Connor Boekel
By Dan Murphy
Congratulations to Connor Boekel, a senior at Byram Hills High school, for being named a Con Edison Scholar-Athlete of the week. Connor is a member of the BHHS Bobcats Boys Soccer team, which this season brought home a Class A Sectional Title. And now the Bobcats move on to the State Final Four, with Boekel leading the way.
Connor’s defense has made him the MVP of recent playoff games, and overall, the stingy Bobcats Soccer defense has allowed only 10 goals in 22 games this year. Connor plays center back for the team and has anchored the defense as captain. Connor was also recently named as All-Section and was nominated for All-State. He is the anchor of the defense that only plays with three defenders. In soccer speak, he controls the middle of the field pretty much by himself. Boekel also plays outfield for the Byram Hills Varsity Baseball team for the past two years. He is captain of both the Boys Soccer and Baseball teams. He is a two-time captain of the soccer team.
Connor is the recipient this year of the Sylvia Rogers Memorial Scholarship, awarded to two senior student-athletes who achieved great things on the fields of play and the classroom. Academically, Boekel is a member of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society, with academic excellence in Spanish. He is also a member of the AP Scholars, a club that represents students who have an average of 4 on the AP Exams.
In the summer of 2023, Connor was a student Researcher at the Delgoffe Lab in association with the UPMC Hillman Cancer, Center University of Pittsburgh, where he completed a study on mechanisms of oncolytic virotherapy: vaccinia virus in addition to melanoma targeting T cells treating melanoma cancer cells in vitro.
His volunteer work includes serving in the Stayin’ Alive Charity Race, and as a volunteer -tutor at the Cottage School. Connor is on track for graduation with a 4.081 GPA, with 6 AP courses completed.
“Connor is heavily involved in our athletic programs, playing on the Varsity Soccer and Varsity Baseball teams throughout high school. He consistently shows up through both teams, whether starting or not, to commit to his teammates and bring the spirit. Notably, he was named captain of the soccer team during his junior year, which seldom happens. This is due to his helpful nature and willingness to go the extra mile to guide his teammates,” said Coach Matt Allen.
“When someone needs assistance, Connor is the first person to stand up and offer a helping hand. He enjoys learning and working with others, which will help make his college experience successful. I am excited to see what he does next,” writes Keara Hunt, School Counselor
