Category: Athletic News
Liberty athletes help lead U16 soccer team to championship
Congratulations to the Girls U16 Liberty United Lady Devils team, made up primarily of students from Liberty, on its 4-3 victory at the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League final against AYSO United Hudson Valley. Scoring and giving Liberty the lead with a hat-trick in the first half of the game was Madelyn Cavello. The opposing team evened the score in the last minute of the game. It was in stoppage time that midfielder Alexandra Galeas Osorio made the winning goal that secured the ladies’ title as champions of the Girls U16 Division. Assisting the goals with precise passes and runs were midfielders Madysen Rielly, Adriana Ponce Agredano, Milenka Tello-Pereyra, Adriana Leon Gavilan, Paola Melendez Deras and Amy Cortes. On defense were defenders Casity DiBartolo, Victoria Henry, Amaiya Williamson, and Sophia Vasko. Diving through and cutting many plays short was goalie Stephanie Gomez Nivelo.
The team is led by Roothland Medina and assisted by Solomen Conner and Carpio Ramos. “ I want to thank the parents and the community for the support as we made our way down victory lane, Mr. Medina said. “The biggest thing we learned throughout the season was that our success did not derive from any one individual. It was forged through the bonds that we made as a team, a family, but most importantly, being there for each other, always United!”
Liberty United Soccer Club is not directly associated with the Liberty Central School District and is an independent community group with the goal to educate and develop youth through the sport of soccer.
Liberty honors varsity athletes
Liberty Central School District honored its scholar-athletes during its athletic Block L Awards in the David E. Panebaker auditorium earlier this month.
“It is an absolute honor to stand before you tonight to celebrate another incredible year of Liberty Central School athletics,“ Athletic Director Thomas Zehner said in his opening remarks. “Looking out at this room, I don’t just see a collection of jerseys, stats, or medals. I see the heart and soul of this community.”
Following opening remarks by Mr. Zehner, the following were among the awards presented.
Fall
Boys Soccer
- Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player: Rene bernal Huezo and Jose Moreno Reyes
- Most Improved Player: Jeffrey Banegas Barahona
- Golden Glove: Justin Simon
- Coaches Award: Randy Romero Bello
Girls Soccer
- Most Valuable Player: Brooke Bull
- Most Improved Player: Madysen Rielly
- Coaches Award: Adriana Ponce Agredano
Football
- Coaches Award: Austin Frunzi
- Offensive MVP: Shawn Bickham Jr
- Defensive MVP: Riley Cox
- Most Improved Player: Austin Frunzi
- Overall MVP: Tayler Schwartz
Cross Country
- Most Valuable Cross Country Runner-Girls: Adriana Ponce
- Most Valuable Cross Country Runner-Boys: Colin Dasraj
- Most Improved Runner: Angela Wheeler
Girls Tennis
- MVP: Allisson Diaz Lopez
- Coaches Award: Angele Osorio Ramirez
Volleyball
- Coaches Awards: Ariana Wilson and Makayla Morales
Game Day Cheer
- Coaches Awards: Aimee Sheerwood and Aryiah Cottman
Winter
Boys Basketball
- MVP: Adrien Ferguson
- Offensive MVP: Zack Alvord
- Defensive MVP: Tyleal Aubain
- Most Improved Player: Riley Cox
Boys Wrestling
- MVP: Elmer Son Vicente
- Most Improved: Misael Juarez Perez
- Coaches Award: Tarek Benadim
Girls Wrestling
- Most Valuable Wrestler: Isabella Wagner
- Rookie of the Year:Baileigh Steinberg
- Boys Indoor Track & Field
- Most Valuable Track Athletes: Joseph Sarney, Dylan Romero and Colten Jay Allen
- Most Improved Track Athlete: Ryan Romero Bello
Girls Indoor Track & Field
- Most Outstanding Track Athletes Sydania Foster and Brooke Bull
- Bounceback Athlete: Sheyla Anguisaca Llanos
- Breakout Performer: Starriah Harris
