Norwins Rocco Amendola Wins WBCA John Challis Memorial Award

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, May 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM

The WPIAL Baseball Coaches Association (WBCA) has announced that Rocco Amendola, a senior at Norwin High School, is the recipient of the third annual John Challis Memorial Award. Rocco will be honored at the WBCA's Awards Banquet on June 10, 2011 at the Airport Marriott.

The John Challis Memorial Award was created to help keep John's message and memory alive. John graduated from Freedom High School in 2008 and died of cancer two months later, ending a two-year battle with the disease. Before his death, he helped to start the Courage for Life Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to provide life encouraging sporting experiences and community support for high school athletes with life threatening illnesses. Contributions to the Courage for Life Foundation can be made by visiting its website at www.courageforlifefoundation.org.

An individual must satisfy the following three criteria to be considered for the John Challis Memorial Award: be a current high school student who is either on or associated with his high school baseball team; have overcome or to currently be battling a physical, medical or other significant obstacle; and to serve as an inspiration to his fellow players and coaches.

A year ago at this time Rocco Amendola would never have even thought about being considered for the Award. Then, during a Youngstown Class B League game last summer, Rocco was hit in the left eye by a warm-up throw from the outfield as he was walking in the dugout. He was rushed to a hospital and then went by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian. After

seeing numerous doctors it was determined that his eye could not be saved and would have to be removed. Rocco says that it was that day that changed how he sees the world both literally and figuratively.

Tags: Freedom