By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Marlborough – Marlborough High School (MHS) senior John Rumney has been named as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Student-Athlete of the Month for December 2013.
In his four years in the MHS Panther football program, Rumney, 17, ?played three different defensive positions as well as quarterback, this year throwing for 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns and leading the team to the MIAA Division 2 Semi-Finals and an 8-3 overall record. He also served as a team captain for the season.
Rumney also plays baseball for the Panthers. He served as captain in his junior year and will do so again this spring.
“Before this year, baseball was actually my favorite sport, but I had such a great time playing football this year,” he said.
Being named the MIAA Student-Athlete of the Month was an exciting honor, he said. He acknowledged that the support of Marlborough Athletic Director Jeff Rudzinsky and Panther football head coach Sean Mahoney, as well as his mother, Megan Murphy, had helped him to have a successful season.
Academically, Rumney, according to school officials, carries three Advanced Placement classes, has a 4.2 grade point average, and ranks in the top 12 percent of his class.
Rumney is also a leader off the field, his coaches said.
“John continues to be the heart and soul of our team and truly leads by example,” Mahoney said.
“He is someone who does the right thing in the classroom, in the community, and on the athletic fields,” Rudzinsky added.
Last fall, Rumney organized a service team activity where he and his teammates helped the Marlborough American Youth Football organization with a preseason jamboree that included 90 youth football teams. He has also helped with local youth football and baseball clinics.
Another event he enjoyed was participating in the “Walking School Bus” program.
“It was an event where the captains of the teams took a morning off to walk some of the little kids to the Jarowek [Elementary] School,” he said. “It gave us a chance to spend a little time with them. It was fun for them and for us, too.”
Rumney said he hopes to study business in college, although he has not yet decided where he will attend. He noted that he also wants to continue to play football and baseball in college as well but “it if doesn's work out, that's ok.”
The MIAA Student-Athlete of the Month Award is presented on a monthly basis to one male and one female student-athlete who display excellence in the areas of academics, athletics, and community service, according to the association. Nominations are submitted by principals, athletic directors, teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, or other school administrators.
Rumney will be recognized at the MIAA Coach of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Month Recognition banquet May 29.