Best of the All-Greater Rochester high school athletes take their bows at awards

While standout high school athletes do receive recognition, not many of those teenage girls and boys we like to watch play receive it like Section V’s best did on Wednesday night

The All-Greater Rochester Sports Awards were done ESPY-style at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Winners in categories recognizing sportsmanship, academic achievement and courage accepted their awards under a spotlight, on a stage flanked by two large video boards, in front of a crowd of about 1,200.

Many in that audience were proud mothers, fathers and grandparents. Others were among the AGR Athletes and Coaches of the Year in 33 sports recognized during this past school year. The Democrat and Chronicle has selected and presented AGR teams and athletes for 50 years, but never honored award winners like this.

“Tonight is celebrating all the greatest athletes in this area,” Bishop Kearney softball pitcher Emily Phelan said. “I’m honored to be a part of that, to be a part of that special group.

“This is a big deal. I’m only a freshman, so this is a special and new experience for me. I definitely wanted to be here.”

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Kyle Williams and Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel seemed like they also didn't mind being there. Eichel, one of the National Hockey League's top young players, did acknowledge that the league's awards show was taking place in Las Vegas, but he and Williams appeared comfortable and engaged during a 30-minute live interview on stage with staff writer Sal Maiorana.

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Some of the loudest applause came during a chat about athletes and role models.

"I think Charles Barkley may have meant to say that he did not want to be one,'' Williams said. "You have no choice in the matter, just the way things are now. To be honest with you, you want to represent your organization, you want to represent your town, your region with class, passion, tenacity and all of those things. 

"On a microscale for me, I've got five kids. You know, the last thing I want to do is set a bad example for them. Because, as much I would like them to look up to me all of the time, my 9-year old daughter asked about (Eichel) when he got hurt. She's a sports fanatic. You never know who they are going to look up to. Fast forward 10 years from now, it may be somebody here. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to expect you to set an example for my kids.''

Strong words from a large man. One of the smallest athletes in attendance may have generated an even larger response. 

A rare blood disorder named aplastic anemia left a serious lack of white and red blood cells two years ago for bowler Cameron Hurwitz, a 4 foot-11 inch freshman at Brighton who weighs 84 pounds. Hurwitz was quarantined at home for six months, but a donor from Texas and his own will allowed his return to high school bowling.

Penfield junior Frankie Gissendanner was named the AGR Male Athlete of the Year, in part because of his school spirit and passion.

Gissendanner, at 5-4, played a handful of positions on the Penfield varsity football team, including on the defensive line. He was a reserve this spring on the school's top lacrosse team and has participated in the inclusive Unified Basketball program. 

His highlights are in wrestling, where he has won a national cadet champion — one of three Section V wrestlers to ever accomplish that rank —  and a three-time state champion.

The AGR Female Athlete of the Year is Rush-Henrietta senior Sammy Watson, perhaps less than a surprise. Watson, who set national high school records and ran at the Summer Olympic Trials in the past year, did not attend the award show and will miss her class graduation for the same reason. Watson was in Sacramento, California, attempting to advance to the IAAF World Championships during the USA Track and Field Championships.

She did send a thank you message on video.

JAMESJ@Gannett.com