- Most Outstanding Novice: Victoria Henry
Boys Alpine Ski
- Coaches Award: Roger Lynker
- Most Valuable Player: Hudson Danzillo
- Most Improved Skier: Brody Kelly
Girls Alpine Ski
- Coach’s Award: Alexandra Kelly
- Most Improved: Lia Guillerme
Girls Basketball
- MVP: Giselle Payton
- Defensive MVP: Arianna Wilson
- Most Improved: Adriana Ponce
Game Day Cheer
- MVP: Adelyse Brewer
Spring
Baseball
- Coaches Awards: Zackary Alvord, Everett Schwartz and Tayler Schwartz
Softball
- Co-Offensive Players of the Year: Madelyn Stewart and Guillana Wagner
- Defensive Player of the Year: Arianna Wilson
- Coaches Award: Brooke Porter
Boys Outdoor Track and Field
- Most Valuable Track Athlete: Joseph Sarney
- Sprinter Award: Dylan Romero
- Throwers Award: Shawn Bickham
- Most Improved Track Athlete: Michael Reyes
- Distance Award: Ryan Romero
Girls Outdoor Track and Field
- Most Valuable Track Athletes Sydania Foster and Brooke Bull
- Most Outstanding Novice: Makayla Morales
- Breakout Performer: Starriah Harris
- Coaches Award: Sheyla Anguisaca Llanos
Boys Tennis
- Most Valuable Player: Sebastian Yupanqui
- Coaches Awards: Phillo Romero and John Palacios Medrano
Boys Golf
- Lowest Scorer: Jake Cross
- Coaches Award: Phillip Burrous
Girls Golf
- Most Valuable Golfer: Elizabeth Cruz Cruz
- Coaches Award: Angela Wheeler
Special Recognition Awards
“Ross” Award
- Boys Soccer Scholar Athlete: Zackary Alvord
- Girls Soccer Scholar Athlete: Adriana Ponce Agredano
“Rattner” Award
- Boys Basketball Scholar Athlete: Joseph DiBartolo
- Girls Basketball Scholar Athlete: Adriana Ponce Agredano
“Goodstein” Award
- Wrestling Perseverance: Tarek Benadim
Kavleski Award
- Boys Track & Field Scholar Athlete: Joseph Sarney
- Girls Track & Field Scholar Athlete: Adriana Ponce Agredano
Fred Planica Award
- Most Improved Player (Underclassman) (Baseball): Michael Feijo
- Buchal Award Most Valuable Player (Baseball): Justin Simon
- Most Valuable Player (Softball): Angela Wheeler
“To our athletes: whether you are walking away tonight with a championship patch, a most-improved award, or simply the pride of finishing a hard-fought season, remember this: the plaques on these tables are wonderful, but they aren’t the real prize,” Mr. Zehner said. “The real prize is the person you became while trying to earn them. It’s the discipline you built. It’s the lifelong bonds you formed with your teammates. It’s the resilience you developed that will serve you long after you hang up your Liberty uniform.
“Thank you all, congratulations to all of tonight’s winners and participants, and as always—Go Redhawks!”
Liberty pole vaulter to compete in states
Good luck to Brooke Bull tomorrow as she competes in the state outdoor track and field championship in the pole vault. The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at Webster Schroeder High School in Webster.
Although she was the only Redhawk who qualified for the state meet, our student athletes had a great showing in the qualifiers last week:
- Starriah Harris placed sixth in the 100m hurdles.
- Sydania Foster placed fourth in the 100m and sixth in the 400m.
- Victoria Henry placed fifth in long jump.
- Audrey Krum placed fourth in pentathlon.
- The girls 4x100m relay team (Victoria, Starriah, Brooke, Sydania) placed third
- The girls 4x400m relay team (Quinn, Starriah, Brooke, Sydania) placed fourth
- Dylan Romero placed fourth in the 400m.
- The boys 4x400m relay team (Tyleal, Joe, Colten, Dylan) placed fourth and set a new school record.
Congratulations on a great season, Redhawks!
Update: Brooke ended up placing 11th at the state meet.
Five Redhawks officially commit to college athletics
Next year, five standout student-athletes from Liberty will be taking their talents to the colleges of their choice to continue their athletic pursuits.
