Home

SUCCESS STORIES

Stamford Advocate August 19, 2010
Corcoran, Silk, Baranowski are Lione Jr. scholarship winners
By Mike Levitt - Correspondent

STAMFORD -- In case anyone forgot the Mickey Lione Jr. Scholarship is awarded to student-athletes that excel off the field, take a look at this year's winners -- Matt Corcoran, Billy Silk and Sean Baranowski. They may be impressive athletes, but the trio of soon-to-be juniors, who attend Stamford High, Westhill, and Trinity Catholic, respectively, are perfect ambassadors for the athlete that is a student and active member of the community first.

Since its inception in 2000, the scholarship has become one of the most sought after awards recognizing high school excellence in the city, with the Lione Jr. Fund having raised more than $150,000 in scholarship money in that time. Lione Jr., who died in 1999 at age 59, is synonymous with sports in Stamford. The Lione name is ingrained in Stamford baseball minds -- National Lione Little League is named after his father and the main field at Cubeta Stadium is named after him as well. Lione Jr. won three Babe Ruth youth national championships as a player (1951,1953,1954) and two Senior Babe Ruth Championships as a coach (1968, 1971) before taking over coaching roles at Trinity Catholic. In total, his coaching career lasted 37 years and was not restricted to baseball. He was also an assistant coach for the Trinity football team and became the inaugural Trinity hockey coach in 1978-1979 despite limited knowledge of the game.

The Lione scholarship recognizes a sophomore from each city high school who exemplifies the ideals Lione Jr. instilled in his players and students. This year, for the first time, the Lione Scholarship is also awarded to one girl from each of the city's high schools, giving Stamford six recipients. In the words of The Fund's mission statement, Lione "taught and encouraged young people to strive for personal excellence and to use their strengths to make a positive impact on their peers, their community, and the world around them."

Matt Corcoran

Of this year's winners, Corcoran is the most athletically acclaimed. A starting linebacker for the Black Knights football team as a sophomore, Corcoran is ready to take on an even more important role this season. Last year, eyes were on him as the unproven youngster, this year all eyes will be on the established veteran. "I know people will be coming at me," Corcoran said. "Last year I had a lot to prove and this year will be the same situation, but now people know who I am. I'm not the little guy anymore, I'm the target man now. I'm going to play the same way. I'm not a vocal leader. I'm more of a personal leader, one-on-one on the side. I can be vocal if I have to, but I like to lead by example." The middle linebacker and running back went to Trinity Catholic middle school and grew up not only hearing the Lione name, but personally knowing a number of previous winners. "I've known who Mickey was for a long time and always thought I might like to look into this award some day," Corcoran said. "The guys I know that have won this award always seem to do the right thing. They have great sportsmanship and are hard workers. I see myself in some of them. Those personal relationships showed me what I should act like if I wanted to become a recipient."
Though Corcoran hopes to be involved in football for as long as possible, with the hopes of playing in college, he is also an accomplished guitarist who loves writing his own music.
"I'd like to play football, but if it's not in my best interest then maybe I'd like to coach one day and help someone that loves the game like I do," Corcoran said. "The thing I love about guitar, something my teacher once told me, is that playing will never leave you. No matter where I am or what I'm doing in the future, you can play wherever you are."

William Silk

Billy Silk loves taking initiative and trying new things. Silk went to Fairfield Prep for his freshman year but decided the commute was too long, so he enrolled at Westhill. The longtime hockey player picked up tennis a few years ago, and now is on the varsity team.
He has played piano for a number of years, and this past winter was the keyboardist in Westhill's winter musical Carousel. "I never did that before," Silk said of being in the pit orchestra. "I love knowing I am involved in something where people are depending on you to do it right." The two-sport varsity athlete knows all about people depending on him. He competes in Mock Trial for Westhill, taking the team to the state semifinals last year. This fall, the team is competing in an international tournament in New York. "I love to argue," Silk said. "For a while I thought about becoming a lawyer, but I'm not sure in what capacity. I like the research aspect of studying cases and preparing for a trial." Silk also has a love of politics that was partly instilled in him through Mock Trial and partly due to the 2008 presidential elections. This summer he contributed to Dan Malloy's gubernatorial campaign. "I love politics and I think that people in general and especially my age are cynical about politics and maybe don't care as much as they should," Silk said. "I'll do whatever they ask of me at Malloy's. I'll answer phones, even get coffee." Silk will be taking AP Spanish in the fall as a junior and hopes to one day combine his love of languages, politics, and law. "I'd like to find a way to utilize languages and I love mach trial so any combination would be great for me."

