Athlete of the year Unvs Messina, a sports party at the PHOTO awards ceremony

The visually impaired judoka Carolina Costa “Athlete of the year”. Simona Cascio and Giovanni Ficarra new testimonials. Top Spin Messina “Company of the Year”

VILLAFRANCA TIRRENA – A wonderful sporting party. The Council Chamber of the Municipality of Villafranca Tirrena was the splendid setting for the 2nd edition of the “Athlete of the Year Unvs Messina” event. Full of awards, divided into different categories, in the name of true values ​​and with the aim of highlighting the businesses created by personalities of our territory, the event organized by the Messina section “Anna Rita Sidoti” of president Andrea Argento with the precious support of the representatives of each discipline.

The mayor Giuseppe Cavallaro, the councilor Barbara Di Salvo and the councilor Salvatore Micali did the honors, expressing all their joy in hosting the important event. For the National Union of Veterans of Sport, the national vice president (Southern Area) Domenico Postorino, the national councilor Filippo Muscio, the regional delegate for Sicily, Francesco Gaeta and the member of the appeal commission Pietro participated, rewarding the various protagonists. Rises.

Carolina Costa and Top Spin Messina awarded

At the beginning, after the usual institutional interventions, the most awaited recognition was immediately awarded. Designated, among the applause, “Unvs Messina Athlete of the Year” for 2022, the visually impaired judoka Carolina Costa, bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in the +70 kg category and winner of the European title at the Ibsa continental championships held in Cagliari. The two new testimonials of the Association were then officially presented: the basketball player Simona Cascio, European champion with the deaf women’s national basketball team, third at the Tel Aviv World Cup, and the tank top Giovanni Ficarra, with the prestigious palmares and veteran of the medal gold with the blue colors at the last Absolute World Championships in Racice in two without lightweights.

The Top Spin Messina, which won the scudetto in the men’s table tennis, was awarded as “Club of the Year”, in the presence of Giorgio Quartuccio, Wang Hong Liang, Marcello Puglisi and Roberto Gullo. Moment of great emotion that related to the “Prize to the Memory” by Pierluigi Mollica. The figure of the founder and president of San Matteo Basket was remembered, a much loved character in the world of basketball and beyond, two years after his tragic death. To receive the award Simona Grillo, current president of San Matteo Basket.

The other awarded athletes

50 years of activity of Atletica Villafranca celebrated, “Veteran Society”, with the vice president Maria Ruggeri, who recalled his past in the blue jersey and underlined the work done by the association of president Franco Ripa in this path that has led to the enhancement of athletes of the caliber of Nicholas Artuso. Catwalk, therefore, for Alessio Raimondi, twenty years after the title of youth Italian champion in in-line hockey in the ranks of Hockey Rhegium RC. Professor Cristina Cavaletti received the “Veteran Professor” award for her extraordinary commitment as a provincial coordinator of physical education and school sports services.

The awards of “Paralympic Veteran” they went to Mario Ratti (shooting), Francesco Cavò (football), Simone Caldarera (athletics) and Fabio Santoro (baskin). “Veteran technicians” Emanuele Torre (Duilia) for athletics and Nunzio Pagano (Serro Club) for archery. Fabrizio Pagano awarded as “Veteran Referee” (archery).

Awarded the certificates of “Young Veterans” to the athletes who have best distinguished themselves in their respective disciplines: Paolo Condurso and Pietro Fugazzotto (rowing), Irene Messina (Italian champion in archery), Marcello Milioti (American football), Ludovica Celona (water polo), Antonino Nasisi (horse riding ), Renato Sahin (basketball), Gabriele Buffo (Italian Under 19 champion in volleyball with Materdomini Volley), Martina Donato (5-a-side football), Pietro Grima (karting), Giorgia Di Mario (swimming), Manuel Minutoli (judo ), Riccardo Natoli (team world champion with Italy Under 20 in table football) and Lucy Amboy (Italian individual champion in billiards) with Prof. Donatella Cosola.

The prize of “Veteran School” at the Caio Duilio Nautical Technical Institute, who graduated for the fourth consecutive year champion of Italy as part of the “Billiards and school” project, with Nathan De Sagun, Jayve Andal, Daniel De Leon, professor Gabriella Clemenza and technician Antonio Di Peter. While waiting for the other commitments linked to the incessant activity of Unvs Messina, the appointment with the “Athlete of the Year” award will be renewed in 2023.

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