On Monday, June 8, Shawn Bickham, Isabella Wagner, Angie Wheeler, Justin Simons and Brooke Bull signed their letters of intent to play sports at the college level during a ceremony held in the Liberty High School auditorium.
There are certain days in a high school career that feel like a finish line, but today is unique. Today is a starting line,” Athletic Director Thomas Zehner said “We are here to celebrate a select group of young men and women who have earned the right to extend their athletic journeys into the college arena.”
Each athlete was introduced with a speech from their coach.
Shawn Bickham
Shawn, who will attend Utica University and major in nursing, will compete on the indoor and outdoor track and field teams as well as wrestle for the Pioneers. He was introduced by his track and field coach Roothland Medina.
Shawn competed in multiple events—hurdles, triple jump, javelin, hammer, discus and shot put—this year. He ranked in the top 10 in the javelin in Section IX and earned fifth place at OCCIA. Shawn plans to continue to hone his skills at the Kutztown jumps camp for pole vault and triple jump this summer..
“His leadership and willingness to step up to the challenge is what makes Shawn stand out above everyone else,” Mr. Medina said. ”This is the kind of work ethic that will make Shawn successful as he continues his journey in the track world at college.”
Isabella Wagner
Isabella, who will attend Eastern University and major in health sciences, will wrestle for the Eagles. She was introduced by Mr. Zehner, who read a speech by wrestling coach Brian Vaughn who was unable to attend.
Isabella wrestled for Liberty for two years, and finished 31-26, with 20 of those wins coming in this season. Her record also puts her at second all time for Liberty girls wrestling and she had the third best record between the boys and girls teams this season).
“She’s always been one of the hardest working in the room and I’m sure she’ll keep that up when she gets to Eastern,” Mr. Vaughn wrote in his speech.
Angie Wheeler
Angie, who will attend SUNY Delhi and major in criminal justice, will play softball for the Broncos. She was introduced by varsity softball coach Dave Philips.
Over her four and a half years on the varsity softball team, she started 56 games as a pitcher, racking up more than 350 strikeouts and earning the pitching decision in every single Redhawk victory over the last four seasons. She also started 67 times in the field, and had more than 50 hits and 80 runs scored or driven in. Angie was a mult-year team MVP, a three-time Sullivan Democrat selection, and earned a Times-Herald Record Class A All-Star selection two years ago. She has also played in dozens of tournaments with the NEPA Phantoms Travel Ball Organization.
“Angie is the definition of a fierce competitor and a tireless worker,” Mr. Philips said. “What truly sets her apart as an athlete is her constant drive to elevate her game—she doesn’t just welcome constructive criticism, she actively seeks out advice and pushes herself to be better every single day.”
Justin Simon
Justin, who will attend Western Connecticut State University and major in elementary education, will play baseball for the wolves. He was introduced by varsity baseball coach Andrew Philips
Justin played for the varsity team for three years, but had his best year this past year. He batted .536 with a .836 slugging percentage. He set the single season doubles record and also added a home run on the year. His clutch bat helped the team score runs with 14 RBIs on the year.
“His work ethic and passion for the game is evident in his preparation,” Mr. Philips said. “With his hard work he has had one of the best seasons you could have this year.”
Brooke Bull
Brooke, who will attend the University of Lynchburg and major in criminology, will compete on the track and field team for the Hornets. She was introduced by track and field coach Rich Feeney.
She has been a member of the indoor and outdoor track and field teams at Liberty for the past three years.
She set school records in the pole vault for indoor and outdoor track, was a member of the 4×200 relay team that set a school record this past indoor season, and helped lead Liberty to an indoor Division 3 championship as well. She represented Liberty at the Indoor State Championships in both the pole vault, the 4×200 relay and qualified for Nationals this year. During the outdoor season, Brooke qualified for the state championships and earned invitations to the Penn Relays and the Loucks Games, two prestigious track and field meets in the Northeast. She has also won, placed and medaled at countless invitationals throughout her career here at Liberty, including being a division and section champion.
“Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Brooke has been a tremendous leader and role model for her teammates,” Mr. Feeney said. “Her positive attitude, work ethic, and leadership have left a lasting impact on our program and will be greatly missed.”
Mr. Zehner offered well wishes to all of the athletes.
“We cannot wait to watch you compete, watch you grow, and watch you succeed. You will always have a home here, and we will always be your biggest fans,” he said. “Congratulations to our seniors. Go make Liberty proud!”
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of June 8-14, 2026
This is the final week of the 2025-26 athletics season. We will close with the outdoor track and field state championships this weekend.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section IX website for the latest.
Monday-Friday, June 8-12
No events scheduled..
Saturday, June 13
10 a.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field State championships vs. Multiple Schools at Webster Schroeder High School in Webster. (Brooke Bull is competing in Pole Vault)
Result: Brooke Bull finished 11th
Sunday, June 14
No events scheduled.
Liberty athletics to wrap up year with signings, awards
The Liberty Athletics Department has plenty to celebrate in the coming weeks.
Five seniors will sign their letters of intent to compete at the college level. The ceremonies will take place at 4 p.m. June 8 in the High School Auditorium. Signing will be:
- Shawn Bickham, who will attend Utica University and will wrestle and complete on the track and field team
- Brooke Bull, who will attend the University of Lynchburg and will compete in the track and field team.
- Justin Simon, who will attend Western Connecticut State University and play baseball
- Isabella Wagner, who will attend Eastern University and will wrestle
- Angie Wheeler, who will attend SUNY Delhi and play softball
Later that week will be the “Block L Athletic Awards,” the annual varsity sports recognition event. It will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11, in the high school auditorium. Family and friends are welcome to attend the ceremony.
“Being a varsity athlete is more than just playing a sport—it is a commitment to excellence in all aspects of student life that deserves to be recognized,” Athletic Director Thomas Zehner said. “We look forward to seeing you there to acknowledge our student-athletes.”
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of June 1-7, 2026
We are in the homestretch of the 2025-26 athletics season. This week, we only have Track and Field state qualifiers.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section IX website for the latest.
Monday-Tuesday, June 1-2
No events scheduled.
Wednesday, June 3
2:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field State Qualifiers vs. Multiple Schools at Cornwall High School
Thursday, June 4
3:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field State Qualifiers vs. Multiple Schools at Goshen High School
Results from qualifiers: Brooke Bull qualified for states in pole vault. Starriah Harris placed 6th in 100 meter hurdles. Sydania Foster placed 4th in 100m and 6th in 400m. Victoria Henry placed 5th in long jump. Audrey Krum placed 4th in pentathlon. Girls 4×100 placed 3rd. Girls 4×400 placed 4th. Dylan Romero 4th in 400m. Boys 4×400 placed 4th and set a new school record.
Friday-Sunday, June 5-7
No events scheduled
Redhawks earn second place in division, clinch sectional berth
In a dramatic turn of events, the Liberty Varsity Softball team officially clinched second place in the OCIAA Division 3 Wednesday afternoon. The division victory was awarded to the Redhawks via forfeit by the Beacon Bulldogs, who were forced to withdraw due to a depleted roster after losing their starting pitcher to an injury. While it wasn’t the traditional battle on the diamond, the win solidifies a milestone achievement for the Liberty program—one that has catapulted them into the postseason.
With the victory officially in the books, the Redhawks have secured their best finish since New York State implemented its new divisional format during the 2023-2024 school year. More importantly, this second-place Class A Division 3 finish has earned Liberty the No. 6 seed in the upcoming Sectional tournament. This marks the program’s first trip to the Sectionals since 2019, a monumental climax to a season defined by perseverance against all imaginable odds. They will play at Port Jervis at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.
To truly appreciate the magnitude of this achievement, one has to look back to the first week of tryouts, when low turnout left the athletic department uncertain if Liberty could even field a Varsity squad this spring. When the program stood on the brink of cancellation, a group of resilient student-athletes stepped up to save the season. Despite having little to no prior softball experience, Danielia Ponce Flores, Analeah Ocasio, Katterin Reyes Guardado, Aimee Sherwood, and Tianna Wilson dove headfirst into the sport. More than half of the entire roster took the field this year completely new to the game, learning on the fly with enthusiasm. As their skills grew, these newcomers became the essential pieces of the team’s success within the division.