Sean Baranowski

Most kids heading into their junior year of high school don't have a distinct idea of what they want to do with their lives post college. Not Sean Baranowski. He knows exactly what he wants to do. "New Haven University," he said. "Criminology. I've always wanted to be in the field of law enforcement. I thought it would be cool." Baranowski, who attends Trinity Catholic, always does what he thinks is cool, even if others his age can't see the fun.
"I love helping people," Baranowski said. "I just got back from a trip to West Virginia with my youth group and we repaired homes, replaced a roof on a house, repainted the exterior. It's never a chore, its actually fun. Sometimes I make my friends help and they don't care because we make it fun." The incoming junior -- who plans on fighting for a starting job on the Trinity football team's offensive line and was last year's JV baseball catcher -- still can't believe he won the award. "I thought all the other applicants were better than me," Baranowski confessed. "They both had high academics too and play three sports. I'm a bit surprised, but happy. It shows I deserve it for what I've been doing in the community."A Trinity Middle School graduate, Baranowski has long known the Lione name from coaches growing up. Honored to have won the award, Baranowski knows his responsibilities have increased as a result. "This is a great confidence boost," he said. "People recognize me now and coach told me to be a leader because people are looking up to me. "Mickey wanted you to be a good person," Baranowski said. "He didn't care how you performed, he wanted you to learn his lessons that extended beyond the field. He didn't care if you became a star athlete, he wanted you to become a star person."

Stamford Advocate August 20, 2010
Vaca, Yang, Khetan first females to win Lione Jr. scholarships
By Mike Levitt - Correspondent

STAMFORD -- The inaugural winners of the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund female scholarship perfectly exemplify the type of student recognized by the award. Future applicants take notice. This year's winners -- Karen Vaca of Trinity Catholic, Diane Yang of Stamford High, and Anjali Khetan of Westhill -- don't play sports typically associated with Lione, who coached Stamford to two Babe Ruth Baseball World Series titles (1968 and 1971) before taking positions as Trinity Catholic football, hockey, and baseball coach. In total his coaching career lasted for 37 years. Lione passed away in 1999, aged 59. This year's winners are a cheerleader, a swimmer, and a rower, which proves that the award goes much further than typical athletic exploits and focuses on the character of recipients. A strict disciplinarian, Lione Jr. cared more about character building than he did winning. In the words of The Fund's mission statement, Mr. Lione `taught and encouraged young people to strive for personal excellence and to use their strengths to make a positive impact on their peers, their community, and the world around them.' The Fund is excited to be able to extend the amount of recipients of the yearly award, something director Jerry Lione has been looking to do for quite some time. "While initially making the award open to boys, since this is where Mickey's vocation was and since there was already a long time female scholarship in existence, the Allyson Rioux Award, we gradually felt it would be appropriate to add a female component as we came to realize that the criteria for the two awards had significant differences," said Lione, Mickey's cousin. "We have the exact same criteria for the girls as for the boys as expressed in our mission statement." Since its inception in 2000, the scholarship has become one of the most sought after awards recognizing high school excellence in the city, with the Lione Fund having raised over $150,000 for scholarships in that time.

