Annual Awards

Joseph A. Gabella Award

"Role Model"

Est. 1969

This award is voted on by the swimmers and is given to the girl and boy whom they feel have done the most to assist the coaches, help the swimmers, and generally maintain a “role model” appearance.

Joseph A. Gabella is fondly remembered as the father of the Forest Hills Swim Team. He was instrumental in founding the team and, although he did not have children of his own swimming, he was the swim team's biggest fan. After his death, this award was created to commemorate his spirit and dedication. Today the Gabella Award stands as the oldest award bestowed upon a swimmer and it is the only award voted upon by the swimmers. All swimmers 15 & older are considered. The award is given to the boy and girl with the most votes after all swimmers have voted.

History: Composed by 2013 Head Coach Nick Ricci

 Joseph A. Gabella came to the United States as an immigrant from Italy. He originally settled down in the Cambria County area. It was there that he met his wife, Alice Munro Gabella. In 1926 Alice’s father had completed the construction of a house in Forest Hills at the address of 100 Batavia Road. One year later, in 1927, they moved in with Alice’s father and became long time residents of Forest Hills for over 40 years. It was here that Joe worked as a linesman for AT&T, putting up telephone lines where needed.

 Joe Gabella played a very active role in the community and was considered the “neighborhood” grandfather by many, even though he and Alice did not have any children of there own. He was always concerned that there be a safe place for kids to play in the community thus, he used to mow the lawn down where the Forest Hills Park now lays. His concern for the safety of the children of the community derived from an experience as a child, when he experienced the death of a friend in a swimming accident. Thus, he was particularly interested in having a swimming pool built where children could swim safely.

 When Joe knew that he was dying, he put in a personal request to his wife, Alice. He requested that she give a donation particularly to the swim organization, which was just beginning. Sadly he passed away in October of 1968 at the age of 70, BEFORE the pool was ever completed.

 After his death the neighborhood contributed to a flower fund. It grew to a sizable amount since Joe was very well liked. It was determined that a more appropriate memorial to Joe would be to do something for the Forest Hills Swim Team. Therefore, those that wanted to honor Joe consulted Bill Griffith, the swim team’s first head coach. He came up with the idea for the “Gabella” trophy, which was then selected, purchased and engraved. The award began the year after Joe Gabella passed away – in 1969. 

 It should be noted that Alice Gabella was also a staunch supporter of the programs for children in the Forest Hills community. Alice passed away some years later and in her will she bequeathed a sum of money to the Forest Hills Swim Team and to the recreation board, to be used for the pool facilities.

 Thus, this award is voted on by the swimmers and is given to the girl and boy whom they feel have done the most to assist the coaches, help the swimmers, and generally maintain a “role model” appearance.

Justine Clougherty Award

"Hardest Worker"

Est. 1991

This award is voted on by the coaching staff and is given to the swimmer whom they feel has been the “hardest working” swimmer for that season. This does not have to be the “best” swimmer.

Justine Clougherty was known by her peers as the most dedicated and driven swimmer on the team. Tragically, Justine's life was cut short by a car accident as she was returning to Forest Hills from college. This award is now given by the coaches to a boy and girl whose dedication and desire shine through, allowing not just that individual but the entire team to benefit from their drive.

History: Handwritten by Pat & Leo Clougherty (Parents of Justine) on July 25, 1998

 Justine Clougherty was a swimmer on the Forest Hills Swim Team from its start until 1979 when she graduated from high school. She attended St. Maurice School, and Churchill High School, where she was a high honor student, a varsity swimmer, majorette captain, a choir member, and in the musicals. She graduated from Georgetown University in 1983. She died in December, 1983 from injuries in an automobile accident.  She is still really missed by her family and lots of her friends which is why one of them established this award in her memory.

 Justine liked to win and she worked hard to be a winner. (She actually accidently swallowed the retainer from her braces during a race – which she won. Her orthodontist said he never knew of this to happen before.). She had a great sense of loyalty and of team spirit. At one time her 3 brothers and 2 sisters were members of the team with Justine. She supported and cheered her teammates. She always had a positive outlook.

 We don’t know if this was a legacy from her name but she was amazingly fair all her life and ready to speak out about being just. One past coach said that she was his Jimminy Cricket.

 Long after she died we met someone we didn’t even know she knew, and that girl told us that she’d never forget Justine because, although they weren’t friends, Justine always said “Hi” to her first if they passed in the school hall. Being voted by her team as the recipient of the Joseph Gabella Award was one of the great moments in her life. Having this award named for her continuing this tradition would make her happy in heaven.  

