1999
Female Honoree
Sharon
Starzan
1999
Our female honoree for this year is Sharon Starzan. Sharon
entered VHS in 1976 making quite an impression.
She was the first female athlete in Vineland High School history to earn
three Varsity Letters her freshman year--letters in tennis, basketball and
track. She was also New Jersey
State Tennis Champion. In 1977,
Sharon continued with her winning ways by winning the Women's Championship in
the Easter Seal Tennis Tournament. In 1978-79 she was a High School All-American
in Tennis and in 1979-80 was named to America's outstanding names and faces.
After winning the Coach's Award for Tennis in 1979 and 80, Sharon also
took home the Coach's Award for Basketball. She was presented the Jewish War
Veterans' Award for most outstanding student in academics and athletics and was
named to Who's Who Among American High School Students.
Mr. Ted Peters,
Sharon's tennis coach commented that Sharon was" a team leader, a good
player who was extremely mobile and gave 110 per cent." Even when Sharon
wasn't participating in a sport, she spent a lot of time after school helping
the coaches, acting as scorekeeper and assisting wherever she was needed.
After
graduating, Sharon went to Lock Haven University where she continued playing
varsity tennis for four years. In her junior year, having an undefeated season, she placed
2nd in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tour and was named Budweiser
College Athlete of the Week. While
at the University, Sharon also participated in field hockey and basketball
intramurals for four years.
To keep busy
during her semester breaks and summers Sharon was a lifeguard at the Vineland
Developmental Center and gave private tennis lessons to adults. In other leisure
time she substituted for the Vineland School System.
After graduating from college, Sharon was employed by the Vineland
Developmental Center where she taught Physical Education and also assisted
teachers by helping with classroom activities. Sharon is now a teaching
supervisor at the center.
Male Honoree
Sean Steinour
1999
Our male honoree this year is Sean Steinour who also made
quite an impression at Vineland High. His tennis record as a sophomore was 23
wins - 0 losses. He was
also Honorary All-American USA, All New Jersey, All South Jersey, All
Conference, All Area and Player of the Year.
That year, needless to say, Vineland's tennis team was rated 2nd in the
State, and 1st in South Jersey Group IV, 1st in the Conference and 1st in Area
Group IV. Sean's tennis record his junior year was 20 wins and 1 loss. He was
the #1 singles player. After
amassing a 17-0 record his senior year, Sean was voted All Group IV, All South
Jersey Singles, and All Conference 1st Team.
He won the Coach's Tournament, the Coach's Award, the Captain's Award and
was Player of the Year. Ending
his high school career with a record 109 wins and 7 losses, he was the recipient
of a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina.
During his
college years, Sean played #3 Singles as well as #1, #2 and #3 Doubles. He was
the ACC #2 Doubles Conference Champion. UNC's tennis team was ranked #7 in the
NCAA's during his sophomore year. Sean played in the NCAA Tournament 2
consecutive years. After graduating
with a degree in economics, Sean played on the Satellite Circuit from January
'94 through august of '95 traveling extensively. While he was playing the
Satellites, he trained at Van Der Meer Tennis University in South Carolina and
received his certification from the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry at Hilton
Head.
After moving to
Virginia, he continued to play tennis winning seven Virginia State Singles
Titles and two Virginia State Doubles Titles with his brother, Scott.
During the past 3 years, Sean also won the City of Richmond Singles Title
three consecutive times and has earned the #1 ranking in the Virginia Men's Open
for the last several years.
This past February he won the USPTR Tennis Championships on Hilton Head Island winning the Open Singles and the Mixed Doubles Events. Professionals from all over the world play in this tournament. Sean, who came into the tournament seeded #5, was pleased to defeat the former top player, Tim Wilkerson, in the Semi's and the past Tournament Winner, Rick Witskin, 6-3, 6-0 in the Finals. He has also competed against several of the present top one hundred world ranked players.
P
David Still
1999
Each year the
booster club honors posthumously, someone who has made a contribution to
Vineland High School sports and who has also been an outstanding contributor to
the community. A headstone is made
and placed in the Walk of Fame around the flagpole in front of the 11/12
building. This walk was dedicated
on May 1. Our thanks to the Jim
Geraci family of Vineland for making this dedication possible.
This year's
posthumous honoree is David Still. Upon entering VHS, David decided to
try out for the basketball team, much to the delight of Mr. Ed Harvard who was
coach at that time. With David's constancy in rebounding, Vineland tied for both
the Cumberland County Championship and the Conference Championship. David
received his Varsity Letter as a sophomore. David also participated in track and
field, but basketball was his first love.
In his junior
year, David was 1st Team All Area and 1st Team All Conference. The team won the
Cumberland Count Championship and was runner up in the State Sectional Finals. David,
with an average of 17.5 points a game, led the team in points and rebounding.
David received the Prestigious Street & Smith Honorable Mention for
All American.
In David's
senior year, the team had a 21-4 record which is the best in Vineland High
History. David again was 1st Team All Area, 1st Team All Conference and
led in scoring and rebounding with an average of 18 points per game.
Vineland made the State Playoffs all the time David played; they were
Cumberland County Champs, and lost to Cherry Hill in the Sectional Semi-Finals.
Scoring over 1,000 points in his high school career, David received
offers from many colleges including Colorado State, San Diego State and the
University of Connecticut. David
chose Virginia Commonwealth University after receiving a full Basketball
Scholarship. They won the
Conference Championship his freshman year.
David also
attended Allen Community College in Kansas where he was selected All-Region VI
All Conference. After transferring to Keen College in New Jersey, David averaged
21 points per game. He was the 7th leading scorer in New Jersey and was chosen
1st Team All State by the NJAC. He was 2nd Team ECAC and was Rookie of the Week
five times. David's goal was to finish in the top 10 in rebounding in the NCAA.
After graduating with a Degree in Criminal Justice, David worked with the Department of Corrections. He continued playing basketball in various leagues and also played for the YMCA. At the age of 30, playing the sport he loved, David collapsed and died leaving behind a lovely family.