Stainken, Leonard represent Hillsborough
By:Rudy Brandl
Katie Stainken and Jimmy Leonard will graduate in the top one percent of their Hillsborough High senior class next month, so they’ll certainly receive their fair share of academic accolades in the upcoming weeks. However, both elite members of the Class of 2000 have much more than brains to offer the world.
Last week, Stainken and Leonard were honored as the school’s representatives at the 17th annual Somerset County Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset. They joined boys and girls from the county’s other 15 high schools on a dais, sitting proudly in front of their parents, teachers, coaches and friends.
“I’m incredibly honored and I can’t believe they chose me,” Stainken said.
Stainken recently was accepted to Boston College, where she plans to study chemistry. She’d love to continue her field hockey career in college, but understands the rigorous demands of Division 1 athletics.
Field hockey was the main high school sport for Stainken, who also competed in swimming, track and field and girls’ lacrosse. She’ll graduate with six varsity letters, including two in field hockey. Stainken was the co-captain of the field hockey team last fall, helping push the Raiders to the state playoffs for the first time in a decade.
“That was thrilling,” Stainken recalled. “Being a captain, I thought it was my job to make field hockey the passion and love of all the girls on the team.”
HHS field hockey coach Kim Flynn certainly appreciated Stainken’s efforts, both on and off the playing field. Flynn was one of Stainken’s invited guests who attended the banquet.
“She’s the most dedicated player I’ve ever had,” said Flynn, also a graduate of Boston College. “From the minute she decided she was going to play field hockey, she was very solidly dedicated. She was almost like another coach out there, very quietly determined and consistent.”
Stainken didn’t grab your attention with big numbers and impressive statistics. She was a steady force as a defensive link, starting her team’s transition game and helping clear the ball out of danger. Stainken also proved her durability and dependability early in the season when she made a quick recovery from pneumonia.
“I was out for a week of practice (in the pre-season) and when I came back, I think they were happy to see me,” Stainken said.
Stainken was named to the All-Skyland Conference second team and All-Somerset County honorable mention two years in field hockey. She has also received three Coach’s Awards in field hockey and Most Improved and Team Before Self awards in swimming.
She lettered in track once before joining the girls’ lacrosse team this spring. The first-year program is competing as a jayvee outfit, but Stainken loves being a part of her school’s first female lacrosse squad.
The daughter of Dennis and Marie Stainken, Katie is the vice-president of the National Honor Society, a member of the German Honor Society, an AP scholar, an officer for the 4-H exchange program and a recreation youth field hockey coach. She invited coach Flynn, guidance counselor Kevin McGuire, German teacher Susan Pristas and retired former guidance counselor Joe Paulino to the dinner as her guests. High school principal Anthony Radano and athletic director Rocky Forte also attended.
Like his classmate, Leonard represented his school with much pride. The well-rounded Raider, who will attend Princeton University in the fall, understands how many qualified students and athletes roam the halls.
However, Leonard’s academic ranking and athletic prowess made him the perfect choice to represent Hillsborough.
“It’s definitely one of the bigger honors I’ve had,” said Leonard, who excels in soccer, basketball and track and will graduate with 11 varsity letters. “It’s a nice honor to have as a senior. It just sums up everything I’ve done.”
Leonard plans to pursue track at Princeton but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of walking on to the basketball team. If hard work is all that’s needed, Leonard may just wind up in a Tiger basketball uniform.
“I think I’m just naturally highly motivated,” Leonard said. “Once I start something, I can’t just put it aside. I have to finish it.”
There are few better finishers in the school than Leonard. Whether it’s completing a race, a scoring chance or an assignment, he’ll get the job done.
Leonard has enjoyed many great moments on the field, court and oval for the Raiders. His soccer highlight came sophomore year, when he helped HHS win its first Central Jersey Group 4 title. As a basketball player, he was one of the standout players last winter when the Raiders advanced to the Somerset County finals. On the track, Leonard has competed in the Penn Relays and is part of the school’s record-setting 4×400 relay team.
Within the next week, Leonard will try to repeat as the individual 400-meter champion in both the Skyland Conference and Somerset County championship meets. Later this month, he hopes to help the HHS boys win a Central Jersey Group 4 crown.
Leonard invited soccer coach Rob Richard, sociology teacher Mary Sok, teacher and middle school basketball coach Stan Pietrzyk and guidance counselor Patti Lieberman as his guests. Parents Jill and Lyle and freshman brother Jon also joined Jimmy for his special evening.
“Jimmy’s just a tremendous kid,” McGuire said. “He’s the type of young man you’d want to have as part of your family. I just can’t say enough about him.”
Leonard’s resume speaks for itself. He’s secretary of the National Honor Society and is actively involved in Peer Mentoring, the National World Languages Honor Society and Class Cabinet. He’s been named an AP Scholar and Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and has received the Bausch and Lomb Physics Award and the Brown Book Award. Leonard has also been named as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist.
“I think I’m one of the hardest workers in my school,” Leonard said. “I’m always studying and training athletically and trying to balance the two.”
In a room filled with outstanding young student-athletes, Hillsborough’s Katie Stainken and Jimmy Leonard certainly earned their place.