A wonderful sports 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.
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 50 years of activity of Atletica Villafranca, “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 led to enhance 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. Prof. Cristina Cavaletti received the “Veteran Professor” award for her extraordinary commitment as a provincial coordinator of physical education and school sports services.
The “Paralympic Veteran” awards 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).
The certificates of “Young Veterans” have been awarded to the athletes who have distinguished themselves most in their respective disciplines: Paolo Condurso and Pietro Fugazzotto (rowing), Irene Messina (Italian archery champion), 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 “Veteran School” award 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, prof . Gabriella Clemenza and the technician Antonio Di Pietro. Pending the other commitments related to the incessant activity of UNVS Messina, the appointment with the “Athlete of the Year” award will be renewed in 2023.
