Dunkirk honored eight seniors who will be competing at the collegiate level at an unofficial signing day ceremony on Thursday. Pictured from left to right: Hayden Cerrie, Lauryn McCracken, Paul Trippy III, Greg Orcutt Jr., Dylan Bankoski, Thomas Shaffer, Davian Alvalle, and Ashley Foringer. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

DUNKIRK — The Dunkirk athletic department started a new tradition earlier this month, as the district welcomed all eight senior athletes who are moving on to the next level for a signing ceremony at Dunkirk High School.

“Every senior athlete deserves to have the same recognition,” said Athletic Director A.J. Burnside, organizer of the event.

Three female athletes were honored — soccer standout Lauryn McCracken, bowler Hayden Cerrie, and cheerleader Ashley Foringer. McCracken will play soccer at Monroe Community College in Rochester, where she will study psychology. Cerrie will bowl at D’Youville University in Buffalo, where she will study business management. Foringer will cheer at the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she will study exercise science.

Also recognized were five members of the Section VI, Class A2 Champion Dunkirk Marauders Baseball Team. Davian Alvalle, Dylan Bankoski, Greg Orcutt Jr., Thomas Shaffer, and Paul Trippy III will all be moving on to play baseball at the next level.

Shaffer and Trippy will remain teammates in college, as they both will play baseball at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua. Shaffer will study physical education and exercise science, while Trippy will study business administration. Orcutt will attend D’Youville University in Buffalo, where he will study to become a pharmacist. Bankoski will study criminal justice at the State University of New York at Niagara. Alvalle will attend the State University of New York at Erie (ECC) where he will study sports management.

The Marauders were coached by Frank Jagoda, Dunkirk’s all-time winningest coach. The five seniors moving on to play in college can claim they were Section VI Champions following a 2-1 win over Lewiston-Porter, a week prior to Thursday’s ceremony. Shaffer drove in the winning run, as Orcutt earned the victory by throwing a complete game with 11 strikeouts and just one run allowed. It was Dunkirk’s first Section VI Championship since 2011, and the program’s 17th title overall.

Jagoda said Thursday’s event was a tribute to the dedication of all five seniors from his team that were recognized. “It’s good for our program because it shows our younger players that there is something after high school if they work hard enough,” Jagoda said. “Those five young men were the epitome of working hard at a sport and wanting to excel.”

Dunkirk Baseball has also become a source of pride in the community for its efforts off the field, as the Marauders often perform acts of community service. “Our support from the community over my 30-plus years has been tremendous. They have always come through,” Jagoda said.

Jagoda believes that his duty as a coach is to not only build great players, but great people, as well. Several colleges clearly took note of that.

“It gives our players an opportunity to be part of the program by doing those things, learning what it takes to be a successful program, not only on the field, but off the field,” Jagoda said. “That’s been outstanding for them too.”