Soccer is often referred to as the beautiful game. Last Sunday night at the Northampton Community Center, soccer was the main attraction, albeit off of the field.

Scholar athletes from Lehigh Valley high schools were recognized, with a male and two females earning the honors of a scholarship award.

When longtime Catasauqua Area High School head coach Trajano Bastidas was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Soccer Hall of Fame, he talked about his passion for the sport, and how he grew up around the game and gave the love of it to his three sons.

“Soccer is a great game, and one that you can play until you’re 40 or 50 years old,” Bastidas said. “I grew up not having enough money for even cleats, but I loved to play the game and was passionate about it, and I passed that down to my sons and every player I ever coached.”

Bastidas told the student-athletes in attendance to carry on the tradition of passion of the game even after their high school careers are over.

And there was even something new that happened in the 30th annual Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar Banquet.

Out of the 42 schools represented, Moravian Academy’s Jonathan Painter took home the Frank D. Olszewski Memorial Scholarship award, and two females (tied in voting) won the Gary F. Toth Scholarship award. Annika Sundlof of Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh’s Bridgett Cerciello were named the winners.

The Scholar-Athlete awards banquet was initiated in 1975 by the Lehigh Valley Soccer League, but featured only a boys award until girls varsity came into existence in 1992.

The nominees are selected jointly by their coaches and the school administration. The criteria utilized is 40 percent academic achievement, 40 percent athletic ability, and 20 percent extracurricular activities. Each candidates’ credentials are then submitted to the Soccer Scholar Athlete Committee who decides the overall winner.

Painter helped lead a Lions team that finished the year with a 19-4-1 record and a District 11 A title.

“My parents have been a big part of my success,” Painter stated. “Growing up they let me and my brother form a mini soccer field in the living room. They’ve just always been there and supported me.”

Sundlof was a part of a Panthers team that went 15-3-1.

“Bridgett [Cerciello] and I actually played club soccer together, so it is really cool to share this award with her,” Sundlof said. “It’s an amazing honor to receive this award with how hard I’ve worked this year.”

Cerciello’s Spartans were 18-6 on the year.

“I really did not expect this,” said Cerciello. “There are so many great and deserving student-athletes out here, and to win this award is something I will never forget.”

Representing Emmaus at the banquet were Jennifer Fritz and Ryan Paradise.

Fritz is a four-year varsity player who played club soccer for Lehigh Valley United.

Paradise was a three-year varsity player and two-time all-league first team selection. He played club soccer for LVU and is involved in student government and is a NHS member.

2016 Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar-Athlete Nominees

Allentown Central Cathlic - Anna Younger, Joseph Nguyen; Bangor - Erin Happel, Michael Mazella; Bethlehem Catholic - Pachel Wills, Matthew Shaffer; Catasauqua - Noelle Nalbandian, Nathan Pontician; East Stroudsburg North - Jessica Aseng; East Strdoudsburg South - Danielle Newberry, Levi Richards; Easton - Sarah Luts, Patrick Alfieri; Emmaus - Jennifer Fritz, Ryan Paradise; Faith Christian - Jessica Trout; Freedom - Alex Thomas; Jim Thorpe - Isle Hassler, Luke Morris; Lehigh Valley Christian - Ariana Hawk, Andrew Groff; Lehighton - Sucan Cook, Daniel Baka; Liberty - Cailey Sanchez, Michael Visperas; Dieruff - Emily Balbuena, Yousef Mohartam; Moravian Academy - Mikayla Shunk, John Painter; Nativity BVM - Skylar Stoudt, Adrian Datte; Nazareth - Amy Strauser, Mark Corson; Northampton - Lauren Sterner, Thomas Reinhard; Northern Lehigh - Alexis Merkle, Daniel Patterson; Northwestern - Taylor Slack, Brett Scott; Notre Dame (East Stroudsburg) - Thomas Gallagher; Notre Dame (Green Pond) - Kathryn Aquilina, Brett Nesfeder; Palisades - Allyson Badman, Nicholas Swope; Palmerton - Bryann Baehler, Devon Santos; Parkland - Jennifer Guetzladd, Brendan Burke; Pen Argyl - Grace Olzinski, Andrew Maggipinto; Phillipsburg - Meghan Whalen, Devin Dowd; Pleasant Valley - Renee Milos, Sean McGinley; Pocono Mountain East - Ashlyn Kollar, Trey Bonifacio; Pocono Mountain West - Maygen Fred; Pottsville - Alyssa Kondrack, Brandon Daubert; Salem Christian - Turner Shoenly; Salisbury - Jordan Kamp, Zachary Karounos; Saucon Valley - Annika Sundlof, Patrick Cyphers; Schuylkill Have - Jodie Mttern, David Chesakis, Southern Lehigh - Bridget Cerciello, Jacob Cassel; Stroudsburg - Alexandra Meisse; Weatherly - Meghan Moon, Trent Dempsey; Whitehall - Jillian Kreglow, Javaughn Hussett; Allen - Jessica Shafer, Joscan Sanchez; Wilson - Akaylah Mease, Ryan Grelle.