Judy Berkery

Judy was a 1974 Shaker High School graduate who became one of Shaker’s most celebrated fans and volunteers. She was affectionately known as “Ma Berkery” by our students because she touched the lives of so many. She coached youth sports for many years when her daughter Kyrie was playing and also coached Pop Warner football. She was our Booster Club president for two years and rarely missed a game. Judy passed away in June 2006 after a courageous battle with cancer. Last spring we created an athletic award—the Judy Berkery Spirit Award—given to two senior athletes who have best exhibited Judy’s many fine characteristics.

Deana (Cannon) Grogan (1999)

In 1999, Deana was Shaker’s Best All-Around female athlete for her accomplishments in lacrosse, field hockey and indoor track. She was a three sport varsity letter winner for three years. Deana played for Division I Virginia Tech on scholarship. In 2003, she was named to the Big East Conference Academic All-Star team. She is currently living in Georgia and is enrolled at Emory University in their Physicians Assistant Anesthesiology Program. Her individual accomplishments include:

• In lacrosse, she was a two year first team all-star and our leading scorer for two years

• Played for the Empire Select Team in National Tournaments

• In field hockey, she was a two time member of the Adirondack Empire State Games team

• Played in the Elite Futures Program for two years

• In indoor track, she was the team captain and received the MVP award as a distance runner.

Steve Frank (1987)

Upon his graduation from Shaker in 1987, Steve had excelled in baseball and football. He is currently a veteran member of the Colonie Police Department and began coaching at Shaker in 1999. He is our assistant varsity football coach and assistant varsity baseball coach. His accomplishments include:

• In baseball he was the co-captain who led the team in triples and on-base-percentage

• He made the All-Area Troy Record Team while having a batting average of .314

• His play got him an athletic scholarship to Division I St. Joseph's University of the Atlantic 10 Conference

• In football he played wide receiver where he made the second team all-area

Sean McGee (1987)

Sean excelled in the sports of baseball and basketball at Shaker. He graduated in 1987, but continues to serve Shaker High School as one of our baseball coaches and as our DARE officer in his role as officer in the Colonie Police Department.

• In baseball, he was the team’s most valuable player for two years and led the team in 6 offensive categories

• He led the team in three pitching categories his senior year, while batting .377

• He made the Troy Record All Area Team

• In basketball he was the most improved player his senior year and also named the defensive player of the year

• He earned a baseball scholarship to the College of St. Rose where he had the best all time winning percentage as a pitcher with 23 wins and four losses. He was named to the first team all conference team

Erin DeMarco (1997)

Erin was an all-around athlete who excelled in soccer in the mid-1990’s. She later went on to become a 3-time
All-American and two-time Academic All-American at Ithaca College. She is currently the head coach at Bryn Mawr College and was previously the coach at Vassar College and SUNY Oswego. In 2004, she played for the WPSL Rochester Region, a semi-professional league for women. Her high school highlights include:

• 1996 co-captain and soccer MVP

• Class A Section 2 first team all-star

• Troy record All-Area first team

• NYS All-State third team (first Shaker soccer player to earn All-Sate)

Athan Biss (2001)

Athan was one of Shaker’s most outstanding student-athletes as he set the Shaker lacrosse record for most points in a season and later graduated from Princeton University. He led through example showing tremendous dedication to the team goals. He was also captain of the soccer team where he helped lead the team to their first Sectional tournament in more than 15 years. His lacrosse highlights include:

• Section 2 player of the year in 2001

• Section 2 All-American

• Record holder for most points in one game

• As captain led team to suburban title and 18-3 record

• Selected by Section 2 coaches to play in the national North-South All-Star game