May 13, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletic Federation:

The Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletic Federation has announced the winners of its annual awards. The awards program recognizes and honours the top student-athletes, coaches and administrators within high school sports.

The Brother G.I. Moore Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year are awarded to graduating students who combine a high degree of athletic ability, academic excellence and sportsmanship. The winners of this award each receive a $750 scholarship from Newfoundland Power, while the four runners-up receive scholarship money sponsored by Source for Sports.

The male winner for 1999 is Richard Kelly from St. Lawrence Central High. Kelly participated in badminton, cross-country running, slo-pitch softball and basketball throughout his high school years. However, his primary focus was on the soccer pitch. In the last three years he led his St. Lawrence team to two gold and one silver in provincial play, scored all of his teams seven goals in semi-final and final games and won sportsmanship awards at the regional and provincial tournaments. He has played on the Eastern Canadian U-18 Select team and at 16 was the youngest player to play at the Nationals (Challenge Cup). Kelly was the first runner-up for Sports Newfoundland Provincial Junior Male Athlete of the Year in 1998, male athlete of the year at St. Lawrence Central High and Regional Male Student-Athlete of the Year for the Burin Peninsula. The runners-up for the Male Student-Athlete of the Year are Tommy McCarthy of Mobile Central High and Stephen Penney of Glovertown Regional High School.

Danielle Rumbolt from Stephenville High School is the winner of the Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Rumbolt is an extraordinary student who still finds time for a huge involvement in extra-curricular activities. She has competed in basketball, volleyball, cross-country skiing and running for her school. Rumbolt helped her team to a gold medal at regional and provincial cross country skiing championships, and was a member of the provincial team which captured a bronze medal at the Eastern Canadian Basketball championships. In addition, Rumbolt is also heavily involved in music, school and community volunteer work and has also competed in the gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. The female runners-up were Terri-Lynn Tibbs from Mobile Central High and Joanne McNeil from Stella Maris High in Trepassey.

The Coach of the Year Award honours the success of coaches over the course of the 1998-99 school year. The 1999 Coach of the Year is Bob Alcock from Roncalli High in Avondale. He was the winner of the Coaching Service Award last year. Alcock is a volleyball coach who coached both boys and girls teams this past year. His girls team participated in five major tournaments, capturing a silver and gold. Alcock's boys volleyball team had tremendous success this past year. They participated in Roncalli Invitational Volleyfest, Dalhousie Invitational, Ascension Invitational, Abitibi Price Invitational, Juvenile championship and 4A High School Federation Championships. This team won every tournament they played this year with the exception of a silver medal performance in Volleyfest. Alcock led his team in defending their 4A title this year. For the past two years this team has lost only one match. The runners-up for Coach of the Year are Fred Simms from Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts) and Ron Blair from J.C. Erhardt in Makkovik.

The Coaching Service Award is in recognition of a long career in coaching high school sports. It is intended to recognize a coach who has a strong developmental program in the school and has demonstrated a strong commitment to the total development of the student-athlete.

The winner of the 1999 Coaching Service Award is Wayne Baggs from Greenwood Academy in Milltown. Baggs has been coaching high school badminton since 1979 and volleyball since 1981. He has built a very strong badminton program at Greenwood Academy and in the community and has enjoyed great success. He has coached teams and individuals to numerous zone, regional and provincial and Atlantic championships. The runners up for the Coaching Service Award are Graham Oliver from Stephenville and Ed Arnott from Bishop's College in St. John's.

The Honour Award is an award presented annually in recognition of outstanding service to school athletics at zone, regional and provincial levels. The winner of the Honour Award for 1999 is Greg Devereaux from Avondale. Devereaux has had a long history of involvement in sports in general and the High School Athletic Federation in particular. He taught for 13 years at John Burke High in Grand Bank and during that time he coached at many zone and regional competitions, and coached both girls volleyball and basketball teams and boys hockey. His teams have won provincial basketball championships and Devereaux was runner-up for coach of the year in 1986-87. In addition to his coaching, Devereaux served for many years as a member of the executive of the High School Athletic Federation. He was regional director for the Burin Peninsula from 1979-82 and 1987-89, vice-president from 1982-85 and financial director from 1985-87. The runners-up for Honour Award are Steve Harris from Glovertown Regional High and Kevin Pollard from Indian River High in Springdale.

Each of the 11 regions within the province also present a Recognition Award to an individual for work within the regions. The winners are as follows: Andy Byrd, Gonzaga, St. John's; Tom Dawson, Bishop O'Neill Collegiate, Brigus; Paul Johnson, Baltimore High, Ferryland; Art Cluett, John Burke High, Grand Bank; Joe Greene, St. Marks High School, King's Cove; Tanya Winsor Smith, Riverwood Academy, Wings Point; Angustus Jones, John Watkins Academy, Hermitage; Rod Yetman, Baie Verte High; Linda Shears, E.A. Butler Academy, McKays; Russell Hancock, Mountain Field High, Forteau and Duane Smith of Amos Comenius School, Hopedale.

All awards will be presented at the awards banquet at 7 p.m., Friday evening at the Battery Hotel in St. John's.

Media Contact: Karen Richard, (709) 729-2795.

1999 05 13 12:05 p.m.