Two hundred turn out to honor Manley

Jan 11, 2011 at 03:06 pm by Observer-Review


PENN YAN
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Two hundred turn out to honor Manley

PENN YAN—Michael Manley smiled broadly as he looked around at the crowd that filled the hall at St. Michael’s Church Thursday, Jan. 6. Manley was at the facility to receive the first St. Michael’s School “Sports Person of the Year” Award. Manley is a member of the Duke University Blue Devils 2010 NCAA championship lacrosse team where he was a starting defender. A serious knee injury may sideline Manley in 2011. Surgery to repair the damage was 15 weeks ago.
The church hall was a familiar place from the years he attended St. Michael’s School. During most of Manley’s grade school years, the church hall was the site of gym classes for students. Manley starred at lacrosse while at Penn Yan Academy.
In between signing autographs before the activities began Jan. 6, Manley spoke about his love of sports and lacrosse in particular. He began to play lacrosse when he was 10. During his high school years, he played football, hockey and lacrosse. Manley dropped hockey when in his junior year at PYA to concentrate on lacrosse.
Asked what advice he had for aspiring athletes, Manley quickly answered, hard work and dedication.
Also featured during the evening were comments from Patrick Cougevan, former PYA and Syracuse University lacrosse star, Tim Soudan, former Al-American and Rochester Knighthawk and PYA head lacrosse coach Brian Hobart. During the 1960s and 1970s, a sports dinner that featured athletes from different sports was a popular event. Rising costs caused it to end. The new event recognizes local athletes who have demonstrated success in the athletic world and who also serve as a good role model for the youth of the community. It will benefit St. Michael’s School.
Manley has demonstrated both features. He is majoring in history at Duke. His ultimate career goal is to become a FBI agent.

 

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