Piccolo Award: Lisle’s Outstanding Male Athlete
Carlin Nalley Scholarship
Louis Brian Piccolo (October 31, 1943 – June 16, 1970) was a professional football player, a running back for the Chicago Bears for four years. He died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma click photo to read more
The Brian Piccolo award is given to male senior athletes at Lisle Senior High School. This annual award is an honor to those who have achieved high levels of success both on and off the playing field. The senior male who is awarded the ‘Piccolo Award’ has participated in Lion athletics for four years and will have been highly rated by a panel of coaches.
Participation in more than one sport will be considered as a positive element. Varsity coaches will be given an opportunity to nominate one worthy candidate per year.
Nominations will be in writing and will include a letter of support regarding the worthiness of the candidate for consideration. Coaches are asked to nominate only those athletes worthy of selection, as nominations will not be disclosed. In fact, all nominations and letters of support will be kept secret. A panel of coaches will discuss the nominations and present the candidates to the coaches at a meeting to be held in the month of May each year. Discussions and deliberations of the coaches will be kept secret. Secret ballot will be taken at this meeting; only those coaches present will be allowed to vote.
Letters of support should consider several personal elements. Nominees will be rated in each of several important categories.
The personal elements to be considered are as follows:
1) Commitment to Team
2) Character & Courage
3) Leadership Qualities
4) Self-Discipline
5) Coachability
6) General Attitude & Conduct
7) Dedication to School
8) Athletic Excellence
Letters of support should consider several personal elements. Nominees will be rated in each of several important categories.
The personal elements to be considered are as follows:
1) Commitment to Team
2) Character & Courage
3) Leadership Qualities
4) Self-Discipline
5) Coachability
6) General Attitude & Conduct
7) Dedication to School
8) Athletic Excellence
Brian Piccolo was a man who knew and lived the sport ethic that “winning is not enough. His very life is a testament to his effort and dedication.
Participation in more than one sport will be considered as a positive element. Varsity coaches will be given an opportunity to nominate one worthy candidate per year.
Nominations will be in writing and will include a letter of support regarding the worthiness of the candidate for consideration. Coaches are asked to nominate only those athletes worthy of selection, as nominations will not be disclosed. In fact, all nominations and letters of support will be kept secret. A panel of coaches will discuss the nominations and present the candidates to the coaches at a meeting to be held in the month of May each year. Discussions and deliberations of the coaches will be kept secret. Secret ballot will be taken at this meeting; only those coaches present will be allowed to vote.
Letters of support should consider several personal elements. Nominees will be rated in each of several important categories.
The personal elements to be considered are as follows:
1) Commitment to Team
2) Character & Courage
3) Leadership Qualities
4) Self-Discipline
5) Coachability
6) General Attitude & Conduct
7) Dedication to School
8) Athletic Excellence
Letters of support should consider several personal elements. Nominees will be rated in each of several important categories.
The personal elements to be considered are as follows:
1) Commitment to Team
2) Character & Courage
3) Leadership Qualities
4) Self-Discipline
5) Coachability
6) General Attitude & Conduct
7) Dedication to School
8) Athletic Excellence
Brian Piccolo was a man who knew and lived the sport ethic that “winning is not enough. His very life is a testament to his effort and dedication.
HONOR ROLL OF CHAMPIONS
2021
Josh Farrell
2020
Connor Nigro
2019
Jay McGrath
2018
Cameron Stitt
2017
Drew Sonnefeldt
2016
Alec Van Volkenburg Elmhurst College Accounting and play football.