Karen Vaca

Karen Vaca knew about Mickey Lione before applying for the award this year because she attends Trinity Catholic. But according to the cheerleader, she didn't know much.
"I did research on him and I know he was a well-known coach for Trinity," said Vaca, who is a flyer on the squad. "But for me this was a bit different because I don't play those sports he is associated with." Despite not playing a "traditional" sport, Vaca knew she had what it took to be one of the city's inaugural recipients. "I do cheerleading and I love it," Vaca said. "I am also focused in school and I am active in community service. I thought I filled the characteristics very well. Winning gives me even more of a reason to act as a role model as a whole, not just in sports or academically. "I felt accomplished that they saw the amount of work it takes and considered cheerleading a sport," she continued. "It gives other cheerleaders the idea that they can also apply for sports awards and not feel excluded. I hope to always be an influence for young people applying. It's always good to have a variety of people winning this award."
Vaca loves math, but can't decide whether or not she wants to study engineering or dentistry in college. "Math just comes so easily to me," Vaca said. "My dad loves math and he has taught me since a young age. I have an idea of what I'd like to do, but don't want to stick to one thing yet. I'm taking chemistry this year and if I like it I think I will seriously look into engineering." Vaca, whose family is Ecuadorian, was recently in a Miss Ecuador pageant in New York, representing her parents' hometown of Rio Bamba. "It was fun getting back to my roots, my parents have always pushed a love of our culture and tradition, and I like looking my best. But I hate all the glitz and glamour."

Diane Yang

Yang is as well-rounded a student as they come. She swims competitively for Stamford High, competing in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle. She has won numerous advanced mathematics awards in her two years in high school, is a budding artist, and has donated her time at Stamford Manor retirement home on a regular basis. "I'm really honored to be one of the first girls to win this award," Yang said. "I am glad to be a part of helping his message and legacy spread. Mr. Lione was a great role model who dedicated his life to helping kids find their way." Yang is most proud of her achievements in mathematics. She was the only Stamford student to earn the Mathematical Association of America's "Certificate of Achievement" in the American Mathematics Contest (AMC) and as a result qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. Furthermore, she was again the only Stamford student to be invited to the inaugural Math Prize for Girls in New York City. "Being a part of AMC has been a great way for me to meet people with similar interests, " Yang said. "I know that one day I'd like to do something in the math and science field, I just don't know yet." Yang is also a co-founder of The Portrait People, which is a portrait-drawing business. She oversees the company's advertising and manages its website. "I've been taking art classes since I was 8-years old and we started this business to use those skills," she said. "We draw portraits of pets and people though I'm not sure what will happen to the business when we all go to college." According to Yang, winning this award means more than the recognition. "I feel more self assured," said Yang, whose parents are from China. "I'm more confident I can take things on. I can set my goals higher in swimming, keep my grades up, and hopefully we can get more orders for our business."

Anjali Khetan

Anjali Khetan is a competitive rower with the Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport and loves that she was considered for the award even though she doesn't participate in school-based athletics. "This shows the rest of Stamford that you can excel in what is not considered a typical sport," she said. "There is the same amount of dedication and athleticism as anything else. I expected it to hamper my chances, but this is great especially because the award is now open to girls and has expanded to other sports. It shows how diverse Stamford is." Rowing on an eight-person team has instilled just as competitive an athletic drive as any team sport Khetan could have played. "The group becomes a family, which I love," said Khetan, who also played volleyball and ran both indoor and outdoor track last season. "Every person in the boat has to pull as hard as they can. You are only as strong as the weakest rower. Rowing is a four season sport and I'd like to row in college." Though Khetan is unsure of what her college major will be, she does have ideas and knows that she wants to do something she loves. "I can't say I have a concrete answer but I've always been interested in psychology," she said. "Recently I've thought about one day coaching rowing as well. I see my coaches being involved I the sport they love and to me that's the most important thing." Recently, Khetan has begun volunteering at Stamford Hospital's Cardiovascular Recovery Wing, which has given her the experience of being in the working world. "I see how hard the nurses work, and I do whatever I can to make their jobs easier because that gives them more time to help patients," Khetan said. "This is the first time I've had to be at a job promptly and felt like I was working and it makes me feel good being productive with my time."

 

Stamford Advocate 08/16/2009
Award Winners Share A Special Bond
Lione scholarship recepients friends, but also competitors
By Mike Levitt - Special correspondent

Zach Lyman, Zac Krowitz and Patrick Murphy have known each other for as long as they could swing a baseball bat.

