Making the Right Call - Pizighelli, Runkle Receive Referee Scholarships
Making the Right Call â Pizighelli, Runkle Receive Referee Scholarships
Mario Pizighelli and Scott Runkle are this yearâs Newtown Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) Referee Scholarship Award recipients. Pizighelli and Runkle are seniors at Newtown High School and have been referees for the NYBA program for the last four years.
Pizighelli has spent the majority of his officiating duties in the Junior (seventh and eighth grade) girlsâ division and Runkle spent his time officiating on the boysâ side, this year in the Junior Division.Â
Both individuals were selected for the NYBA scholarship for demonstrating strong officiating skills, a commitment to taking their work seriously, being dependable, and acting as good role models for players and younger refs. The recipients were recognized following the All-Star games played this past weekend at Reed School, and each was presented with a check for $500 that they plan to apply toward their college expenses. Â
The annual NYBA Referee Scholarship Award is open to students who are high school seniors and have served as a referee in the NYBA program for at least three years. The Award recognizes and rewards those referees who have consistently done an outstanding job on the court and at the scorersâ table. It is designed to encourage better overall performance among the programâs high school referees and thereby improve the experience for all participants, particularly the players .
Pizighelli, whose involvement with basketball includes playing in the NYBA Senior League and for New Milfordâs AAU 12th grade Velocity team, plans on attending Central Connecticut State Universityâs School of Engineering in the fall.
Runkle, who was a NYBA Senior League captain this year, plans on working at St. Rose Church and staying involved with a number of parish activities this summer. Runkle will also attend Central Connecticut with plans to major in communications. Both Pizighelli and Runkle have indicated they would like to build on their NYBA student referee experience and pursue certification to become official patched basketball referees.