FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adam Woullard (312-729-3627)
ARCHMERE ACADEMY STANDOUT NAMED
GATORADE DELAWARE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (January 17, 2013) — In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced John Mascioli of Archmere Academy as its 2012-13 Gatorade Delaware Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Mascioli is the third Gatorade Delaware Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Archmere Academy.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Mascioli as Delaware’s best high school boys cross country runner. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Mascioli joins an elite alumni association of past state award- winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, S.C.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-9 senior raced to the Division II individual state championship this past season with a course-record time of 16:13.13, leading the Auks to second place as a team. Named the Victor A. Zwolak Award recipient by the New Castle County Cross Country Coaches & Track Association as the state’s top runner, Mascioli placed 40th at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional championships in 15:56.9. He captured third place at the 2011 Division II state meet as a junior.
Also a track standout and accomplished musician, Mascioli has maintained a 3.59 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of his school’s Spanish and Ecology clubs, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Christiana Care Health System and a hospital-based simulation laboratory.
“John’s commitment to diet, training and leadership make him an exceptional person,” said Archmere head coach John Jordan. “His innate kindness and self-discipline make other runners want to be better.”
Mascioli will attend St. Joseph’s University this fall, where he will continue his running career.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Mascioli joins Gatorade Delaware Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year Sam Parsons (2011-12, The Tatnall School), Sebastian Oja (2010-11, Archmere Academy), Ryan Lee (2009-10, Archmere Academy), Greg Morrin (2008-09, Saint Mark's), and George Vernon (2007-08, Concord) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
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