Conroy 2W5 Named Athlete of the Year; Ohl 7W4 and Stewart 7W4 Added to the Athletic Hall of Fame
Senior Cooper Conroy was named the winner of Williamson's George W. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year Award for outstanding achievements in the sports of football and lacrosse, while Denny Ohl and Brian Stewart, both members of the Class of 7W4, were named to Williamson's Athletic Hall of Fame at the school's recent 58th Annual Sports Award Ceremony. The event also honored 161 student-athletes who earned a varsity letter this past year, as well as their teams.
"It is a time to celebrate you and all you have accomplished on the field and in the classroom this past year," shared Williamson Director of Athletics Dale Plummer with the student-athletes to start the night off.
"It doesn't matter whether you were a starter or were playing the sport for the first time, that fact that you chose to participate says a lot about who you are. Tonight, we celebrate you and our coaches for all you have done."
As far as accomplishments for the school year go, Williamson had a school record five of their eight teams receive a national ranking this past year, and a sixth team, cross county, managed to finish sixth in the nation at the 2024 USCAA National Championships.
In addition, 32 students earned Academic All-American honors, 18 earned all-conference honors, two of whom earned Player of the Year honors, and two others earned All-American honors. (Baseball is still waiting to see if any of their players earn All-American honors).
"What you gentlemen did, despite being one of the smallest enrollments in the county, is beyond incredible," added Plummer
After the team awards, Plummer had the honor of inducting Brian Stewart 7W4 and classmate Denny Ohl 7W4 into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Both were standouts in baseball, while Ohl also excelled as a football player.
A three-year starter for the baseball team, Stewart started his freshman year as a second baseman but it was the move to catcher his junior year that moved him into the upper echelon in the history of Williamson baseball players. He won Defensive Player of the Year twice as a catcher, caught every pitch both junior and senior years and threw out 80% of would-be base stealers. He also batted .468 his senior year and was among the team leaders in extra base hits his junior and senior years. For his efforts, he earned a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and played semi-pro ball for 11 years.
Ohl was the starting quarterback for the Williamson football team all three years and excelled in baseball as well. He earned six varsity letters during his Williamson career and was co-captain of both teams his senior year. His numbers in baseball, especially his senior year, are truly legendary. He hit an astounding .512, while leading the team in home runs and RBI. He was the team's top pitcher, throwing in the mid-90s with control of four pitches, and won 80% of his games. When not pitching, he was in the outfield where he led the team in outfield assists all three years.
"Both Denny and Brian could not be more deserving of this honor. Both were not only great athletes, but have been wonderful examples of what being a Williamson man is all about," shared Plummer.
Perhaps the least surprising moment of the night was when Cooper Conroy 2W5 was named the Walter G. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year award winner. While some years the competition is close, this year Conroy was the runaway winner-and rightfully so. A two-sport standout for three years, he was a First Team All-Seaboard Conference selection for the second straight year, and was named the 2024 Seaboard Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
He led the team in interceptions with seven and ended his career with 20, one short of the school record. He also is a standout for the Williamson lacrosse team where he is the team's second leading scorer. During the 2024-25 school year, he was named a team MVP for both sports and was a team captain for both as well.
Proving that he not only is outstanding on the field, but in the classroom as well, he is a four-time USCAA Academic All-American.
"Cooper will go down as one of the greatest 'shutdown' cornerbacks in school history, but even more importantly, he will go down as one of the finest young men at Williamson as well. He truly is what being a Williamson Man is all about," closed Plummer.
