Prough named NTL Athlete of the Year

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 21, 2018  /  Photo: Dr. Robert Bair

Senior Dalton Prough was named the Northern Tier League's Male Athlete of the Year on Sunday, May 20 at the league's annual banquet.

The NTL Athletic Directors Athlete of the Year award was started in 2007 to honor the outstanding male and female student-athletes of the Northern Tier League. The award recognizes NTL athletes for superior athletic skill, leadership, academic excellence and the willingness and eagerness to participate in community service.

Each NTL school nominates one male and female athlete to represent their respective schools, with the athletes of the year being voted on by all of the league's athletic directors. Receiving the NTL Female Athlete of the Year was Athens' Breana Gambrell.

Prough becomes the fifth Hornet to win the award. The last Wellsboro graduate to receive the award was Sarah Ingerick back in 2016.

"I would just like to say that it is a true honor to receive this recognition by the other schools," Prough said. "It means a lot with all the hard work and time spent devoting my life for the past four years to be great at sports. I feel blessed to have received this award especially with all the other good athletes there. I could not have done it without my parents, brothers, grandparents, and coaches being understanding, flexible, and passionate about my success."

Prough had an outstanding senior year in Green and White. During the fall Prough helped lead the Hornets to an undefeated regular season record whie making 20 receptions for 463 yards and 8 touchdowns. In the winter, Prough helped lead the Hornet basketball team to an NTL Large School Division championship, an NTL Showdown championship, and the school's first District IV championship in 66 years. He also surpassed the 1,000-career point milestone after missing time with a broken collarbone suffered during the end of football season.

Currently, Prough is two hits shy of becoming the third Hornet to reach 100 career hits in baseball while helping the Hornets win the NTL Large School Division title and locking up a number one seed in the upcoming District IV Class AA playoffs.

Joining Prough at Sunday's banquet was fellow senior Lizzie Poirier. Like Prough, Poirier had a great senior season as she helped both the Lady Hornet soccer and basketball teams reach the District IV playoffs. In the fall, Poirier helped the Lady Hornets turn around a 5-win 2016 season to an 11-win 2017 season.

In the winter, Poirier helped the Lady Hornets win the NTL Large School Division title while scoring 974 career points and grabbing 407 career rebounds.

"I felt very humbled and privileged to be honored at the banquet, especially coming from a school with a handful a great athletes. With that being said, I owe much of my athletic success to my parents, coaches, and school."

WellsboroAthletics.com would like to congratulate both Dalton and Lizzie on tremendous senior years, and would like to thank them for all the hard work and dedication they have shown to their respective sports over the past four year.