At least it feels that way.

How fitting then that all three future high school juniors should win the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund scholarship award in the same year. Since its inception in 2000, the scholarship has become one of the most sought after prizes, recognizing high school excellence in the city, with the fund having raised more than $150,000 for student-athlete scholarships in that time.

Lione, who died in 1999 at the age of 59, is synonymous with sports in Stamford. So ingrained is the Lione name in city baseball minds that people don't realize that National Lione Little League is named after his father.

Lione won three Babe Ruth youth national championships as a player (1951, 1953, 1954) and two Senior Babe Ruth Championships as a coach (1968, 1971) before taking over coaching roles at Trinity Catholic. In total, his coaching career lasted 37 years, and was not restricted to baseball. He was also an assistant coach for the Trinity football team and became the inaugural Trinity hockey coach in 1978-1979, despite limited knowledge of the game.

The Lione scholarship recognizes a sophomore male from Stamford High, Westhill and Trinity Catholic that exemplifies the ideals that Lione instilled in his players and students. In the words of the fund's mission statement, Lione "taught and encouraged young people to strive for personal excellence and to use their strengths to make a positive impact on their peers, their community and the world around them."

A strict disciplinarian, Lione cared more about character building than he did winning, which he still did his fair share of, bringing home six state championships while at Trinity.

As Art Murphy, a former player for Lione and father of recipient Patrick Murphy, said, "Mickey was tough because Mickey demanded your best all the time. He got in your face, he was right there. It was fun. It was intense. Mickey loved all sports. He just liked kids and wanted to be involved in what they did. I mean he took up coaching hockey because they needed a coach. So he got out books and read them. But his thing wasn't about hockey, it was about discipline."

For this year's winners, recognition is all the more special when they can share it with friends.

"I've known Zac (Krowitz) my whole life. I met Pat (Murphy) when we were 13. We are all good friends," said Lyman. "It's great to know that the kids you play with can share the honor with you. I know that they are both great kids and we all do well in school, try our hardest, get good grades and play pretty good baseball."

"It absolutely makes it more special because I know how good these other guys are and to put myself in a group with them is really special," said Krowitz.

Zach Lyman

You know that an individual is held in high regard when people with no vested interest cannot stop talking about him. Lyman is one of those people. After Lyman made an exceptional play in the field at second base during an opening-round game at this summer's 15- year-old state baseball tournament, going deep into the hole before firing a strike to first, one fan was overheard saying, "He's not only good at ball, he's got like a 4.8 GPA -- he's so Ivy (League) bound its ridiculous." And this fan wasn't his father -- or a friend's father -- in fact he didn't even have a child on the team.

Lyman has heard of Lione, but until recently the Stamford High varsity second baseman wasn't quite sure of the impact the legendary coach had.

"Growing up you always hear about his sports contributions, but once I applied and did some looking into what he stood for, it means a lot more. Sports were secondary; the type of person he was always came first.

"How he was tough, but when you needed him to be there for you he was there and really just wanted the best for you. It's sort of who you want to model yourself after. It's who you want to be. Or at least who I want to be."

Lyman is on his way. Not only is the straight-A honor roll student the vice president of his class and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, but he also volunteers his time to nonprofit organizations each week.

"One of the coolest things I do is work with a group called The Friendship Circle," Lyman said. "You have a buddy, like a special friend.

"It's all kids with autism and you go once a week or sometimes more and just go to their house and play with them -- play video games, pitch them whiffle ball, really whatever they do that they don't have the normal experience of having a friend over."

Zac Krowitz

Having been a member of National Lione Little League, with fond memories of youth baseball, Krowitz has known the Lione name for years.

"The Lione name makes me think of leadership and Stamford sports in general. It also reminds me of the great relationship between a coach and his kids," said Krowitz. "Winning this award is very important to me in terms of my own achievements, but also having lived in Stamford my whole life, I've heard about the award for years and the kids who have won it. To win it is a great honor for me."

Krowitz has had his share of inspirational coaches and knows how important the relationship between a young man and his coach can be, especially beyond the ball field.