Brendan Foley Award

"Team Spirit"

Est. 1997

This award is voted on by the coaching staff and is given to the girl or boy who exemplifies “team spirit”.

Since its creation, the forest Hills swim team has prided itself on the energy and enthusiasm that it brings to the pool decks. It is a well-known fact that the Forest Hills Swim Team is the loudest, proudest, most vocal and respectful team in the ESA. Cheers from the 1970s have been passed on through the generations to today and they have done so because of enthusiastic team members such as Brendan Foley.

History: Composed by 2013 Head Coach Nick Ricci

Brendan Foley was a FHST member in the early 1990s. He was tragically killed by a truck while riding his bike on Ardmore Blvd in 1996. He was 15 years old. Brendan was an active, an vocal member of the FHST. He was also an active member of the Pittsburgh Irish community, and a student at Central Catholic High School. At school, he was a student, athlete, altar boy, musician, step dancer and friend to many. His high school rowing coach, Glen Hascar, described Brendan as “a once in a lifetime person”.

During the sad days following his passing, thousands paid tribute to Brendan at his viewings and funeral. To give you an idea of the impact that Brendan had on his community, consider this story from Maggie Foley, Brendan’s mother. “At Brendan’s viewing, one woman stood in line for over an hour to see us. She was accompanied by her daughter, a shy little girl who peeked at me from behind her mother’s leg. The mother said, ‘I don’t know you, and I didn’t know your son, but my daughter knew him from the pool. She said that we had to come’. Brendan had made a friend half his age and it wasn’t surprising. That was the type of kid that he was.

Lindsey M. Manns Award

“Demonstrates perseverance, encouragement, or love of swimming”

Est. 2021

This award is voted on by the coaches and is given to a swimmer who best emulates the values and character of Lindsey Manns.

Lindsey Manns, a Forest Hills resident all her life, is warmly remembered as a former swim team member, coach, parent board member, and ESA representative. Though she battled cancer for over a decade, she remained an encourager and demonstrated a positive spirit throughout her life. She imparted her love of swimming to her two boys and the swimmers she coached. This new award is bestowed by the coaches to a girl or boy swimmer of any age.

2021 PK Amos-Abanyie

2022 Nate Nicklow

2023 Owen Brown

History: Composed in 2022 by the Manns and Porco Families 

When walking into any Forest Hills Swim Team event, the charming presence of Lindsey (Nikrandt) Manns was undeniably noticed. Her warm, inviting smile graced any and all members of the Forest Hills Community. Community is everything that Lindsey stood for. Being a lifelong resident of the area, Lindsey knew very well the distinctive nature of our neighborhood, as she was an active member of the community. At the Forest Hills Pool, Lindsey discovered her love of swimming. Here, this passion was fostered through her time on the swim team and as a lifeguard. This passion continued throughout her high school career, where she competed on the swim team of her alma mater, Woodland Hills. Upon graduating in 1995, her compassion for others carried over into her time at Pennsylvania State University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education. She then went on to receive an additional Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Point Park University in 2003, while simultaneously working as a teacher at the Children’s School. In 2003, along with her husband, Gary, she purchased the home where her mother was raised on Glasgow Road in Forest Hills. To exemplify her love for the art of swimming and the Forest Hills community, Lindsey raised her children, Jackson and Carson, as patrons of the Forest Hills Pool since 2005. 

After her diagnosis of Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, in 2012, and later remission from her illness, Lindsey again became an active member of the Forest Hills Swim Team community as an ESA representative. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Capella University in 2017, she decided to further spread her love of swimming by becoming the Assistant Coach of the Swim Team alongside Head Coach Sara Kennedy. During her tenure as coach, Lindsey was lovingly referred to as “Coach Mom” by not only her sons but by countless other members of the team. “Mom” perfectly described the role that she played on the team. She took the time to learn each and every swimmer individually, as she familiarized herself with their strengths and personalities, and like a mother, she tended to their needs. For example, she went so far as to purchase swimming necessities including goggles for members of the team in need. Though she only coached the team for one year, her legacy as a coach lives on and her impact is far from unnoticed.

In May of 2019, after nearly seven years of remission, Lindsey’s Melanoma returned. While this diagnosis shocked Lindsey, she remained an active member of the swim team community. Despite feeling uneasy on her feet, suppressed by symptoms from her treatments, and often afraid to show her newly shaved head, Lindsey continued to make enthusiastic appearances throughout the 2019 season. This was a testament to Lindsey’s relentless attitude and consistently positive outlook on life. Even after her death in June of 2021, Lindsey’s presence lives on through members of the team who persevere through adversity, who encourage others, who have a strong love for swimming, and, most importantly, always have a smile on their faces.