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.
Perry Hall
Amanda Butz, who played badminton, basketball and softball is the female nominee and soccer player Kaleb Todjo is the male nominee for Perry Hall High School.
Amanda Butz
Butz almost had the rare distinction of being a 12-season Varsity starter at Perry Hall. Butz made Varsity for four years for Badminton and Softball but only made Junior Varsity for her freshman year of basketball.
Her basketball coach Linda Caccavalla said making the Varsity Perry Hall basketball team in her second year is still remarkable.
“I use to tease her that she is one of the only sophomores who is a three-sport varsity athlete at PHHS,” Caccavalla said.
Her softball coach Ally Bittner said that Butz would have been a four-year starter if the season would have not be canceled for COVID-19. Butz was Captain for her Junior year and was expected to have that title again for her senior season.
On the field, Butz made 1st County Outfielder as a freshman and made the 2nd County team in 2018 & 2019. Butz will be softball at McDaniel College in 2021.
“She has stepped up in different positions in times of need. Always on top of anything that needs to be done. Always a good attitude towards her teammates and opponent,” Bittner said of Butz.
“[She] works hard in the classroom and on the field. Great kid who is deserving of the recognition.”
Kaleb Todjo
Todjo was a three-year Varsity Soccer player, two year starter and the Captain of the Perry Hall Boys Soccer team his senior year. According to his coach Pete Eibner, Todjo has been a blessing to coach as he possesses skill, quickness and vision that most do not.
“As a sophomore, he worked hard and learned, developing each practice and improving each day. By the time he reached his senior year, he had matured as a young man and became a leader.” Eibner said of Todjo.
“While his ‘on the field’ accomplishments were impressive, it was his off the field resume that led him to be nominated for the McCormick Unsung Hero.”
Eibner added that Todjo is an unsung hero for his ‘behind the scenes’ work. Eibner gave an example on how his hard work would motivate his teammates. He was a good model for the underclassmen.
“Most impressively, Kaleb, along with Andrew Fitch and Sid Katilla, changed the culture of our program. Where, in years past, the underclassmen would have to pick up cones, get water, fill the ice bucket, carry the balls and move the goals, this year’s team had the seniors voluntarily do those tasks” Eibner explained.
“They did it in order to set the example of what it is like to serve others.”
Serving others is what Todjo did indeed as he drove underclassmen to off campus practices and he tutored teammates that needed help with academics.
“In 2018-19, we had 11 players on the ineligible list throughout the year and four with academic honors. This fall we had 13 make academic honors and none on the ineligible list,” Eibner noted.
“Aside from teammates, he helped underclassmen through the African American Male Mentorship Program.
Eibner added that Todjo’s hard work transferred in the classroom too as Todjo maintained a 3.74 GPA, is a three year National Honor Society Member and he also made the Honor Roll in every quarter of his high school career.
“He often goes unnoticed because of his humble and unassuming nature, but to our program, he is invaluable, and certainly worthy of this nomination,” Eibner said.
