Neither Jayme DeCesare nor her proud parents David and Joann DeCesare of Johnston were born when Words Unlimited, the state’s long-time association of sportswriter and sportscasters, held its fist-ever state awards dinner 74 years ago in Providence.
However, Sunday evening inside the Cranston Country Club’s main dining room, DeCesare – who in this hear freshman year is enjoying outstanding success for the Merrimack College NCAA Division I women’s basketball team – was among the men and women that shined in the spotlight during the 74th annual awards affair for their extraordinary performances during he 2019 calendar year.
DeCesare, a 2019 graduate of La Salle Academy, took home the Co-Schoolgirl Athlete of the Year Award with West Warwick High School’s multi-talented gymnast Alyssa Worthington.
DeCesare earned Most Valuable Player honors during last winter’s Rhode Island Interscholastic League state basketball tournament and helped lead La Salle to its third state championship in the past four years.
She also earned All-State honors in both basketball and fast-pitch softball helped the Rams capture the 2019 Division I Softball Championship.
Worthington, meanwhile, became just the fifth three-time state gymnastic all-around champion, lacing first on vault, bars and floor exercise and posting the top all-around score of 37.625. Her performance that day also led the Wizards to the 2019 Division II State Gymnastic Championship.
The complete list lf 2019 Words Unlimited Award winners are:
Male Athlete of the Year: Jay Albis, Johnson & Wales University wrestling;
Female Athlete of the Year: Sydney Cummings, Brown University soccer;
Female Coach of the Year: Kia Mitchell, Brown University women’s soccer;
Male Coach of the Year: Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins manager;
Small College Achievement Award: Rhode Island College women’s tennis;
Schoolboy Athlete of the Year: Kyle Molson, Lincoln indoor track and outdoor track and field;
Schoolgirl Coach of the Year: Tom Martin, La Salle tennis;
Schoolboy Coach of the Year: Aaron Thomas, North Kingstown boys’ basketball;
Team of the Year: Brown University women’s soccer;
Words Unlimited Hall of Fame Inductees: Al Alexio, Providence Journal sports writer; Frankie Galasso, Syndicated Sports and Editorial Cartoonist; and Ed Habershaw, Salve Regina Associate Athletic Director;
Amby Smith Achievement Award: Bill Giusti, CCRI Equipment Manager;
Frank Lanning Achievement Award: George Egan, former long-time hockey coach and RIIL Hockey sports director;
Bill Cawley Achievement Award: Ray DeAngelis, long-time volleyball official, coach and RIIL sports director;
Story of the year: Barrington Little League All-Stars;
Community Service Award: Lincoln High’s Peanut Butter Express.
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