The following is being distributed at the request of School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador:

School Sports NL Honours Top Student-athletes, Coaches, Administrators

School Sport NL will be honouring the top student-athletes, coaches and administrators this coming Friday evening as the SSNL Awards Banquet will be held at the Capital Hotel in St. John’s. Awards will be presented for the Student-Athletes of the Year, Coach of the Year, Coaching Service Award, Honor Award, Regional Recognition Awards and a special Presidents Award presentation.

The Student-Athlete of the Year Awards are named after Br G.I. Moore, one for the founders of School Sport NL. The recipients are recognized for superior athletic and academic prowess over their three years of high school. Candidates are judged not necessarily on their ability as elite athletes but as overall student athletes involved in the total athletic program at their school. Subway scholarships totalling $3,000 will be awarded to the top three male and female student athletes.

The Male Student-Athlete of the Year is Tony LaVallee from Canon Richards High in Flowers Cove. He has been a keen competitor in numerous School Sport NL events throughout his high school years. He has represented his school in ball hockey, softball, volleyball, badminton, cross country running, basketball and table tennis. He has had great success at the regional level in all sports and has attended nine provincial tournaments throughout high school. This past year his teams were provincial champions in volleyball and silver medalists in ball hockey and he was the Provincial Island Champion in singles and doubles badminton.

Michael Scott from Marystown Central High, and Matthew Noseworthy from Mount Pearl Senior High are the runners-up for the award.

The Female Student-Athlete of the Year is Shelena Benoit from Stephenville High School. She has been a part of the Stephenville High athletic program since she first entered the school four years ago. Her involvement extends to volleyball, basketball, broomball, softball, ball hockey, track and field and soccer. Throughout high school, she has participated in at least 13 provincial championships in at least five different sports and has helped Stephenville to numerous regional championships and consistent top four finishes at provincials.

Angela MacKay from Glovertown Regional High and Desiree Aucoin from Belanger Memorial are the female runners-up for the Br. G. I. Moore Award.

The Coach of the Year Award is presented to a high school coach who has had an exceptional year coaching at the high school level. Camilla Payne is the 2012 recipient of this award. Ms. Payne has coached high school athletes in Labrador for 29 years. She has had a great success over the years particularly in the sport of cross country running in which her teams have won numerous provincial banners. In the 2012-12 school year her Menihek High School teams won provincial male and female cross country running and cross country skiing banners.

The runners-up for this award are Craig Loder from Pearson Academy in Wesleyville and Tony Power from Canon Richards High in Flowers Cove.

The Coaching Service Award is presented to a coach who has had a long career of coaching at the high school level, and has a strong developmental program. Dion Piercey from Arnolds Cove is this year’s recipient. Although not a teacher, Mr. Piercey has been coaching at the high school level for 29 years. He has guided the softball, volleyball and basketball teams at Tricentia to great successes over the years as a result of the development of a strong program. Dion’s teams at Tricentia have earned three provincial banners in volleyball, three provincial banners in basketball as well a Team Sportsmanship Banner.

The Honor Award is the highest award presented to a volunteer in the school sport system. Terry Holmes from Eric G. Lambert School in Churchill Falls is the very deserving winner of the 2012 Honor Award. Mr. Holmes has been an outstanding advocate and organizer for school sports in Labrador for 25 years. In addition t o coaching, and convening regional and provincial tournaments, he has, for the past eight years, taken on the role of Northern Director for School Sports NL. He has won numerous regional and provincial titles, and sportsmanship awards in volleyball. He has also hosted many regional and provincial tournaments. Because of his tremendous dedication and commitment to school sports in the northern region, he has also been awarded the Regional Recognition Award.

Each of the 11 regions in School Sport NL has the opportunity to recognize an individual in their region for their contribution at the regional level. The following individuals are the regional recognition award winner for 2012. Pat Carroll (O’Donel High, St. John’s Region), Bev Collins (Crescent Collegiate, Avalon Region), Paul Stewart (Clarenville Middle School, Avalon West Region), Marian Barry-Barnes (Christ the King, Burin Peninsula Region), Scott Short (New World Island Academy, Central East Region), Lianne O’Reilly (Botwood Collegiate, Central Region), Adam Matthews (Valmont Academy, Central West Region), Jimmy Strickland (EA Butler School, Western Region), Tony Power (Canon Richards High, Northern Peninsula Region), Ron O’Brien (Southern Labrador Region), Andrew Rowsell (Mealy Mountain Collegiate, Northern Region).

The President’s Award is presented to an individual or organization outside the membership of School Sports NL, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, who has made a significant contribution to SSNL. As a result of the ongoing support of its teachers, students and schools, the Nova Central School District is being honoured this year. The initiative shown by the district with regard to coaching and professional development and the support of its schools in participating in School Sport NL programs has had an overall positive effect on school sport programs in the district and the province.

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Media contact:
Karen Richard,
Executive Director
709-729-2795

2012 05 30             3:45 p.m.