2015
George Swedie
2014
Kevin Coppin
Football, Baseball
2013
Ryan Van Volkenburg
Football, Baseball
2012
Ty Howell
Football, Baseball
2011
Grant Fitzgerald
Soccer, Track
2010
Jake Kretman
Football, Wrestling, Track
2009
Jay Osika
Soccer, Basketball, Baseball
2008
Adam Carlson
Football, Wrestling
2007
Ryan Husch
Football, Basketball
2006
Matt Schmitz
Basketball, Track
2005
Mike Kilroy
Football, Wrestling, Track
2004
Bill Mele
Tennis, Golf
2004
Paul Mutschler
Football, Basketball
2003
Matt Logeman
Football, Basketball, Baseball
2002
Tom Buchholz
Basketball, Baseball
2001
Martin Wilson
Football, Wrestling, Track
2000
Aaron Giza
Baseball, Football, Basketball
1999
Jarrod Jahnke
Football, Track
1998
Ron Murphy
Football, Basketball
1997
Chris Sally
Football, Basketball
1996
Chris Jones
Cross Country, Track, Basketball
1995
Bryan Bollendorf
Football, Track, Basketball
1994
Kris Smith
Football, Wrestling
1993
Dan Hajek
Wrestling, Cross Country
1992
Justin Weiss
Cross Country, Track
1991
Ken Gurney
Track, Cross Country
1990
Mark LaScala
Basketball, Football, Baseball
1989
Kurt Hegeman
Tennis, Basketball
1988
Randy Bull
Golf, Wrestling
1987
Dan Winz
Football, Wrestling
1986
Alan Nalley
Football, Track, Basketball
1985
John Bartels
Wrestling, Track, Cross Country
1984
Jeff Garrison
Football, Baseball
1983
Tom Stitt
Basketball, Track, Football
1982
John Nalley
Football, Basketball, Track, Cross Country
1981
Phil Hlavac
Wrestling, Cross Country
1980
Marty Sauer
Football, Basketball
1979
Chris Vodicka
Football, Wrestling
1978
Bob Bonomo
Football, Wrestling
1977
Jay Grochowski
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track
1976
Doug Overstreet
Football, Track
1975
Jeff Payne
Football, Basketball
1974
John Jelinek
Football, Basketball
1973
Dick Dooley
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track
1972
Richard Basten
Football, Track
2021
Josh Farrell
2020
Connor Nigro
2019
Jay McGrath
2018
Cameron Stitt
2017
Drew Sonnefeldt
2016
Alec Van Volkenburg Elmhurst College Accounting and play football.
2015
George Swedie
2014
Kevin Coppin
Football, Baseball
2013
Ryan Van Volkenburg
Football, Baseball
2012
Ty Howell
Football, Baseball
2011
Grant Fitzgerald
Soccer, Track
2010
Jake Kretman
Football, Wrestling, Track
2009
Jay Osika
Soccer, Basketball, Baseball
2008
Adam Carlson
Football, Wrestling
2007
Ryan Husch
Football, Basketball
2006
Matt Schmitz
Basketball, Track
2005
Mike Kilroy
Football, Wrestling, Track
2004
Bill Mele
Tennis, Golf
2004
Paul Mutschler
Football, Basketball
2003
Matt Logeman
Football, Basketball, Baseball
2002
Tom Buchholz
Basketball, Baseball
2001
Martin Wilson
Football, Wrestling, Track
2000
Aaron Giza
Baseball, Football, Basketball
1999
Jarrod Jahnke
Football, Track
1998
Ron Murphy
Football, Basketball
1997
Chris Sally
Football, Basketball
1996
Chris Jones
Cross Country, Track, Basketball
1995
Bryan Bollendorf
Football, Track, Basketball
1994
Kris Smith
Football, Wrestling
1993
Dan Hajek
Wrestling, Cross Country
1992
Justin Weiss
Cross Country, Track
1991
Ken Gurney
Track, Cross Country
1990
Mark LaScala
Basketball, Football, Baseball
1989
Kurt Hegeman
Tennis, Basketball
1988
Randy Bull
Golf, Wrestling
1987
Dan Winz
Football, Wrestling
1986
Alan Nalley
Football, Track, Basketball
1985
John Bartels
Wrestling, Track, Cross Country
1984
Jeff Garrison
Football, Baseball
1983
Tom Stitt
Basketball, Track, Football
1982
John Nalley
Football, Basketball, Track, Cross Country
1981
Phil Hlavac
Wrestling, Cross Country
1980
Marty Sauer
Football, Basketball
1979
Chris Vodicka
Football, Wrestling
1978
Bob Bonomo
Football, Wrestling
1977
Jay Grochowski
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track
1976
Doug Overstreet
Football, Track
1975
Jeff Payne
Football, Basketball
1974
John Jelinek
Football, Basketball
1973
Dick Dooley
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track
1972
Richard Basten
Football, Track
Brian Piccolo Award and Carlin Nalley Scholarship for 2021
Josh Farrell
Josh Farrell
Brian Piccolo Award and Carlin Nalley Scholarship for 2020
Connor Nigro
Dear Mr. Bartels and the entire Carlin Nalley Foundation,
I would like to start off by showing my gratitude for rewarding me with the Brain Piccolo award and Carlin Nalley Scholarship! I am truly honored to have been chosen for such this prestigious award. A few things I can share about myself:
Brian Piccolo Award and Carlin Nalley Scholarship for 2020
Connor Nigro
I would like to start off by showing my gratitude for rewarding me with the Brain Piccolo award and Carlin Nalley Scholarship! I am truly honored to have been chosen for such this prestigious award. A few things I can share about myself:
- I will be attending Illinois Wesleyan University in Normal, Il this coming semester. I will be majoring in Finance and in the future would like to work as a financial manager either for families or a large company. I will also be playing football in the fall.
