New titles, repeated awards and one special moment

James Conner knew full well what Xavier Dombkowski had been through.

Conner, an Erie native and NFL running back, met Dombkowski, a wrestler at Fort LeBoeuf High School, during Monday’s 2024 Northwest Pennsylvania High School Sports Awards.

Dombkowski received the same medical diagnosis in April 2023 as Conner did in 2015: Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Conner beat cancer while at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dombkowski nearly did the same when he returned to the mat in December.

Familiar with Dombkowski’s past challenges? Conner knew a lot about that.

However, the Arizona Cardinal had no idea what would happen next on Monday’s show.

Monday’s winners: More than 300 athletes honored at the Northwestern Pennsylvania High School Sports Awards Show

Before greeting Dombkowski, Conner was told the Courage Award would be renamed in his honor. He then presented the first-ever James Conner Courage Award to Dombkowski, with the two sharing a moment on stage amid a standing ovation.

“I just told Dombkowski to keep going and that I knew exactly what he’s going through,” Conner, 29, said. “I love his resilience and have told him nothing but the best for the future. It’s a great surprise and a great honor, and I’m grateful for it.”

Conner pointed to a scar on Dombkowski’s neck during their embrace. Dombkowski nodded and smiled, as it was there where swollen lymph nodes revealed Hodgkin’s diagnosis from the year before.

“When I was growing up, (Conner) was kind of a local legend,” Dombkowski said. “I didn’t really know what to expect from this, but it ended up being a really great moment.”

Local top athletes are honored in style

More than 500 people packed Warner Theater to watch the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com recognize the top athletes, teams, coaches and schools in District 10 during the 2023-2024 academic year. Conner was the guest speaker for the event, presented by AHN Sports Medicine in Saint Vincent.

D-10’s 2023-2024 top male and female athletes were honored and each PIAA-sponsored sport was awarded an Athlete of the Year. Supporting sponsors included Marquette Savings Bank, Fullerton Appliance Center, the United States Air and Space Force, E2A2 Sports Academy, Golfweek and USA Today Sports.

More: Which 24 high school baseball players made the Erie Times-News All-District 10 team?

Oil City senior Ethen Knox was once again named Male Athlete of the Year, thanks in large part to another dazzling football season as the Oilers’ tailback. Knox rushed for 2,340 yards and 34 touchdowns on 297 carries before starting for the Oil City boys basketball team and winning four D-10 medals in spring track and field, including a discus championship.

Grove City sophomore Milena Sciullo was named Female Athlete of the Year after a standout track and field season in which she won the PIAA championship in triple jump and missed the state record by half an inch. She won state titles in the high jump and triple jump during the winter indoor season.

“It makes me work even more because I want to do more,” Sciullo said. “It’s such an honor.”

Cathedral Prep football won the boys team of the year and Hickory golf was the girls team of the year. Both won a state championship and the head coach of each – Sam Tojaga for Prep and Craig Antush of Hickory – was named Coach of the Year for the boys and girls teams, respectively.

Sharon’s Madelyn Vogan won Rookie of the Year for her standout softball season and Saegertown High School repeated for school spirit. Former Sharpsville football coach Paul Piccirilli received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A new honor, the Golden Whistle Award, was presented to former Erie County basketball and volleyball official LJ Frisina. This award was created to recognize an outstanding high school sports official in the community.

Cathedral Prep, Hickory captures the Varsity Cup

Cathedral Prep defeated rival McDowell for the Large-School Varsity Cup behind 11 region championships, 11 D-10 titles and a state championship in boys soccer. This is 11 times in the last 13 years that Prep has won the Cup.

More: NWPA Sports Awards: Sharpsville football coach Paul Piccirilli compiles decades of success

Hickory, meanwhile, won its fourth Small-School Varsity Cup in eight years. A state championship in girls golf, tied with Fairview and Warren with four D-10 titles each, helped break up the Hornets.

Major prize winners

Life purpose: Paul Piccirrili, Sharpsville football coach

Courage Award: Xavier Dombkowski, Fort LeBoeuf wrestling

School spirit: Saegertown

Male Athlete of the Year:

Winner: Ethen Knox, Oil City
Finalists: Caullin Summers, Sharpsville; Levi Prementine, Slippery Rock

Female Athlete of the Year:

Winner: Milena Sciullio, Grove City
Finalists: Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic; Anna Swan, Northeast

Rookie of the Year:

Winner: Madelyn Vogan, Sharon
Finalists: Abby Malesiewski, Northeast; Logan Stewart, Reynolds

Boys Team Coach of the Year: Sam Tojaga, Cathedral Prep football

Girls’ Team Coach of the Year: Craig Antush, Hickory Golf

Men’s team of the year: Cathedral Preparatory Football

Female team of the year: Hickory Golf

Varsity cup for large schools: Cathedral preparation

Varsity cup for small schools: Hickory

District 10 Athletes of the Year

AUTUMN SEASONS

Football, attacking: Ethen Knox, Oil City
Football, defensive: Marion Norris, Farrell
Football, Lineman: Cooper Cousins, McDowell
Girls cross country: Anne-Catherine Brown, cathedral preparation
Boys cross country: Kamden Kramer, McDowell
Girls football: Emily Samluk, Fort LeBoeuf
Boys football: Noah Handzel, cathedral preparation
Girls Golf: Anna Swan, Northeast
Boys Golf: Braddock Damore, Warren
Girls volleyball: Emma Parks, Meadville
Girls tennis: Vivian Liu, Fairview

WINTER SEASONS

Girls basketball: Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic
Boys Basketball: Tyler Grove, McDowell
Girls swimming and diving: Maria Costa, cathedral preparation
Boys swimming and diving: Camden Smith, Franklin
Boys wrestling: Louie Gill, Reynolds
Girls wrestling: Avry Ryhal, Hickory

SPRING SEASONS

Basketball: Jason Fultz Jr., Cathedral Preparation
Softball: Madelyn Vogan, Sharon
Girls’ athletics: Milena Sciullo, Grove City
Athletics for boys: Levi Prementine, Slippery Rock
Girls Lacrosse: Alyvia Stockton, McDowell
Boys Lacrosse: Nate Klan, cathedral preparation
Boys tennis: Jonah Ng, cathedral preparation
Boys volleyball: Luc Sorenson, Meadville

Contact Jeff Uveino at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @realjuveino.

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