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06/19/2022 12:00 AM

Samperi Receives SCC Comeback Player of the Year Award


North Haven cheerleader Maxine Samperi was recently named a co-recipient of the SCC’s Comeback Player of the Year Award alongside Cheshire’s Jason Raba. Pictured are Kelly Ranalli, the athletic trainer at Cheshire High School; Susan Bader, the CEO of award sponsor Connecticut Orthopaedics; Raba, Samperi, and SCC Commissioner Al Carbone. Photo courtesy of the Southern Connecticut Conference

Recent North Haven High School graduate Maxine Samperi is one of two student-athletes who was recently named a recipient of the 2022 Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) Comeback Player of the Year Award. Samperi and fellow award recipient Jason Raba of Cheshire High School have both suffered severe injuries, but were able to overcome them in order to become outstanding role models at their respective schools.

Samperi is a four-year member of the North Haven cheerleading team. During her career, Samperi twice suffered a torn labrum in her right hip, in addition to a broken left arm. However, through her diligent rehabilitation and positive attitude, Samperi was able to return to competition and help North Haven win an SCC championship and a Class L state title as a flyer in 2019.

This winter, Samperi served as a senior captain for the North Haven cheer squad. She was a key part of the Nighthawks’ second-place finish at the Class L State Championship meet.

An honor roll student, Samperi was the recipient of the North Haven cheerleading team’s Sportsmanship Award for her senior season. Samperi will attend Endicott College in the fall with plans to major in criminal justice.

A corporate sponsor of the SCC, Connecticut Orthopaedics offered the Comeback Player of the Year scholarship for student-athletes who participated in an interscholastic sport during the 2021-’22 academic year and showed great leadership both on and off the field following a severe injury. Coaches and school’s athletic directors nominated Samperi and Raba, who will both will receive a financial scholarship to be used for their college education.