Chloe participated on the Ursuline Academy volleyball team this year after being diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy. 

In the words of her head coach, Dave Matlusky, “Chloe inspired the team and her coaches with her unrelenting attitude to participate and be part of the team. Even with the hurdles posed to Chloe, she practiced with the team and played every game. The team rallied around her during games and were proud of her accomplishments.” 

Chloe is a 5th grader at Ursuline Academy and a member of Holy Family Parish. 

Simon participated with the St. Anthony JV basketball program this year as his father was battling a serious medical condition. Simon came to practice with the help of family and friends with a positive attitude, focused and ready to learn and compete. He is a very quiet young man who is extremely polite and respectful. In her nomination, St. Anthony Athletic Association President Pam Everman noted Simon pushed himself to “be who is and be that well” and quietly provided his teammates with a great example of having courage and faith. 

Simon is a 6th grader at Odyssey Charter School.

Matthew is in his 6th year participating with the St. Mary Magdalen track program. In addition, Matthew participates in the Special Olympics Delaware program in basketball, track and bowling. St. Mary Magdalen Track team begins each practice with the CYM Sportsmanship Prayer and Matthew is in the middle of the team huddle leading the prayer with a big smile on his face–he loves leading the team in prayer. 

Matthew is an example and inspiration to CYM teams, parishes, schools and the entire CYM Track Community. In the St. Mary Magdalen track program, Matthew has run in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races and has also been a member of the St. Mary Magdalen 4x100 and4x200 relay teams. 

In his nomination of Matthew, St. Mary Magdalen Head Coach Tom Higley writes that “Everything stops when Matthew is running. You will see athletes from all CYM teams stop what they are doing and cheer him along as he works his way to the finish line. Teammates and runners from other teams then meet Matthew at the finish line and congratulate him on a job well done.” You know when Matthew is running because Matthew draws the loudest cheers of the day. Holy Cross Athletic Association President and Track Coach Don Ryan wrote that “I have watched Matthew run for the past five years and his courage and determination just to participate shows everyone what sheer courage is all about.” 

Matthew’s mother Ruth Lavellesaid it best: “It’s great for Matthew to have this opportunity from CYM to participate in these meets, but it’s the lessons I hope other kids learn from him that will have the greatest impact. Differences, acceptance, compassion, charity, understanding, tolerance, strength, struggle, joy.... it’s all good.” Matthew is a member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and is also an alter server. 

An 8th grader attending Springer Middle School, Matthew will continue to be a trailblazer, attending Brandywine High School next year with plans on running track for the school team.

While attending kindergarten, Ashley began having vision problems in her right eye and was diagnosed as being legally blind. Ashley went through daily eye dilation, wearing an eye patch on her right eye for a year prior to surgery to try and strengthen her left eye. Ashley then had surgery that allowed her to see with her right eye and has worn contacts since that operation. 

Ashley played volleyball and basketball for St. Anthony’s, but Ashley was also an accomplished competitor in the sport of archery.

Rose Langrehr is this year’s recipient of the 2014 Pope John Paul II Courage in CYM Athletics Award. 

While in 3rd grade, Rose was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes Mellitus. In-spite of this challenge, Rose began to participate in the CYM sports program in 4th grade playing soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball. Participating in youth sports with diabetes since 2010 has been a challenge monitoring sugar levels and the ups and downs that that entails however you would never know it by watching Rose. 

In her nomination of Rose, IHM Volleyball Coordinator Lynn Rzucidlo states “Rose is an amazing lady – very loving, kind, compassionate, hardworking, patient and positive. Rose truly exhibits courage every day and she is most definitely a role model to her friends, teammates and coaches.” Rose is also an inspiration to the entire CYM community. 

Rose is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and a 7th grader attending Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

Brian is an 8th grade student at St. Mary Magdalen School and has participated in CYM sports since 3rd grade when he began playing soccer and running track. 

Brian was born with Cystic Fibrosis but has not let this challenge in life hold him back. He led the St. Mary Magdalen varsity soccer team to the Diocesan Championship in the fall, has participated with the St. Mary Magdalen track team at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia and is member of the National Honor Society. 

Tom Higley, former Athletic Association President at St. Mary Magdalen in his nomination letter wrote that Brian’s “energy and enthusiasm is contagious, he truly enjoys the opportunity to compete, he uses his talents to the fullest and is an inspiration to his teammates, coaches and others in the CYM athletic community.” 

This past March, Brian’s classmates chose to honor Brian by naming Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the charity of choice for the Annual St. Mary Magdalen 3v3 Basketball Tournament. More than $9,000 was raised for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness.

David is a freshman student at Delaware Military Academy and has participated in CYM sports since 3rd grade when he began playing basketball in the St. John the Beloved In House program. 

David lost the use of his leg in kindergarten and has had a prosthetic devise since 1st grade. However, this has not stopped him from overcoming this personal challenge in life. After In-House basketball, David continued playing basketball with St. John in the CYM JV and Varsity divisions and this year played in the CYM Intermediate division. 

St. John the Beloved Basketball Coordinator John Parlamenti, in his letter nominating David stated the following: “David always comes to practice, always comes to play and truly gives his all in both. He has been an inspiration to his teammates and competitors at all levels.”

Elizabeth Nolan is this year’s recipient of the 2011 Pope John Paul II Courage in CYM Athletics Award. 

This award was instituted in 2005 however the idea behind it began in 1998 when Joe McNesby first observed Elizabeth running through the woods of White Clay Creek State Parkas part of the St. Mary Magdalen Cross Country team. It was clear that Elizabeth was an inspiration to her teammates, runners from other teams and the spectators that would cheer her on. 

Bob Dougherty, Elizabeth’s cross-country coach, wrote that Elizabeth had an “outgoing personality, positive attitude and determination.” Elizabeth was always in the middle of the pre-run stretches chitchatting with other team members. When Elizabeth would approach the finish line, Bob noted there would always be a crowd waiting to cheer Elizabeth on and that crowd was not just the St. Mary Magdalen kids but runners and spectators from all teams. Bob stated that Elizabeth “gave a lot more to the team and to myself that we gave to her.”

Elizabeth is no longer running cross country since 1998; however it is time to recognize Elizabeth for all that she has given to CYM.