Behind this transformation was a dedicated core of returning players and varsity mainstays who refused to let their season slide away. Wanting a season so desperately, these veterans stepped into vital leadership roles to guide, mentor, and inspire their new teammates. This milestone is, above all, an accomplishment earned by their heart and leadership.
These newcomers helped complete a team anchored by a trio of standout seniors: star starting pitcher Angie Wheeler, Brooke Porter at third base, and Arianna Wilson, who selflessly took on the grueling role of catcher for her first year behind the plate. Juniors Maddy Stewart in center field, Amy Szuba at first base, and utility threat Giuliana Wagner at shortstop and on the rubber filled out the core of returning starters. Not to be outdone, sophomores Lilli Black and Charlotte Horton De Morla stepped up to the varsity level without any prior JV experience, locking down starting roles in the outfield and at second base, respectively. Together, this collective unit held the squad together, making this milestone all the more rewarding.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of May 25-31, 2026
Spring sports is starting to wind down with only softball and track in action this week.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section IX website for the latest.
Monday, May 25
No events scheduled.
Tuesday, May 26
4:15 p.m.: Modified Softball vs. Fallsburg at Liberty Elementary School
4:30 p.m.: Varsity Softball prelims vs. Port Jervis:
Results: Liberty 0, Port Jervis 28
The historic, barrier-breaking season for the Liberty Varsity Softball team came to a close yesterday afternoon, as the No. 6 Redhawks ran into an absolute powerhouse in the quarterfinals of the Sectional tournament, falling 28-0 to the No. 3 Port Jervis Raiders.
The Redhawks knew they faced a monumental task heading into the postseason matchup. Port Jervis, a perennial OCIAA jugger-naut, had already defeated Liberty by a combined score of 43-0 in two games during the regular season. Yet, despite the lopsided scoreboard, the Redhawks left the diamond with their heads held high, representing themselves and their school with immense pride, grit, and sportsmanship.
For a brief moment at the start of the game, the Redhawks went toe-to-toe with the Raiders . Liberty put together a brilliantly clean first inning, retiring three of the first four Raiders batters they faced. However, the wheels came off in the bottom of the second. Port Jervis exploded for 16 runs in the frame, capitalizing on five hits—all singles—along with seven walks, four hit batters, and two costly Liberty errors. From there, the Raiders never looked back.
Port Jervis was led by senior ace Madison Dobbs, who was clicking on all cylinders in the circle. The perennial All-Star was flawless, retiring all 15 batters she faced to throw a perfect game. Dobbs racked up nine strikeouts while throwing a whopping 77% of her pitches for strikes. She also led the Raiders at the plate with three hits, including a double. Teammates Savannah Mioglionico and Alabama Stankewicz chipped in two hits apiece, while Charlotte Rivera tripled and singled as part of a 15-hit Port Jervis onslaught. With the victory, Port Jervis advances to face Marlboro in the Class A semifinals.
Despite the heavy pressure, several Liberty players shined in the field. Junior center fielder Maddy Stewart put her elite athleticism on full display, tracking down and ranging deep for three spectacular flyouts. Meanwhile, sophomore Charlotte Horton De Morla proved her versatility, making clutch putouts in her first-ever varsity start at shortstop.
While the final score was tough, it does nothing to diminish an unforgettable season of overachievement for Liberty. Just over 11 weeks ago, low turnout left the athletic department completely uncertain if a varsity squad could even be formed. It was then that a resilient group of student-athletes, more than half of whom had little to no prior softball experience, stepped up just to save the program.
What followed was a season of unprecedented milestones. This inexperienced squad shocked the league by winning at James I. O’Neill on April 10th for the first time in years, followed by capturing the program’s first-ever Class A Divisional win on April 15th. Even when disaster struck on May 1st with a season-ending injury to standout ace pitcher and captain Angie Wheeler—forcing a depleted roster to play completely out of position—the Redhawks refused to quit.
