Marauders Honored at Soccer Awards Banquet

The Hanover Varsity Boys celebrated their 2009 season at a team dinner last night with a number of individual and team honors. Over 70 players, parents and coaches gathered at Pierce's Inn for the ceremonies, which included the debut of a season highlight video by Mike Murray which brought down the house at the end of the night.

The loudest ovation of the night came with the announcement that the Marauders had been voted by opposing coaches as the winner of the NHIAA Class I Sportsmanship Award. This is the 4th consecutive year that Hanover has been honored with this citation, and all agreed that this is at least as significant as the Class I Championship.

Senior Captain Dan Remillard was chosen by his teammates as the recipient of both the Sportsmanship and Defender of the Year Awards. Junior Eric Jayne was named Most Valuable Player. The Most Improved Player Award was shared by Senior Chris Tecca and Junior Connor Bentiovoglio. Junior Joe Carey was honored as the team's Unsung Hero. Senior Aaron Segura was chosen as the Rookie of the Year. Sam Gest was selected as the winner of the Coaches Award. Senior Gunnar Shaw shared Defender of the Year honors with Remillard.

Four different players were honored with the Goal of the Year Award: Sean Gemunden (Merrimack Valley); Eric Jayne (Lebanon); Ben Harris (Pembroke and John Stark); and Isaiah Fariel (Coe-Brown).

Coach Rob Grabill was honored by the players and parents with a generous gift to Heifer Project International in his name. HPI helps struggling people around the world become self-reliant for food and income with gifts of animals and training to keep the gifts self-sustaining. In honor of his herding ability, Coach Grabill's gift included geese, ducks, chicks, rabbits and a beehive, the later perhaps commentary on his stinging asides.

At the conclusion of the banquet, Joe Carey and Eric Jayne were named as Captains of the 2010 Hanover team, which will be celebrating the 50th year of Hanover soccer.