Maurer, Skon win Dellecave Award

Mother knows best. Just ask Kerrin Maurer.

En route to the West Lake Inn in Patchogue for the Dellecave Awards presentation Sunday morning, the St. Anthony's senior's mom told her the winner had to make a speech. Good thing Kerrin learned that, because she won.

"My mom told me in the car I had to make a speech, but I didn't prepare at all because I didn't think [I would win]," Maurer said. "I just went up and thanked everyone I had to thank."

The Dellecave Award is given to the top male and female athletes in Suffolk. Lindenhurst senior Stephen Skon was the male winner.

Scholarship and citizenship also are factored into the voting, which is decided by Newsday and presented in conjunction with the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. The award is named after the late Butch Dellecave, an educator in the Connetquot district for 30 years, an esteemed basketball official and one of the founders of the Hall of Fame.

The award, now in its 11th year, comes with a $1,000 scholarship, and the winners are immortalized in the Hall of Fame.

One male and one female nominee represent each of the county's districts. From there, five finalists of each gender are named. The female finalists were Mary Kate Anselmini of Ward Melville, Casey Filippone of North Babylon, Katie Hyland of Islip, Julia Wendt of Bay Shore and Maurer, who will play lacrosse for Duke next year.

SEE PHOTOSNewsday's best high school photos

"People told me I deserved it when I walked in, but I never thought that I would actually win it," Maurer said. "When they said 'From St. Anthony's,' I was so excited and so overwhelmed."

The male finalists were Anthony Gatto of Smithtown West, Michael Pellegrino of Connetquot, Jesse Scanna of Sachem North, Kyle Turri of West Islip and Skon, who will play football for Georgetown in the fall. "I was shocked. There's so many great athletes up there," Skon said. "A lot of hard work goes into this."

Maurer, a two-time lacrosse All-American, led the Friars to their third CHSAA title in her three seasons, recording 72 goals and 29 assists. She was a Newsday All-Long Island selection in basketball and lacrosse and was a team captain in those two sports and volleyball, in which she was an All-State libero.

Maurer will play in the Under Armour All-American Lacrosse Classic on July 2. She is the second Friar to win the Dellecave Award, joining Jessica Russo (2008).

Yet her biggest feat may have been her comeback from a car accident in January 2010 in which she fractured her pelvis and broke her right ankle.

"It should be in a movie," Maurer said of her return to athletics. "I didn't expect for this to happen and it's unbelievable how my body reacted. It's a great accomplishment to know that my hard work in rehab paid off."

Skon was one of the most prolific passers in Suffolk history. He finished with 4,114 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns and rushed for 1,045 yards and 15 touchdowns. He twice won the Boomer Esiason Award, given to Suffolk's top quarterback, and will play in the Empire Challenge at Hofstra later this month.

In baseball, shortstop Skon holds the school record for hits, runs, and games won and is second in RBIs. He was a two-time All-County player and a member of last year's state championship team.

Skon is the second Bulldog to win the Dellecave Award, joining John Glynn (2004).

Like Maurer, Skon was nervous about his speech but was eloquent in his brevity. He even jokingly acknowledged his "stupid" younger brother, who was jabbing him as the emcee recited his achievements. Said Skon, "I was trying to think of something in case it happened, but I didn't want to get my hopes up.

"I was shocked."