BERLIN — Berlin High School senior Toby Lavender was one of four Connecticut student athletes to be recognized by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA.) Lavender was named this year’s recipient for the John Fontana Scholar-Athlete Scholarship.
The other three scholarship recipients included: Glastonbury’s Annika Paluska (Joseph Canzanella Award), Maloney’s Bria Benigni (Robert “Jiggs” Cecchini Award), and Avon’s Daniel Choi (Larry McHugh Award.)
The accomplishment caught the three-sport athlete off guard saying he was surprised he was named the recipient of the award, but was grateful to receive the honor and to have his hard work go noticed.
“I was very surprised I was the recipient of the John Fontana Scholarship,” said Lavender. I know there must have been a lot of very great candidates and I’m honored to be the one chosen. I was super excited and proud that I was picked for this scholarship because of all the hard work I have put in.”
Lavender is currently playing his final baseball season with the team as he wrapped up the finals seasons of football and basketball this fall and winter.
He played football as running back and defensive back for head coach Joe Aresimowicz the last four seasons and helped lead the team to a state title appearance during the 2022 season. This season, he led the team in rushing yards (814), all-purpose yards (1,181), touchdowns scored (12), and interceptions (7) while placing fourth in tackles with 80.
“Toby led by example,” said Aresimowicz. “He put his level of play at a high level and led everyone around him to meet that level. On the field or in school, the bar was set high and in his own unique way, he brought others with him.”
Right after basketball season, Lavender would spend his winters playing for the Redcoats basketball team. Like football, he was a captain this past season for the Redcoats basketball team under head coach, Stan Glowiak. Glowiak described Lavender as a tough competitor that always gave his all while being a great teammate.
“As captain of the basketball team, he always gave it his all and never cracked under toughest circumstances,” said Glowiak. “Toby is a special person and athlete that doesn’t come around often and the basketball team and the other sports he competed in were way fortunate to have Toby lead the way. He will always be remembered for what he accomplished at Berlin.”
Lavender is currently playing in his final sporting season of his high school career. He’s one of the two co-captains of the baseball team alongside senior Evan Gentile. Head coach Leo Veleas described Lavender as a quiet leader while also showing that he was proud of Lavender for being nominated.
“Toby is a quiet leader,” said Veleas. “I am very proud of him.”
Lavender will attend the University of Alabama in the fall majoring in business. While he had multiple offers from some Division II and Division III schools to play baseball and football, attending Alabama was an opportunity Lavender didn’t want to miss out on. He plans on trying out for the club baseball team and maybe joining a club fishing team.
“I have always been an Alabama fan since I was born, so I am super excited to go there next year and study business,” Lavender said. “The campus at Alabama is unbelievable and there is so much to do as opposed to a smaller school in the northeast. I can still be involved in sports while going to my favorite school.”
