there toiling away through virtual anonymity. Half the league might not have known who won the 400M at Hocks, but not for long. North was the only Hock 4X4 relay team at the New Englands and two of the members are going to be back next year looking to be recognized. If you are not from North Attleboro and you know all four you’re definitely a track geek.
Elise Bognanno does the same for her team. Elise leads a resurgence of the Canton program. Another of the Hockomock League’s solid distance runners, Elise also will do any event to help her team. She is going to be tremendously missed by both her team and around the league.
Jen Deschenes might just feel like the Rodney Dangerfield of the NA team. High jump, long jump, 100M, 200M, and 4X100 – Jen racks up points by the bundle while also keeping the team loose with her always upbeat demeanor. "No respect" you say! Not while I’m around. I’ll tell anyone she’s a huge part of our success.
MOST DOMINANT PERFORMER
Sara Powell	Sara at the New Englands	Dan Saltzman
Sara Powell beats you on the first lap. Then the next. Then the next. Its not bad enough that she’s clearly better in the Hock at her craft than anyone else. But her craft is long distance. So lap after lap she puts an exclamation point on her superiority. Mile and Two mile at the Hocks both in record time. Isn’t that enough? I guess not! She runs her cool down faster than most kids raced. Please Sara, we say uncle!		Dan Saltzman doesn’t beat people, because they never feel they’re in the same race. I’d like to give a ink blot test to any person who thinks they can beat him in the 400M – they aren’t sane. Dan owns the event – make that owned the event.
THE "FRANCHISE"
Seniors were not eligible for this award. The franchise is the person you would most want to build a team around.
Alison Cuozzo	The newest "Ali"?	Terry Young
Just when you think its safe to go back out on the track against KP along comes Cuozzo. For the next three years she’s bound to bring nothing but grief to Hockomock competition. With the graduation of Amendola the new Ali looks unbeatable on the track. When her jump technique is perfected she’ll score a perfect “10” – no make that 20 points against most teams. What a way to start each meet!		Mansfield boys have enough talent so they don’t need a go-to guy. But if they did the team could climb onto Terry Young’s strong back. He can shoulder the toughest competition for four events a meet and has shown the durability to do it every week for a whole season. Congrats on his New England 300MH title.
BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Meredith Leenhouts
Rarely do the stars align so perfectly that the best race comes at the best possible time. Meredith won the mid-distance lottery by posting a massive PR at the state finals. Dropping her best time in the 800M by three seconds gave her fans a spine-tingling experience. Next year she'll be back to go for the state track mega-bucks.
TRENDSETTER
Marcus Vaughn
		The runways of New York, Paris and Milan all hold their breath when Marcus Vaughn appears. I don’t mean long jump runways. Fashions hottest new clothes horse, Marcus Vaughn has just the right mix of fine fit and outrageous blends. His brand name carries all the panache of the new sport chic. Everyday is a surprise and each new fashion statement is sure to catch on with someone – somewhere – maybe. And you thought those oohs and aahs were for performance.