McCormick & Company presents their annual McCormick Unsung Heroes where they honor high school athletes who have been models of sportsmanship and team. The 2020 McCormick Unsung Heroes Awards will take place in a virtual format on May 11. Every school in the region has a male and female athlete nominated for the award and Eastbaltco.com will profile each athlete from eastern Baltimore County over the next week.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The first school to be profiled are the athletes at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Essex. Girls soccer player Demetra Conner and Boys Soccer player Connor Naunton are the two nominees from the school.
Demetra Conner
Conner was recommended by her school for her work on and off the field. In the classroom, she has a GPA of 3.9 and has taken a college math course. She was described as a leader as she volunteered to come to school during the summer to mentor the freshmen during orientation.
Conner is an active member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and is the President of the National Art Honor Society at Mount Carmel.
She is listed as a leader on the field too as she was voted team captain of the soccer team. Teammates said she is the type of player to give up the ball and let someone else score without second guessing herself or worrying about her own stats. Her coach also credited Connor as a team player who is willing to change positions to help the team.
Connor also plays indoor soccer and softball during the spring.
She applied to nine colleges and got accepted to all. According to Mount Carmel, Connor plans to major in either Psychology or Nursing.
Connor Naunton
Naunton soccer career came along way over his four years. His former coach Mark Concordia said that Naunton started his career as a freshman on the bench, but worked hard his four years.
“He was third off the bench. Connor was not the biggest, strongest, or fastest, but would step into any role and bring composure to the field.” Concordia said about Naunton as he coached him in his first three years “Connor’s soccer IQ helped him to overcome what he lacked athletically”.
Naunton had to make an adjustment in his senior as Jon Schneehagen took over as soccer coach from Concordia.
“Connor took me in; I have never worked with a young person with such humility and awareness. He knew that I was stepping into a difficult position,” Schneehagen said of Naunton.
He also had to make an adjustment on the field as the midfielder and forward was asked to play goalie.
“Without flinching, he recognized his team’s success required him to try his hand as goalie,” said a statement from the team. “From that moment on, he made it his task to be the best goalie possible, seeking advice and training from his brother, who played collegiately at McDaniel.”
Naunton is known for his contribution to the soccer team, but he has also been involved with his school and athletic department. During basketball season, he manages the clock at the scorers table. He was also a four-year starter on the baseball team.
According to the school, Naunton was a Student Government Class Representative, a member of the Spanish National Honor Society (Historian as Junior / Vice President as Senior) and a member of the National Art Honor Society. Naunton applied and was accepted to four colleges.
