Barker senior earns Section VI award

Contributed Photo – Barker High senior Christopher Sweeney is shown here with, from left, his father, John Sweeney; mother, Debbie Sweeney and Barker Athletic Director Dave Carson.

Barker Central School is pleased to announce that Christopher Sweeney was named the male winner of Section VI’s New York State Athletic Administrators Association Student Athlete Scholar/Essay contest.

Sweeeny was recognized Wednesday for this award by Section VI President and Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District Athletic Director, Mr. Brett Banker at the Section VI Athletic Council meeting.

The criteria for the award included academic and athletic performance; school/community participation and service; leadership skills; sportsmanship; and completion of an essay on “How High School Athletics Have Impacted My Life”. He received a $250.00 scholarship and plaque for this outstanding accomplishment.

“We are very proud of Christopher. He has a tremendous work ethic and his competitive drive has resulted in him receiving post-season honors and awards for cross country, basketball, and track & field,” said Barker Athletic Director Dave Carson. “This past Tuesday, Christopher completed his track & field regular season career as a key member of a team with a perfect record of 30-0 over the past 5 years. As a junior, Christopher was the 3rd leading scorer and 3-point leader on the 2013-14 league championship boys basketball team that had a regular season record of 18-0. In cross country, Christopher was a key member of 3 undefeated league championship teams, 2 sectional championship teams, and this past season was on the Class D State runner-up team at the NYS Cross Country Championships.”

“In addition to being an outstanding student-athlete, Christopher is very involved in his church, accelerated classes, the musical, band, 4-H, his family farm, and countless other community and school organizations,” added Carson. “Most impressive is he is able to do all of this while excelling in the classroom with a G.P.A. of 96.489.”

Sweeney will be attending Cornell University this fall to major in Animal Science.