The Beefsteak is Back!

We’ve got spirit! Yes, we do. We’ve got spirit! How about you? 

With a sold-out crowd of 380 attendees there was no shortage of school spirit at the EC Athletic Awards Beefsteak on Wednesday, May 29 at The Brownstone. The EC Athletic Booster Club (ABC) brought back the fan-favorite Beefsteak dinner to honor the 2023-24 high school student-athletes and coaches and to recognize and celebrate this year’s athletic achievements. 

Jeremy Mulder, boys varsity basketball coach, and Bill Van Hoff, EC ABC President, shared the MC responsibilities throughout the night. Bill kicked off the program with an overview of what the ABC has contributed in its first year back supporting the athletics department. Senior banners, physical varsity letters, Hudl video recording and streaming, and community nights were some of the highlighted items that the ABC has supported this year. 

Jeremy and Bill then moved right into celebrating our NJIC Colonial Division Coach of the Year winners, Adam Culp (Varsity Tennis) and Nicole D’Augustine-DeLaura (Varsity Volleyball). Athlete awards came next starting with recognizing the first-time varsity letter winners and all-county and all-league award winners. 

Three athletes received special recognition for their milestone achievements this year. Senior Lucas Genuario, hit 1000 points this year and finished his EC high school basketball career with 1390 points. Senior Tim La Bianca set a school record with his 8.72s 55m Hurdle race, and junior Valerie Portuphy also set a school record in the Triple Jump with a distance of 35’11”.

Additional senior student-athletes were celebrated for the following stand-out awards:

NJSIAA Scholar Athlete – Alexandra Spalt
National Girls in Sport Award – Mackenzie Wynbeek
NJSIC Sportsmanship Award – Gianna Angelucci and Lukas Faasse

For participating in at least 12 seasons of their high school career, the following senior athletes were honored with the Golden Eagle Award:

Gianna Angelucci (13)
Stone Davis
Lukas Faasse
Lucas Genuario
Alexandra Spalt
Mackenzie Wynbeek

And finally, the school recognition for seniors with the most Varsity letters in their high school careers was given to Lucas Genuario with 10 Varsity letters and Mackenzie Wynbeek with an impressive 12 Varsity letters. 

The awards ceremony concluded and the fun was just getting started! In traditional Beefsteak dinner fashion, the food was delicious and plentiful! Antipasto displays kicked off the meal followed by pasta, french fries, and onion rings, and then came the beef! And it kept on coming tray after tray after tray. Bread towers could be seen in the center of the tables throughout the ballroom as guests piled up the bread pieces. Dinner concluded with dessert and coffee as students, alumni, parents, grandparents, and siblings all continued to enjoy the fellowship amongst the EC community. 

It was such a blessing to be able to honor these student-athletes and coaches and the wonderful ways they continue to further God’s kingdom through their gifts and talents in sports. 

Special thanks to all of our corporate, family, and individual donors who sponsored tables and individual tickets that allowed all the student-athletes and coaches to attend this event at no cost to them. We are so grateful for your commitment to EC athletics!

Varsity Letter Sponsor
Regency Wealth Management

Athlete Table Sponsors
Capitals Volleyball Club
DeBlock Family
Heerema Company
KV Builders
Marshall Family
Martin Orthodontics
Sietsma Landscape Operations
Wiegers, Inc.
Vanden Dorpel Family
Van Hoff Family

Thank you to all the alumni and families who continue to support EC athletics! We look forward to seeing you on the field, court, track, alley, and course cheering on our student-athletes next year! Go Eagles!

*If you are interested in learning more about the EC Athletic Booster Club or becoming a member, learn more here. 

View more photos from the evening