OLEAN, N.Y. — After 38 years, the Bob Davies-Lou Foy Memorial Big 30 Scholar-Athlete Award continues to log milestones and, in this case, three of them.
The boys’ winner, Coudersport’s Derek Keglovits and the female co-winners, Smethport’s Emily Treat and Portville’s Korah Witherell logged firsts in the history of the Times Herald’s sports department’s most prestigious award, and all for different reasons.
The Davies-Foy Award honors academic performance and school citizenship in addition to athletic participation.
It memorializes Davies, the late Times Herald sports writer, and Foy, the late Salamanca coach and athletic director and Section 6 administrator (related story, Local Notes, this page).
The award was first presented at Foy’s behest in 1981 following Davies death of a heart attack the previous fall.
Davies, a true Renaissance man, loved sports, but also music, theater, movies and literature. Foy’s vision was an award in Davies’ name that honored strong school citizens who played sports but also excelled in academics and extracurricular activities.
When Foy died of cancer 20 months later, his name was added to the award as well as a female category in 1983.
All 30 schools in the Times Herald’s five-county, two-state coverage area are invited to nominate their top male and female candidates who meet the five criteria: 1. Be a senior, 2. have participated in two varsity sports, 3. be part of at least two extracurricular activities, 4. hold high academic standing and, 5. aspire to higher education.
KEGLOVITS, the valedictorian at Coudersport, had an extraordinary number on his nomination form.
Over the years, the TH has gotten any number of nominees whose Scholastic Aptitude Tests (college boards) exceeded 1,300 with a perfect SAT score being 1,600.
Keglovits scored 770 in math and 760 in verbal, for an incredible 1,530, by far the highest score ever submitted for a Davies-Foy nominee.
If Treat’s name sounds familiar, it should, her sister Kate won the female award last year. It’s the second time siblings have claimed the Davies-Foy Award, but this was the first occasion where it occurred back-to-back.
Finally, there’s Witherell who became the third straight Portville student to win the citation following Grant Milne in 2016 and Ron Lott a year later.
KEGLOVITS will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, but was also accepted at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), Notre Dame, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Penn State.
His weighted classroom average was 101.30 and he starred in football, basketball and track & field while being involved in five clubs.
Coudersport principal Steve Mongillo, in his letter of recommendation, wrote: “Derek has shown himself to be an excellent student and even better person. He’s a very mature young man who has an exceptional personality and an outstanding work ethic.
“Derek’s commitment to achieving academic success is matched by his commitment to being a quality person dedicated to doing what is right in every aspect of life. He’s a very special young man who is a natural-born leader.
“He has excelled in every aspect of his education from earning outstanding grades to providing our student body with leadership that has helped preserve the positive culture of the school.
“Derek is also very active in his church and the community, volunteering at multiple organizations.”
Keglovits is the third Davies-Foy winner from Coudersport, joining Joe Bliss (1981), the first-ever recipient, and the late Bill Daisley (1984).
TREAT, will follow her sister Kate to Pitt-Bradford where the 2017 winner majors in biology and plays volleyball.
Emily will major in early childhood education and, as with her sibling, was Smethport’s valedictorian. She was a three-sport star in basketball, softball and volleyball.
The Treats are the seventh and eighth winners of the Davies-Foy Award from Smethport, a record. And seven of those honorees have been females, the most for any school.
The other winners from the Pennsylvania school were Karen Reap (1983, the first female winner), Jennifer Eddy (‘91), Justin Puller (‘96), Susan Scott (2004), Felicia Alfieri (‘11) and Jacqueline Raymond (‘12).
Besides being senior class president Emily Treat was a four-year member of marching band, stage band, chorus and show choir.
Principal Bob Miller’s letter of recommendation read, in part: “Emily has always placed academics as an important and integral part of her high school career and has taken advanced courses throughout. She is a very sincere, well-mannered young lady who has impressed me over the years with her dedication to academic studies and her involvement in school and community activities.
“The activities that Emily participates in are essential components needed to develop a well-rounded individual. They help mold leadership and responsibility, qualities that are important for a student to be nominated for this award.
“Without a doubt, Emily will be a very successful person in life. She will achieve her goals regardless of the difficulty. Emily has the qualities that are essential for success.”
WITHERELL, who scored 1,250 combined on her SATs, will attend Cobleskill and major in wildlife management.
She follows Milne and Lott in an unprecedented streak of winners by Portville that is ongoing. Previously, the late Mike McGreevey (1993) and Meredith Yates (‘97) were honored from the school.
Portville principal Larry Welty wrote of Witherell: “I have witnessed talent and the highest degree of character throughout Korah’s career. She has a strong academic background, ranking third in her class. In addition to the courses required for graduation, she has demonstrated a willingness to expand her learning by taking a variety of courses in different disciplines. She received college credit in U.S. history and programming concepts.
“Korah has been involved in soccer and track & field and is considered a great teammate, one who is very positive with constant encouragement and communication. She has strong belief in her faith and community and has taken part in missions around the world. She recently arrived back from a mission in Jamaica.
“In today’s society it’s rare to find a person who demonstrates a willingness to befriend and help others through acts of goodwill and kindness. Korah does not speak ill toward anyone or get involved in comments of negativity. It’s evident why coaches need student-athletes such as Korah on their teams … she works extremely hard, stays positive no matter the situation and, leading by example, improves team morale.”
THE OTHER four male finalists were Michael Nye (Allegany-Limestone), Kristian Miller (Bolivar-Richburg), Brock Blecha (Franklinville) and Zachary Deichmann (Genesee Valley).
With the female award shared, there were three other finalists: Haley Keck (Coudersport), Hallie Weinman (Genesee Valley) and Katherine Ernst (Port Allegany).
The winners were selected by retired Cassadaga Valley principal Jud Foy, Lou’s son, and a committee of school administrators from outside the Big 30.
Keglovits, Treat and Witherell and their parents were honored at a luncheon on Tuesday at Sprague’s Restaurant.
