The Union Springs community came together on Wednesday, November 1 to recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of its student-athletes at the 2023 Union Springs Athletic Department Varsity and J.V. Sports Awards. This event, held inside the high school gymnasium, showcased the dedication, hard work, and accomplishments of Union Springs' fall sports teams.

The night started with a welcome from Todd Salls, Union Springs Athletic Coordinator, who highlighted several achievements from the fall season: the Varsity Boys Soccer team winning the Cufari Soccer tournament, each varsity team qualified for a sectional tournament, and the October Athletes of the Month, George Fearon and Jennifer Daum, were announced and honored.

The ceremony was a perfect occasion for coaches to reflect on their student-athletes’ hard work and dedication that led to their successes throughout the season. Head Coach of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, Jim Hodges, exclaimed how proud he was of his squad for upsetting perennial powerhouse Lansing, 1-0, on Senior Night. “For us to take down Lansing, for the first time in I believe, 27 years, is a true testament to how much our team grew and flourished as the season went on,” chimed Hodges. “Our three terrific senior captains deserved it, and we are certainly going to miss them.”

The Varsity Girls Soccer team also had a surprise for Head Coach Jason Dental, gifting him a signed soccer ball to honor his 200^th career win for the program. Dental, who took off his principal’s hat and put on his coach’s hat, proudly talked about how great this year’s team was. “I’m so proud of how each individual stepped up when I asked them to change positions, as well as the camaraderie the locker room had, you girls always had each other’s backs,” said Dental. “No matter how long and tough the day was, I always looked forward to being outside with you guys at 3:00.”  

The Union Springs Central School District is proud of all the athletes who competed with passion and commitment, whether they received awards or not. The sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed by all participants was truly inspiring. As we conclude this fall season, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming winter sports season and the opportunities for further excellence.