The Upper Perkiomen Blue and Gold Athletic Banquet brought together the past and the present as two outstanding former student-athletes were added to the Athletic Wall of Fame before the current group of Tribe athletes were honored.

            Alyssa Thren (2008) and Tim Mayza (2010) returned to be honored for their achievements at Upper Perk and in their post-high school careers.

            During the course of the banquet, common themes emerged through the speakers' words. All touched on the importance of family and the Upper Perk community in helping to shape the successful student-athletes who have walked the halls of UPHS.

            Former hockey coach Kelly Brenninger introduced Alyssa Thren and noted that "Family ties run deep in the Upper Perkiomen Valley."

            Indeed, for the Thren family, the Wall of Fame is gathering place. On this night, Alyssa joined her mother Vicki (1975) and sister Nikki (2005) in the elite company of Upper Perk athletes and coaches.

            "It feels great to follow the family footsteps," Alyssa said afterward. "It's neat to know that we will forever share being a part of the school's athletic history."

            In her speech, Thren, who went onto a record-setting hockey career at Ursinus, urged the athletes gathered in the gym to "put the needs of the team ahead of your own. You deserve nothing. You must earn it."

            Tim Mayza was introduced by his high school coaches, Ernie Quatrani and Frank Mercon.

            Both coaches sounded similar refrains in praising Mayza's parents, Marlene and Jerry, and fondly remembered Tim's talents, enthusiasm and work ethic.

            Mayza, currently pitching for Toronto's AA affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, was able to attend the banquet because his team had an off-day on Monday.

            During his speech, Mayza echoed the words of Wall of Famer Josh Tyler (1991) who had urged Tim to be the best he could be.

            "My message to you is to strive for greatness in everything you do, have a relentless mentality daily, push yourself to reach maximum potential and do not settle for being just mediocre," Mayza said to the 2016-17 athletes.

            Tim fondly recalled playing youth sports in the Valley and the high school experience. 

            "There's something real special about being able to play alongside your best friends. My best friends today were around me in all the sports."

            Back in the present,  Zeke Hallman and Kenzie Gebhardt were named the Outstanding Athletes while Nolan Graber and Gabby Martin received the All-Around Athletes Awards.

            The Terry Fetterman Memorial Award, named for a 1954 UP standout, went to Jake Vogel.

            The Debbie Hodge Memorial Award went to Liz Pierson. The Award memorializes the Class of 1986 hockey and lacrosse player, two sports that Pierson played.

            Sam Daub and retiring trainer Sharon Schoelkopf took home the Joseph Ricapito Memorial, named after the former Sports Booster president.

            Jaadon Kennedy was the recipient of the Kyheim Tripp Memorial Award in honor of the 1997 graduate killed in a car crash.

            The Lori Moll Memorial was given to Megan Wismer from the "For the Love of Lori Trust Fund" established after the 1993 grad's death from cancer.

            Hallman had the honor of being named the Keith Klepac Memorial Award winner, established in memory of the Class of 2008 football player killed in an accident.

            The Ralph W. Engle Memorial Awards, named for the man who served the athletic program and District in many capacities, were given to Sarah Heidler and Landon Detweiler.

            The Samantha Snyder Memorial Water Polo Award was given to Abigail Foreman and Trevor Cairns. Sam Snyder passed away in 2005 after her water polo season had ended.

            The Champion Award, sponsored by 1966 graduate and basketball player Jim Young, went to Nick Groff.

            First year athletic director Bobby Kurzweg III announced that veteran Sports Boosters members Nancy Graber and Dave Moser will be stepping away from their leadership positions and the club.             Under their direction, the Boosters have been indispensable pillars of the infrastructure that helps defray the expenses of the athletic program. It is the Boosters who organize and help pay for the banquet and awards.

            The Lions and Lioness Clubs are also integral in supporting the banquet

            Liz Pierson, who played four sports in her time at the high school closed the evening with some reflections on her time at Upper Perk that echoed the sentiments of the Wall of Fame inductees.

            She lauded the coaches who molded Upper Perk student-athletes, since they were "scrawny freshmen", not only in athletics, but also in other aspects of life.

            "They have taught us valuable lessons, from communication to teamwork to building success from failure.

            "My time as an athlete at Upper Perk feels short-lived. I will miss the sense of community that the Upper Perk School District has created for me."