The Annual John Beck Memorial Award winners have been announced! The award recognizes two middle school athletes for their prowess on the field and character off it and supports their continued participation in sports at the high school level.
This year’s winners were Sarah Cobabe and Noah Bigham. The awards were presented to Cobabe and Bigham at a St. Helens Middle School (SMHS) assembly June 14.
St. Helens Middle School Athletic Director Alan Holinbeck has revitalized the award in recent years, but the award has a legacy award dating back to 1968 that celebrates some of the best student-athletes at St. Helens Middle School moving on to high school.
The award is a remembrance of John Beck, a local teen who tragically died in a head-on collision on May 20, 1968. Beck was a formidable athlete who competed in multiple sports and was an exemplary student and community member. Holinbeck has been managing the award since 2019.
Last year’s winners, Nate Peau and Jadyn Pense, presented the awards. Both Peau and Pense have continued their athletic excellence in their first years of high school athletics. Peau won a high school state championship with Central Catholic during the fall, and Pense won a state championship in wrestling as a freshman.
Staff Sergeant Marcus McCain was a special guest at the assembly. Holinbeck said that his father was Mike McCain, who was the second winner of the award. Marcus McCain showed up with his wife Melissa and his mom Christine, Mike’s widow. Holinbeck said that the presentation of this year’s award was in Mike McCain’s honor and thanked Marcus for his service.
This year’s other finalists were:
Nora Dame
Larry Miller
Karley Siemienczuk
Kellen Wroblewski
Though each was a deserving candidate, Bigham and Cobabe ultimately took home the recognition. Bigham captained both the football and basketball teams at SHMS, and was a standout athlete in the track and field program. Diagnosed with diabetes in 2019, Holinbeck said he has “persevered” with a great attitude while also supporting other diabetics with “education and inspiration.”
Cobabe was a strong athlete competing in cross country, track and field, and wrestling. She is second all-time for SHMS in the 3000m event and is already practicing with St. Helens High School’s wrestling and cross-country teams. She was also elected freshman class president for next year.
About the John Beck Memorial Award
The award was presented for the first time to Dan Durbin in 1969. For a period from 1983 until about 1999, the award lay dormant. The award became revitalized through the work of Jim and Tom Linares in the late ‘90s, and the financial component was introduced, according to Holinbeck. Since then, the award has been given out each year.
According to Holinbeck, Beck was a person who was always putting others before himself. Winners of the award are not only tremendous athletes but also excel in their academics and embody the character that Beck had. Coaches submit nominations of the athletes they feel deserve the award.
Though the award is a great honor, there is also a financial component to the prize, made possible through the Student Foundation.
Winners receive $600 to help support athletes’ continued athletic success through their four years of high school. A Student Foundation committee disperses the funds, monitors that the athletes are making good use of their award money, and ensures they get reimbursed.
The award remains a special tribute and honor for those students who have shown a commitment to their community, athletics, and schooling for years to come.
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