- The most influential teacher throughout my time in Lisle High School was Ms. Renguso. While having trouble with Honors Spanish Ms. Renguso helped me put together a plan to turn things around that resulted in me getting an “A” in the class. She helped me realize that sometimes you need to put in the extra time and effort to be successful, not everything comes easy.
- My most significant experience at Lisle High School was when I broke my collarbone Sophomore year in football. This was significant because it taught me how to deal with adversity and fueled my determination to be successful throughout my academic and sports career. As the doubts and self-pity set in, my parents taught me to focus on what I can control, and that with hard work anything is possible. They taught me how important determination and commitment would be not only during those tough times, but for the rest of my life. Every time things get tough, I remember this important lesson and it helps me push through.
- Winning this scholarship means the world to me. Having older cousins that have gone through LHS, I was aware of the award and always thought how special it would be if I was ever selected. This award also holds special meaning to me and my family as my great uncle (Mike Rabold) played OL and blocked for Brian Piccolo while on the Chicago Bears. To be given an award tied to such a great man who meant so much to others, is truly an honor. I would like to thank the Carlin Nalley Foundation and the LHS Alumni for selecting me to receive this very generous scholarship, it will certainly help me as I move on to college and chase my dreams. I would also like to thank all the coaches and teachers that pushed me to better myself, you all have made such an impact on me.
Brian Piccolo Award and Carlin Nalley Scholarship for 2020
Connor Nigro
2019 Picollo Award winner Jay McGrath
2018 Picollo Award winner Cameron Stitt, Coach Carlin Nalley, & Tom Stitt
2017 Brian Piccolo Award Winner: Drew Sonnefeldt:
Drew had an outstanding career as a student athlete, excelling in wrestling and soccer. He will be attending Anderson College and studying engineering.
Drew had an outstanding career as a student athlete, excelling in wrestling and soccer. He will be attending Anderson College and studying engineering.
Mr. Bartels,
First and foremost, I would just like to thank you for the Lisle Alumni and the Brian Piccolo Award Scholarships.
In response to the attached questions in the Brian Piccolo Award letter,
The experience at Lisle High School that was most influential to me was every day in wrestling practice with Coach Ruettiger, he met with us every day before practice to talk to as about not just being good wrestlers but being good people as well. He always said that wrestling is just a sliver of a moment in our life but we can take what we learned about toughness and grit and use it in our everyday life to keep fighting in life.
A few words I would like to say to the Alumni about winning the Award and Scholarship is that I am very honored to have been chosen, I know that there were many good recipients this year and to be chosen out of all the excellent athletes makes winning the Award and Scholarship so much more memorable and special.
Thank you,
Drew Sonnefeldt
First and foremost, I would just like to thank you for the Lisle Alumni and the Brian Piccolo Award Scholarships.
In response to the attached questions in the Brian Piccolo Award letter,
The experience at Lisle High School that was most influential to me was every day in wrestling practice with Coach Ruettiger, he met with us every day before practice to talk to as about not just being good wrestlers but being good people as well. He always said that wrestling is just a sliver of a moment in our life but we can take what we learned about toughness and grit and use it in our everyday life to keep fighting in life.
A few words I would like to say to the Alumni about winning the Award and Scholarship is that I am very honored to have been chosen, I know that there were many good recipients this year and to be chosen out of all the excellent athletes makes winning the Award and Scholarship so much more memorable and special.
Thank you,
Drew Sonnefeldt