Hamden Athlete Named SCC Comeback Player Of The Year

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden’s Edwin James Figueroa, Kyle Maruca of North Haven and Mia Lawrence from Mercy are the recipients of the 2020 SCC “Comeback Player of the Year” awards, officials announced Tuesday. All three students suffered severe injuries, yet were able to overcome them to become outstanding role models in their respective schools.

A corporate sponsor of the Southern Connecticut Conference, Connecticut Orthopaedics has offered a Comeback Player of the Year Scholarship for student-athletes who participated in an interscholastic sport during the 2019-2020 academic year and showed great leadership both on and off the field after their severe injury.

Coaches and school athletic directors nominated these student-athletes after they each suffered an unfortunate injury that prohibited them from playing for their high school teams. All three will receive a financial scholarship to be used for their college education.

"This is our 10th year in awarding student-athletes from the SCC with scholarships,” Glenn Elia, chief executive officer of Connecticut Orthopaedics, said in a news release. “Our goal has been to acknowledge student-athletes who have overcome the challenges of an injury and, through hard work and determination, have become positive role models for their fellow teammates. Because we are sports medicine specialists, we understand intimately what it takes to recover from an injury and return to playing sports at a high level."

SCC Commissioner Al Carbone said, “Many thanks to the doctors and staff at Connecticut Orthopaedics for their support of the SCC and these scholarships over the past decade. Our league has many outstanding student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the playing fields; but it is a tremendous gesture to recognize traits like courage, perseverance and selflessness.”

2019-20 SCC/Connecticut Orthopaedics Comeback Players of the Year

Edwin James Figueroa – Hamden High School (football/track & field)

During his junior football season, Edwin suffered his injury (fractured tibia and torn ligaments in ankle) which led him to surgery. Edwin was diligent in his rehabilitation and showed leadership by continuing to encourage his teammates through the offseason. He returned to the field last fall and helped lead the Green Dragons to a 6-4 record, their best in nearly 15 years.

Edwin will attend Western Connecticut State University in the fall with plans to play football for the Colonials and is interested in its nursing program.

Mia Lawrence – Mercy High School-Middletown (gymnastics)

One of the top gymnasts in the history of the Southern Connecticut Conference, Mia won the All-Around title at the SCC championship meet in early February 2019. A week later, she sustained a broken ankle, ending her junior season.

Through her hard work and dedication, she returned to the mat and once again, won the SCC All-Around title at the 2020 championship meet and was named the league’s Gymnast of the Year and earned New Haven Register All-Area MVP honors.

Mia will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall with plans to major in occupational therapy.

Kyle Maruca – North Haven High School (football/track & field)

A two-way football standout for North Haven, Kyle injured his shoulder in the first game of the season in 2018. He played with the injury the rest of the season before requiring surgery to repair a torn labrum. Prior to surgery in April, Kyle was still able to participate in indoor and outdoor track, throwing the shot put and actually won the SCC indoor title in 2019.

Following his rehabilitation, he was cleared to return to football practice without contact and had to miss the first three weeks of football season. Upon his return to the field as a tight end/defensive lineman, he was a big reason why the Indians went 5-1 with him in the lineup.

Kyle will attend Merrimack University in the fall and will participate in track & field for the Warriors.