December 27, 2000
Chad Severs - OC Sportsperson of the Year
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
When selecting the Sportsperson of the Year over the past four decades,
a number of things are considered. And those chosen have been selected
for a variety of reasons.
Many were Raider coaches who went beyond the job description to make
their program successful. Some were administrators or recreation
leaders. And a few were athletes.
There was OCHS grad Jack Neall, after being named an All-American
linebacker at William & Mary. MaryJo Dougherty, still the only Ocean
City athlete to be selected to the All-South Jersey team four straight
years. Pat Lynch, who set the standards for wrestlers throughout New
Jersey. And Kevin Sinclair, the state's all-time leader in rushing
yards and New Jersey's Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Each of them served as an example to the young athletes who followed,
demonstrating what hard work and dedication can do. Sure, each had
natural talent. But they used it in a way that brought tremendous pride
to Ocean City High School sports.
Add Chad Severs to that list.
You know most of the numbers. He led South Jersey boys soccer in
scoring for three straight years. No OCHS athlete - boy or girl - has
done that in any sport. He will graduate as the greatest scorer in
South Jersey soccer history and the only male athlete at the school to
play on two state championship teams.
He was the consensus choice as South Jersey Player of the Year the last
two seasons and was named all-state twice.
But it's not just because of the numbers that Severs name is being
added to our list of Ocean City's top sportspersons. It is also because
of the way he handled it all.
In virtually every game, Severs was marked by two or three defenders.
Their sole purpose was to keep him from getting the ball. But he got it,
and he found ways to score and to set up his teammates when the
overloaded defenses left them open.
Then, when an opposing coach made comments to reporters that were
thinly-disguised shots at Severs, he ignored it, carrying himself with
more maturity than the coach in question.
Chad Severs is a champion, both on the field and off. Like Neall,
Dougherty, Lynch and Sinclair, he has established standards in his
sport that will be goals for generations of OCHS soccer players. He is
headed for Penn State next year and you can expect him to leave his
mark there, as well.
For his skills as a soccer player, his poise under fire and the amazing
impact he has had on Ocean City High School sports, Chad Severs is our
2000 Sportsperson of the Year.
Click here for a
complete list of Ocean City's Sportspersons of the Year.
As the calendar year comes to an end, it is always a good time to look
back on the top local sports stories of 2000. As is our custom, here
are the ten sports stories, aside from the many accomplishments of our
Sportsperson of the Year, that seemed to generate the most interest
among Ocean City fans:
1. Playoff wins over Mainland and Edgewood as OCHS returned to the
South Jersey Group 3 championship football game for the third straight
year.
2. A second straight state co-championship by the Ocean City boys
soccer team.
3. The resignation of Phil Birnbaum as Raider boys and girls tennis
coach.
4. A South Jersey championship in girls soccer under first-year head
coach Tom Miller.
5. An undefeated season and overall CAL championship in girls cross
country under Coach Leo Chase, who moved over from girls soccer to
replace the retired Mike Naples.
6. A South Jersey championship by the Raider girls tennis team.
7. An American Conference championship for Craig Mensinger's
power-hitting Raider baseball team.
8. Jessica Brookes passing the 1,000-point milestone in girls
basketball.
9. Record-breaking performances by seniors Rick Henshaw and Ryan Taylor
in football and Cory Picketts, now a freshman at Princeton, in softball.
10. A championship season for the Raider golf team, led by junior Jeff
Michner.
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