Intensity and consistency: The two go hand-in-hand with Tim Kiernan. The Verona High School boys soccer team defender, who has just been named second-team all-conference, is a four-year varsity letterman who has started just about every game for the past three seasons. He is this week’s Verona Sports Boosters Senior Athlete of the Week.
Kiernan had five assists this year, mostly on his throw-ins, which are generally recognized as among the strongest on the team this season. When Kiernan takes a throw-in from the other team’s half of the field, he has a good chance of sending the ball into the box, giving his teammates the opportunity to head the ball on goal. But he’s no slouch in other areas on the field. In the 1-0 victory over Pompton Lakes during the sectional, Kiernan ran down several Pompton Lakes players on breakaways to keep them from getting uncontested shots on goal as Hillbillies protected their lead. Kiernan rarely came out of any game this year, and his very strong leg was a big plus on goal kicks.
Like Alison Sprong, last week’s athlete of the week, Kiernan is also a scholar-athlete, with repeated turns on the honor rolls and an inductee into the National Honor Society this past May. He will be back in Maroon and White next spring with the baseball team.
During the 2011-2012 school year, the Verona Sports Boosters will be recognizing a different senior athlete at Verona High School every week. The Boosters support male and female athletes in all VHS sports through a variety of fundraisers and recognition events.