"I played in the Lione majors from my 9-year-old year (until I was 12)," Krowitz said. "Mike Lockland was my coach for all four of those years and he helped me become a leader with my Little League team. I still use a lot of the lessons he taught me today."

Not only was Krowitz named captain of the Westhill JV baseball team, with hopes of playing varsity next season, but he also has his plate full when he takes off the spikes. Along with a 4.0 GPA taking all honors classes, Krowitz writes a column in the Westword, the school's newspaper, and also gives his time to The Friendship Circle.

Perhaps the most rewarding activity for the self-proclaimed future lawyer or politician has been his role as a camp counselor for the past two summers and part-time youth basketball coach.

"The coaching aspect has given me great respect to those that have coached at higher level," Krowitz said. "Especially someone like Mr. Lione, who coached high school kids and sports at an advanced level. I have enough trouble keeping my patience with little kids."

Patrick Murphy

The Lione name has been respected in the Murphy household for years, and not just because Art, Patrick's father, played under him at Trinity Catholic.

"When I was little, my dad and his friends always talked about him," recalled Murphy. "Even my Little League coaches talked about him. In Terry Connors Rink, there is a banner in his memory. I've known about him for a while.

"Winning this award is huge because my dad and even my mom went there (to Trinity). Playing football with (new Trinity football coach Pete) Stokes, that's all he talks about. Baseball with (coaches Mike) Walsh and (Tracy) Nichols, that's all they talk about. They talk about his dedication. If you respect him, he'll respect you. He was a tough coach with hard practices from what I read and heard. "

It is obvious to those who talk with him that Murphy would have been right at home under Lione. Not only does he play varsity football, hockey and baseball at Trinity, all the sports Lione coached, but his attitude on the athletic field is one of passion and hard work.

Even this summer, as Murphy nursed a fracture of the growth plate in his hip that caused him to miss the entire 15-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star season, his attitude and dedication toward the team was unwavering. Murphy participated in every team activity -- from batting practices at a teammate's house to in-game team meetings -- on crutches.

"I think I would do well with Lione as my coach because my dad tried to teach me his life lessons," Murphy said. "You never know when you will get hurt, so practice hard every day and play hard every game. I got lucky, it's not a career-ending injury, but you have to take everything in because you never know when you will be done."

As of now the goal for the vice president of his freshman class, Student Council Member of his sophomore class and St. Cecilia church group member is to play baseball at the next level.

"I'd like to play baseball in college, wherever that will take me I'm interested in that," he said. "But as far as studying a field -- my favorite subjects are social studies and geography -- I have no idea yet.

2009 Scholarship Winners

Mickey Lione Fund chairman Jerry Lione welcomes the 2009 scholarship winners at the monument in Mickey's honor at Trinity Catholic High. From left Lione, Zachary Krowitz (Westhill), Patrick Murphy (Trinity) and Zachary Lyman (Stamford).




2008 Scholarship Winners

In June 2008, the newest winners of the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund scholarships were announced. In photo at right, 2008 winners Andrew Masi (Westhill) and Brian O'Neill, center, (Trinity Catholic) meet with former scholarship recipient Steve Bedosky, right, at the annual MLF summer outing in August.


Dan White,
2008 Stamford High.

June 13, 2008

Masi, O'Neill, White Lione Award winners

By Emery Filmer
Staff Writer, The Advocate

Three more student athletes were honored by the Mickey Lione Foundation recently. The high school sophomores - Westhill's Andrew Masi, Trinity Catholic's Brian O'Neill and Stamford High's Daniel White - were given $5,000 scholarships by the Lione Foundation, which is named after Mickey Lione, the legendary baseball and hockey head coach and football assistant coach who spent much of his career at Trinity Catholic High School.
Lione passed away in 1999 at the age of 59.

The Lione Fund, run in conjunction with the Allyson Rioux Award, which is given each year to Stamford's top female high school athlete, is designed to support, encourage and motivate young people of Stamford to be outstanding scholars, citizens and athletes and to become leaders and role models in our community.

