Verona High School track athlete Megan Wynne has been honored with the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center’s Best Teammate Award. Wynne was one of 42 Essex County athletes from public and private high schools recognized by the museum at a ceremony on Wednesday evening. This was the 12th consecutive year for the award.
“To tonight’s award recipients: the fact that you’ve been selected for this award means that your coaches and your athletic directors are all in agreement that you are your school’s best representatives of Yogi Berra’s values,” said Eve Schaenen, the Museum’s executive director. “So I want to thank all of you, because you’re making the job of our Museum that much easier. In your actions and in your words, you are keeping Yogi’s legacy alive and strong. And that’s what this place is all about.”
The 42 winning students, together with family members, coaches and athletic directors, also had the opportunity to hear from special guest Lindsay Berra, sports journalist, documentary film producer and eldest grandchild of Yogi Berra. Berra also serves on the board of her grandfather’s Museum.
“Last night at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center we saw a unique fraternity, the Best Teammates, as identified from each of your schools,” said Steve Jenkins, Bloomfield High School’s athletic director and one of the event organizers. “Their stories are inspiring. In this day and age everyone is consumed with numbers: batting average, points per game, 40-yard dash times. While those things are important, it is often those things that cannot be quantified that are most significant. These young people are examples of all that is good in High School Athletics.”
The 2024 Yogi Berra Museum Best Teammate Award Recipients:
Jadyn Humber – Arts H.S.
Brian Grant – Bard H.S.
Ayled Paguay – Barringer H.S.
Joshua Abramson – Belleville H.S.
Sophia Llanes – Bloomfield H.S.
Isabella Cutalo – Cedar Grove H.S.
Sage Reed – Central H.S.
Henry Cooper – Columbia H.S.
Arthur Pankey – Eagle Academy
Melvin Okere – East Orange H.S.
Matthew Amaro – East Side H.S.
Joy Okaro – EC Newark Tech
Robert Foster – EC Payne Tech
Angel Rivera – EC West Caldwell
Harper Nix – Glen Ridge H.S.
Maya Taylor-Prince – Golda Och
Kole Grandison – Immaculate
Peterlyne Charles – Irvington H.S.
Mackenzie Durkin – James Caldwell H.S.
Kodey Freeman – Livingston H.S.
Asad Riggins – Malcolm X. Shabazz
Emma Boland – Millburn H.S.
Matthew Hymowitz – Montclair H.S.
Eli Solomon – Montclair Kimberley Academy
Ariana Rivera – Mount St. Dominic
Nicholas Sikellis – Newark Academy
Najee Graham – Newark Collegiate
Jabril Terry – Newark Lab
Amarise Escobar – North Star
Rocco Delitta – Nutley H.S.
Amaya Fortunato – Orange H.S.
Riana Starling – Science Park H.S.
Patrick Miller – Seton Hall Prep
Alessandro Giammatteo – St. Benedict’s
Kiara Green – St. Vincent
Makai Knights – Technology H.S.
Mirabel Babanawo – University H.S.
Megan Wynne – Verona H.S.
Elijah Motley – Weequahic H.S.
Shaun Bertonaschi – West Essex H.S.
Bryce Mengden – West Orange H.S.
Ademide Johnson – West Side H.S.