Adopting the rallying cry of “us against the world,” this team fought its way to the program’s first Sectional tournament appearance since 2019. The 2026 Redhawks are a squad to be remembered. They left it all on the field, had fun, and proved that heart and dedication can write history.
4:30 p.m.: JV Softball vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty High School
Result: Liberty 5, Sullivan West 0
Tuesday’s action provided a preview of the finale’s dominance, as the Redhawks hosted Sullivan West and came away with a commanding 5-0 victory.
Liberty wasted no time asserting their dominance, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after just two innings of play. From there, the Redhawks let their stellar pitching and defense suffocate any hopes of a Bulldog comeback. Harper Matuszak was a force in the circle as well, scattering just three hits over seven frames, striking out nine, and walking only one in a complete-game shutout.
The offense showcased a perfectly balanced attack, with seven different Liberty batters registering at least one hit. Montgomery Allen acted as the catalyst at the top of the order once again, racking up a double, a single, and two runs scored. Corinne Lake provided the definitive thud in the lineup, driving in three runs on the back of a hit and two walks. Mya Davis, Alex Kelly, and Myla Rielly all crossed the plate for Liberty.
Wednesday, May 27
4:30 p.m.: JV Softball vs. Fallsburg at Liberty Elementary School
Result: Liberty 3, Fallsburg 0
Harper Matuszak put an absolute exclamation point on the season today, pitching a masterpiece of a no-hitter in a 3-0 home victory over Fallsburg. The brilliant performance earned Matuszak her ninth win of the season. She was virtually unhittable, racking up a season-high 14 strikeouts while conceding just three walks.
The contest was a bona fide pitcher’s duel for the majority of the afternoon. Liberty held a razor-thin 1-0 advantage through the first 5 ½ innings, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. However, the Redhawks finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, manufacturing two crucial insurance runs to extend the lead to 3-0. Armed with a cushion, Matuszak did the rest, quickly dismantling the Fallsburg lineup in the seventh to complete her historic feat.
While the defense stood tall behind her, the day belonged to the eighth-grade hurler. Offensively, Liberty was sparked once again by lead-off hitter Montgomery Allen, who set the table with two hits and two runs scored. Olivia Matuszak added a multi-hit performance of her own, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Harper Matuszak helped her own cause with a hit and an RBI, while Corinne Lake delivered a clutch RBI and Mya Davis crossed the plate to round out the scoring.
A Bright Future for Liberty Softball
This young JV team has given Liberty plenty to smile about this spring. Finishing with a great 9-3 record, these players showed how much they can grow and how well they play under pressure. With strong pitching, batters who can hit all through the lineup, and a defense that works together, they have proven they have what it takes. The future looks incredibly bright for the Liberty softball program.
Thursday, May 28
No events scheduled.
Friday, May 29
2 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field Sectionals vs. Multiple Schools at Rondout Valley Central School
Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31
No events scheduled
Congratulations, senior spring athletes
Earlier this month, Liberty honored its senior spring athletes during a series of celebrations. We thank all of our seniors who worked hard and showed dedication to help our Redhawks soar.
The following were recognized:
- Baseball: Josh Decker, Joe DiBartolo, Tayler Schwartz and Justin Simon
- Softball: Brooke Porter, Aimee Sherwood, Angie Wheeler and Arianna Wilson
- Boys Track and Field: Shawn Bickham, Amir George, Michael Reyes, Ryan Romero Bello and Joe Sarney
- Girls Track and Field: Sheyla Anguisaca Llanos, Brooke Bull, Naima Canady Byam, Valeria Cruz, Elizabeth Cruz Cruz, Sydania Foster and Makayla Morales
- Boys and girls golf: Cristian Argenal, Jake Cross and Elizabeth Cruz Cruz
- Boys Tennis: Miguel Guzman, Gustavo Leon, Arwyn Lucero, John Palacios Medrano, Phillo Romero and Elmer Son Vicente
Congratulations, Redhawks, and best of luck in your future endeavors.