Jeff UveinoErie Times-News
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James Conner knew well what Xavier Dombkowski had been through.
Conner, an Erie native turned NFL running back, met Dombkowski, a wrestler at Fort LeBoeuf High School, during Monday’s 2024 Northwest Pennsylvania High School Sports Awards.
Dombkowski received in April 2023 the same medical diagnosis given to Conner in 2015 — Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Conner beat cancer while with the University of Pittsburgh and Dombkowski has nearly done the same while returning to the mat in December.
More: He was diagnosed with cancer in April. Now, this Prep wrestler fights alongside his community
Familiarity with Dombkowski’s past challenges? Conner knew plenty about that.
The Arizona Cardinal, however, had little idea of what would happen next at Monday's show.
Monday's winners: More than 300 athletes honored at Northwestern Pennsylvania High School Sports Awards Show
Before greeting Dombkowski, Conner was notified that the Courage Award would be renamed in his honor. He then presented the first-ever James Conner Courage Award to Dombkowski, the two sharing an on-stage moment amidst a standing ovation.
“I just told (Dombkowski) to keep going and that I knew exactly what he’s going through,” said Conner, 29. “I like his resilience and just told him all the best going forward. It’s a huge surprise and a huge honor, and I’m thankful for it.”
Conner pointed to a scar on Dombkowski’s neck during their embrace. Dombkowski nodded and smiled, as it was there where swollen lymph nodes revealed his Hodgkin’s diagnosis the year prior.
“Growing up, (Conner) was kind of like a local legend,” Dombkowski said. “I wasn’t really knowing what to expect coming into this, but it ended up being a really great moment.”
Top local athletes honored in style
Approximately 775 people packed Warner Theatre to watch the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com recognize the top athletes, teams, coaches and schools in District 10 during the 2023-24 academic year. Conner was the guest speaker for the event, presented by AHN Sports Medicine at Saint Vincent.
D-10’s top male and female athlete of 2023-24 were honored and an Athlete of the Year was awarded for each PIAA-sponsored sport. Supporting sponsors included Marquette Savings Bank, Fullerton Appliance Center, the United States Air and Space Force, E2A2 Sports Academy, Golfweek and USA Today Sports.
More: Which 24 high school baseball players made the Erie Times-News' All-District 10 Team?
Oil City senior Ethen Knox repeated as Male Athlete of the Year, largely thanks to another eye-popping football season as the Oilers’ tailback. Knox rushed for 2,340 yards and 34 touchdowns on 297 carries before starting for the Oil City boys’ basketball team and winning four D-10 medals in spring track and field, including a championship in discus.
Grove City sophom*ore Milena Sciullo was awarded Female Athlete of the Year after a standout track and field season which saw her win the PIAA championship in triple jump, missing the state record by half an inch. She won state titles in high jump and triple jump during the indoor winter season.
“It puts me to work even more because there’s more I want to do,” Sciullo said. “It’s such an honor.”
Cathedral Prep soccer won Boys Team of the Year and Hickory golf was Girls Team of the Year. Both won a state championship and the head coach of each — Sam Tojaga for Prep and Craig Antush of Hickory — were selected boys’ and girls’ team Coach of the Year, respectively.
Sharon’s Madelyn Vogan won Rookie of the Year for her standout softball season and Saegertown High School repeated as school spirit award recipient. Former Sharpsville football coach Paul Piccirilli was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A new honor, the Golden Whistle Award, was presented to longtime Erie County basketball and volleyball official L.J. Frisina. This award was created to recognize an outstanding high school sports official in the community.
Cathedral Prep, Hickory capture Varsity Cup
Cathedral Prep edged rival McDowell for the Large-School Varsity Cup behind 11 region championships, 11 D-10 titles and a state championship in boys’ soccer. This marks 11 times in the past 13 years that Prep has won the cup.
More: NWPA Sports Awards: Sharpsville football coach Paul Piccirilli compiles decades of success
Hickory, meanwhile, won its fourth Small-School Varsity Cup in eight years. Tied with Fairview and Warren at four D-10 titles each, a state championship in girls’ golf helped separate the Hornets.
Major award winners
Lifetime Achievement: Paul Piccirrili, Sharpsville football coach
Courage Award: Xavier Dombkowski, Fort LeBoeuf wrestling
School Spirit: Saegertown
Male Athlete of the Year:
- Winner: Ethen Knox, Oil City
- Finalists: Caullin Summers, Sharpsville; Levi Prementine, Slippery Rock
Female Athlete of the Year:
- Winner: Milena Sciullio, Grove City
- Finalists: Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic; Anna Swan, North East
Rookie of the Year:
- Winner: Madelyn Vogan, Sharon
- Finalists: Abby Malesiewski, North East; Logan Stewart, Reynolds
Boys' Team Coach of the Year: Sam Tojaga, Cathedral Prep soccer
Girls' Team Coach of the Year: Craig Antush, Hickory golf
Male Team of the Year: Cathedral Prep soccer
Female Team of the Year: Hickory golf
Large School Varsity Cup: Cathedral Prep
Small School Varsity Cup: Hickory
District 10 Athletes of the Year
FALL SEASONS
- Football, Offensive: Ethen Knox, Oil City
- Football, Defensive: Marion Norris, Farrell
- Football, Lineman: Cooper Cousins, McDowell
- Girls Cross Country: Anne-Catherine Brown, Cathedral Prep
- Boys Cross Country: Kamden Kramer, McDowell
- Girls Soccer: Emily Samluk, Fort LeBoeuf
- Boys Soccer: Noah Handzel, Cathedral Prep
- Girls Golf: Anna Swan, North East
- Boys Golf: Braddock Damore, Warren
- Girls Volleyball: Emma Parks, Meadville
- Girls Tennis: Vivian Liu, Fairview
WINTER SEASONS
- Girls Basketball: Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic
- Boys Basketball: Tyler Grove, McDowell
- Girls Swimming and Diving: Maria Costa, Cathedral Prep
- Boys Swimming and Diving: Camden Smith, Franklin
- Boys Wrestling: Louie Gill, Reynolds
- Girls Wrestling: Avry Ryhal, Hickory
SPRING SEASONS
- Baseball: Jason Fultz Jr., Cathedral Prep
- Softball: Madelyn Vogan, Sharon
- Girls Track and Field: Milena Sciullo, Grove City
- Boys Track and Field: Levi Prementine, Slippery Rock
- Girls Lacrosse: Alyvia Stockton, McDowell
- Boys Lacrosse: Donny DeBlasio, Hickory
- Boys Tennis: Jonah Ng, Cathedral Prep
- Boys Volleyball: Luc Sorenson, Meadville
Contact Jeff Uveino atjuveino@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter,@realjuveino.
