Jahelka, Sullivan Win Nassau County Sports Commission Awards

Barbara Sullivan and Stephen Jahelka, both Garden City High School seniors, were recently honored by the Nassau County Sports Commission (NCSC) at its sixteenth annual “Salute to Champions” awards dinner held May 3.

New York Islander Clark Gillies and Olympic gold Medalist Sarah Hughes joined a host of other celebrities in honoring the talented young athletes.

Barbara Sullivan

Sullivan, bound for Notre Dame in the fall, received a 2011 Scholastic Honoree Award. Only eight other Nassau County students were awarded this distinction. Sullivan is a three-sport athlete named to the National USA lacrosse team. She was captain of the New York State Class B champion team and earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American and Academic All-American honors.

Sullivan was named MVP of the 2010 New York State championship team, as well as being All-County, All-Long Island and All-Galaxy first team. ESPN Rise ranks Barbara as the #1 defender and seventh overall in the nation for future lacrosse stars. She was recently featured on the cover of the spring of 2011 MSG Varsity for her leadership and achievement on the lacrosse field, with a magazine feature highlighting Barbara and award-winning coach Diane Chapman (p.33).

In her second sport, Sullivan scored over 1,000 points as a pivotal player on the girls varsity basketball team and was named Conference-A Player of the Year, All-State and All-County.

Finally, in soccer, Barbara led the Trojans to their first-ever New York State Class-A soccer championship. She was named an All-Long Island and All-County player for her outstanding achievements on the soccer field.

Stephen Jahelka

Jahelka, the second Garden City High School Class of 2011 NCSC honoree, is a Harvard-bound, three-sport athlete. Awarded the James J. Regan Award, named for an outstanding athlete and serviceman who lost his life serving in Iraq in 2007, Stephen was honored at the awards dinner as a “true leader.” He was captain of the Long Island and Nassau County championship lacrosse teams, a First Team All-American, ESPN Warrior Top-40 All-Star Team selection, Nassau County Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive MVP of the Nassau County championship games, All-Long Island and All-Nassau County. Featured on the cover and interior of ESPN Rise magazine, along with teammate Brian Fischer, Stephen is ranked as one of Inside Lacrosse magazine’s top-10 players in the nation.

Starting as a varsity linebacker and running back, Stephen was named #2 football player on Long Island by MSG Varsity. He received the Warren King Outstanding Running Back MVP award, was named All-State, All-Long Island and All-County, and was a finalist for the Pinner Award for Best Linebacker in Nassau County. Stephen is the all-time leading Trojan scorer with 225 points.