Lacrosse Officials Year-End Awards
The Genesee Valley Lacrosse Officials Association closed out another successful season with its annual "Year-End Gathering," where officials were recognized for their hard work and commitment to the game. Over the course of the season, the association provided officiating services for 737 games, requiring an impressive 1,846 official assignments.
Mike Pitts received the coveted "Iron Man Award" for officiating the most games, tallying 35 matches. He was closely followed by nine officials who surpassed the 30-game mark, including John Littwitz and Jack Mekeel with 34 games, Brian Winslow with 32, and Chad Pino with 31.
The event also celebrated the contributions of 46 officials who worked the Section V Tournament this year. Among them, Chris Geng, Scott Maloney, and Luke Paulis had the honor of officiating New York State semifinal games in Cortland,while Dave Scutella, Tim Burgess, Geng, Maloney, and Paulis officiated the NYS Championship games at Hobart and William Smith College.
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Section V Official of the Year Award by Mike Simon, the coordinator for Section V boys lacrosse. This award, initiated by Penfield Head Coach JJ Schembri, is determined by the head coaches of Section V, with nominees coming from each league. This year’s recipient was longtime official Chris Geng, honored for his dedication, strong work ethic, deep knowledge of the game, and commitment to mentorship. Simon remarked, "This award is special to me. It recognizes officials for their unwavering dedication to the sport."
In addition, two Service Awards were presented. Scott Maloney was recognized for his efforts in preparing officials for the experimental shot clock procedures introduced in New York State this season. Luke Paulis, vice president of the association, was also honored for his numerous hours of work assisting President Pete McCabe in organizing the season. McCabe praised Paulis for his dedication, stating, "I'd like to present this award to Luke for the incredible amount of work this year, on and off the field," which prompted a resounding ovation from attendees.
The final award of the evening was the prestigious Frank Mangione Award, which celebrates professionalism, leadership, passion, and respect for lacrosse. Named in honor of Frank Mangione, who served the association for over 40 years, this year’s recipient was Jim Malloy. Malloy, a past president of the organization, stepped up this season as an assignor at the last minute, and officiated many unexpected games, ensuring a smooth process for officials and games alike. His contributions earned him the loudest applause of the evening.
As the gathering came to a close, officials were encouraged to recruit new members for the next season, ensuring continued excellence in officiating for Section V boys lacrosse.
With another season in the books, the Genesee Valley Lacrosse Officials Association celebrated not only the numbers and milestones but the unwavering dedication of those who ensure the game is played with integrity and respect.
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