The Fund, established in 2000, is pursuing this mission through its program of Youth Excellence Awards, including college scholarship grants to high school students who best meet established criteria for leadership and excellence. Masi, O'Neill and White were chosen this year as the latest recipients.

The Fund also awards "Giving Back" grants to community organizations that encourage leadership and excellence in the youth of the Stamford community.

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."

Daniel White, Stamford High School

White was only 7 when Lione passed away in 1999 at the age of 59. But the Stamford High sophomore who has played baseball and football in high school, knows a lot more than most kids his age about the legendary coach.

"I have read about Mickey and learned a lot about him," White said. "I know he was a role model and inspired people. Yes, he cared about winning but he would never sacrifice the team for an individual. If the individual was the best player on the team but was suddenly a hindrance to the team, he'd sit on the bench."

White, however, knows that Lione wasn't merely a disciplinarian.

"He was always there for you," he said. "I know he was a friend and a mentor."

Lione would no doubt be proud that White was one of the three high school sophomores to receive this year's Lione Scholarship Award. White loves baseball, and is tough enough to be a defensive end and tight end in football despite being 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds. In addition, he is an honors student flirting with a GPA in the 3.7 to 3.9 range.
"I've always done well academically but I have to find time for sports," said White who hopes to one day become a lawyer. "If you love a sport, you have to be dedicated and find time to balance your time out."

White, who spends much of his spare time volunteering as a coach and umpire and as a Big Brother, is a member of the National Achievement Academy. He played defensive end in 2006-07 on the freshman and JV team. He was moved to tight end as a sophomore on the JV team. He was a shortstop/third baseman on the JV baseball team and that is where he has the highest hopes for the future.

"Baseball is my first love," he said. White has also been a member of the Babe Ruth 13 and 14 year old all-star teams the lat two summers. "To tell you the truth, I play football to stay in shape for baseball."

White hopes to be a member of the SHS varsity baseball team next spring and with so many seniors leaving the program this year, his chances should be good.

"The JV team went 12-2 this year so there are a lot of good kids ready to come up," White said. "I hope to make it and be a part of keeping the winning tradition going at Stamford High."

Winning is something White, like all Lione Award winners, is used to.
"I am so honored and proud to receive this award," White said. "All my hard work finally paid off."

Brian O'Neill, Trinity Catholic High School

Ever since O'Neill entered Trinity Catholic as a freshman in the fall of 2006, he was fairly confident that he might one day get serious consideration for the prestigious Lione Scholarship award.

He was, after all, a valedictorian in middle school and then became a member of the national honor society and maintains a 3.85 grade point average. Later he would volunteer his time for food- and toy-raising drives at the school.

So, there was never much question about his academic abilities or fulfilling his civic responsibilities. Athletics? Well, after suffering an arm injury last fall playing football, that was where the doubt lingered.

O'Neill, who was also a back-up quarterback, started at free safety last season for the varsity football team. But after getting injured on a tackle, his days on defense were over. He could only hope that his dream of playing quarterback, and being a third baseman/shortstop/pitcher on the baseball team had not also ended.

"Every time I tackled somebody I'd get stingers: a tingling sensation up my arm," the Norwalk resident said. "I had pretty severe nerve damage. I over-stretched the nerve, and I was no longer able to play defense."

The injury carried over to the baseball season and that cut down his time on varsity. Fortunately, however, the arm healed and while he won't ever play free safety again, his hopes of one day being Trinity's starting QB and a starter on the baseball team live on.
"It took a while but I've had a full recovery," O'Neill said. "My arm is OK now."
O'Neill, who hopes to one day attend Notre Dame University to study business management, manages his time quite effectively. Like the other Lione winners, he has been able to maintain his GPA while participating year-round in sports. He played football in the fall, was a 6-foot-1 guard on the Trinity basketball program in the winter and played baseball in the spring. Baseball also fills his summer days. . . especially last summer.

O'Neill was a member of the Norwalk 14-year-old Babe Ruth all-stars who made it all the way to the World Series. The team ultimately placed sixth in the nation.
"That was a great experience," he said. "We won the New England championship and went to Virginia. It was a great memory. I'm looking forward to playing again this summer."

