SUCCESS STORIES
Andrew Masi, Westhill High School
Masi has known all about the Mickey Lione Scholarship Award for several years. He remembers reading about previous winners and hoped to one day earn the honor himself. This spring, the Westhill sophomore, who will turn 16 next month, got his wish.
"I always knew I wanted to apply and be interviewed but I didn't expect it to happen," Masi said. "I was so excited when I got the news. I had just gotten home from a baseball game and my mom yelled, 'The letter is here!' I quickly opened it and as soon as I saw I had won, I did a victory lap around the driveway."
Masi was indeed thrilled, even though it wasn't the first time a Masi child had been so honored. Andrew's sister, Jillian, won the Rioux Award last year.
It is the first time siblings have won the Rioux and Lione awards.
"Winning both awards is quite a 1-2 punch," Andrew Masi said. "My parents are ridiculously happy."
Masi has played three sports in his two years at Westhill: track for two years, baseball as a freshman and golf both years. He insists golf is his favorite, although the little dimpled white ball pushed his patience to the max this spring.
"You figure that you'll progress as the season goes on but it was the exact opposite for me," Masi said. "I was shooting 42-43 (for nine holes) early in the season then I developed a huge hook and I dropped to around 49-51. My average for the year was probably around 48 after I ended up so poorly."
Masi, who played freshman and junior varsity baseball as a freshman, was a pole-vaulter for the Westhill indoor track team the last two years. He cleared 8 1/2 feet this spring before hurting his back. He plans on focusing more on running events next year. But track will definitely take a backseat to his No. 1 love.
"Golf is my favorite, but it can be so frustrating," Masi said. "The ball never lies."
Neither do grade point averages and Masi's is 3.9.
Academics have always been a priority in my house," he said. "Every day I come home after practice and do three hours of homework. Sometimes it's tough to coordinate schoolwork, sports and getting some sleep in, while also doing other things."
Masi fills whatever time is left over by volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club or umpiring Little League games. He is also the Student Council Vice President.
Now, with the Lione Award, his resume is filling up fast.
"Mickey's legacy is great," said Masi who wants to be a business major in college when the time comes. "I found out a lot about him playing in the National-Lione Little League when I was younger. He was a disciplined coach who expected a lot from his players. It's a tremendous honor to win an award in his name."