Staff reporter
NEW CASTLE – Paul Worrilow, a graduate of St. Mary Magdalen School who recently completed his first season in the National Football League, was named the John J. Brady Athlete of the Year by the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association at the organization’s annual banquet Feb. 17 at the Sheraton Wilmington South hotel.
Worrilow, 23, made the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Delaware. A linebacker, he led the team in tackles with 127 despite not starting until the fifth game of the year. That was 42 more than anyone else on the team, and it tied him for 12th in the league.
Other award winners:
Salesianum’s soccer team was named the team of the year after going 17-0-1 and winning its 10th state title in 12 years. The Sals finished the season as the country’s second-ranked team.
“I’m really blessed to be in an environment like Salesianum,” coach Scott Mosier said. “They get results because they are such good kids.”
Lynn Richardson of Polytech High School received the Tubby Raymond Award as coach of the year. Richardson leads both the lacrosse and field hockey teams and was state coach of the year in both sports. She did all this while being diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer.
The Herm Reitzes Award for service to the athletic community went to Tony Defazio of Lewes, who is active at Cape Henlopen High School as an announcer and has been an official and umpire for a variety of sports.
Two people shared the Buddy Hurlock Unsung Hero Award, given to someone who has overcome obstacles to make contributions to a team. Padua Academy senior dance team member Erin Wendelburg and Sussex County all-wheel bowler Mike DeStasio were the recipients.
Wendelburg was profiled in The Dialog in December. She lost her mother to cancer at age 8 and her father four years later, then was diagnosed with a brain tumor shortly after the end of her sophomore year.
DeStasio has not let a battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) put out his competitive fire. He has continued as a wheelchair bowler even as the effects of the degenerative disease have become more pronounced.