In the meantime, O'Neill will keep studying and playing sports and showing everyone he, like the other two recipients, was a worthy choice for the Lione award.

"The important thing is to keep giving back to the community," O'Neill said. "Helping to better the lives of kids; helping others to get better."
©2008 Southern Conn. Newspapers, Inc.


2007 Scholarship Winners

In June 2007, the newest winners of the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund scholarships were announced. Pictured from left are Jerry Lione, MLF chairman, Michael Tiscia, Roseann Lione, Mickey's sister, Henry Graves & Michael Keane. The photo was taken at the monument at Trinity Catholic High School's baseball field, which is named for Mickey.

 

2006 Scholarship Winners

In June 2006, the newest winners of the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund scholarships were announced. Pictured from left are Jerry Lione, MLF chairman, Michael Boyton (Trinity Catholic), Bill Jaroszynski (Stamford), Brian Freilich (Westhill) and Roseann Lione, Mickey's sister. The photo was taken at the monument at Trinity Catholic High School's baseball field, which is named for Mickey.

June 2005

MICKEY LIONE JR. FUND ANNOUNCES 2005 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
EACH COLLEGE FINANCIAL AWARD INCREASED TO $7,500
GRANT ALSO AWARDED TO BABE RUTH BASEBALL OF STAMFORD

The MICKEY LIONE JR. FUND announced the winners of the three scholarships it awards each year to one student at each of three Stamford high schools. The non-profit foundation has increased the amount of each scholarship to $7,500. In addition, the Lione fund has awarded a grant to Babe Ruth Baseball of Stamford. The announcements were made by Fund Chairman Jerry Lione.

Daniel Zuchelli of Stamford High, Vincent Cortese of Trinity Catholic and Matthew Richichi of Westhill are the recipients of the MICKEY LIONE JR. SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUTH EXCELLENCE.


(From Left to Right) Matthew, Daniel and Vincent

The Mickey Lione Jr. Fund also supports a range of youth organizations in the city. The latest financial assistance grant has been awarded to Babe Ruth Baseball of Stamford, where Lione was a coach for many years.

Other Stamford-based organizations that the Lione Fund provides financial support to include, the Stamford Youth Foundation’s Mickey Lione Jr. Middle School Football and Cheerleading Division, the Greater Stamford Tennis Association - Junior Tennis Outreach Program and the Allyson Rioux Scholarship Fund.

2004 MLF Scholarship Fund for Youth Excellence

This is the first year that scholarships were awarded exclusively to sophomores. It is our belief that as sophomores the recipients will have an opportunity to set high standards for themselves during their remaining high school years and inspire others in their school and community by their example. It is the best way one can honor the memory of Coach Mickey Lione.
The 2004 year's recipients, representing the Class of 2006 are: Brett R. Christensen, Stamford High School; Kevin J. Fico, Trinity Catholic High School; Giorgio V. Sestito, Westhill High School. All three athletes play in the Stamford Senior Babe Ruth League. Coach Lione was instrumental in the founding and growth of this organization in the late 1960's.

The following is a complete list of the Mickey Lione Jr. Scholarship
recipients by graduating class. If you would like to learn more about what they have been doing while at college or doing community service, simply click on the links provided.

Stamford High School

Trinity Catholic High School

Westhill High School

    Bobby Valentine and Mickey Lione Fund chairman Jerry Lione presented the Greater Stamford Youth Tennis Association with a check during the annual fundraising event in 2005. Scholarship winner Neil Mehta, his sister, Sheena Mehta, and Tim Curry GSTA-JTOP Director accepted the check on behalf of the association.

    In addition to the individuals listed above, additional scholarship money has been awarded to: The Stamford Youth Foundation, Mickey Lione Jr. Middle School Football & Cheerleading Division; Greater Stamford Tennis Association, Junior Tennis Outreach Program; Allyson Rioux Scholarship Fund; Babe Ruth Baseball of Stamford.

back to top of page