NLIS 1
May 24, 2001
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

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

St. Lawrence big winners in high school sports awards

The Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletic Federation will be honouring the top student-athletes, coaches, administrators and schools this coming Friday evening at the Battery Hotel in St. John's. AGM delegates from across the province, as well as award winners will be in attendance as the top student-athletes, coaches, administrators, volunteers and schools are honored by their peers.

Each of the province's 11 regions will award a recognition award to a volunteer in their area who has contributed to the advancement of high school sports in their region. The winners are: St. John's - Bill Brophy (Holy Spirit High), Trinity Conception Region - Eric Clarke (Crescent Collegiate), Avalon South - Dave Constantine (Laval High), Avalon West - Kerry Clarke (St. Michael's), Burin Peninsula - Terry Oldford (St. Joseph's), Central East - Winston Jenkins (J.M.Olds Collegiate), Central - Neil Rowe (Exploits Valley High), Central West - John Goobie (St. Peter's Academy), Western - Bernard Keating (Templeton High), St. Barbe-Labrador - Ida Gardner (Sacred Heart School), Northern - Cal Patey (Labrador School Board)

The Coaching Service Award is presented to an individual in recognition of a long and successful coaching career. The winner for 2001 is Terry Mosher from Queen Elizabeth Regional High (Foxtrap). Mosher has been a tremendously successful volleyball coach for the past 26 years. His girls volleyball team this past year won the 4A title and along the way amassed a record of 61 wins and one loss. In addition to his coaching involvement at Queen Elizabeth, Mosher has been instrumental in the success of the CBS Sabres program. Mosher has coached the 1997 Female Canada Games Team, managed the 2001 Men's Canada Games Team and was a member of the 
mission staff for the 1999 Canada Games in Corner Brook. In addition to his involvement in volleyball, Mosher has also been involved with swimming and soccer at the community level.

The 2001 High School Coach of the Year is Kevin Pittman from St. Lawrence Central High. Pittman had a banner year in coaching a number of high school teams this past season. This past year, he has been involved in cross country running, soccer and basketball. In junior girls and boys and senior boy cross country running, his team finished in second place at the regional level. The senior girls cross country running team were regional champions and finished fourth at the provincial competition. He served as teacher-sponsor for the Boys 4A Soccer team, which won the provincial title. He coached the St. Lawrence boys basketball team to the 2A provincial title and rounded out his year coaching the St. Lawrence girls basketball team to the 2A Provincial title. In total, Pittman was directly involved with three provincial titles for St. Lawrence Central High this past year.

The runners up for the Coach of the Year Award for 2001 are Ron Blair from Eric G. Lambert (Churchill Falls) and Terry Mosher from Queen Elizabeth Regional High (Foxtrap).

Cecil Piercey from Bishop White All Grade in Port Rexton is this year's recipient of the Honour Award. The Honour Award is given to an individual who has distinguished themselves over a long term of service to high school sports. Piercey's teaching career spanned from 1962 - 1991 in Port Rexton. Upon his retirement, he started the TOPS n CHOPS Table Tennis Club, and was heavily involved in all areas of the club from coaching and membership to fundraising. He has had a great deal of success in the coaching field. In the nine years his teams have won 4A high school championships, numerous NLTTA championships, individual players coached by Piercey have gone on to Atlantic Junior National and Canada Games competitions. Piercey was awarded the Regional Recognition Award for Avalon West in 1996.

The runner up for the Honour Award is Charles Baker from Elwood High in Deer Lake.

The Brother G.I. Moore Student-Athlete of the Year Awards are presented to graduating students who best combine athletic and academic success with involvement in the school and community. Both male and female winners for 2001 are from St. Lawrence Central High.

Susan Stacey is the winner of the Female Student-Athlete of the Year. The St. Lawrence native has been actively involved in cross country running, volleyball, slo-pitch, basketball and soccer. She has been a member of provincial championship teams in cross country running, basketball and soccer. The runners-up for the female student-athlete of the year are Kathleen Briffett from Glovertown Academy and Renee Chaisson from Stephenville High School.

Paul Slaney from St. Lawrence is this year's Male Student-Athlete of the Year. He has been involved in cross county running, volleyball, slo-pitch, basketball and curling but it has been his success in soccer which makes him a standout. Slaney has been a member of numerous championship soccer teams from U-13 to Provincial Senior A. He has been named MVP during various tournament and league play, and has gained national and international soccer experience. In addition to this, Slaney is involved in coaching and officiating.

The runners up for the male student-athlete of the year are Robert Kelly, also from St. Lawrence and Jonathon Lacey from Holy Heart of Mary, St. John's.

The student-athlete of the year awards are sponsored by Newfoundland Power who presents scholarships to the two award winners and Source for Sports who provide scholarships for the four runners up.

School Milk Foundation/Dairy Farmers Association are the sponsors of the School of the Year Award. Schools in each division are recognized for their outstanding programs over the course of the year. Programs are judged on athletic and academic success, student and staff involvement as well as areas such as invitational and development programs.

The A School of the Year for 2001 is Random Island Academy. The school this past year has been involved in girls volleyball, boys volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball and cross county running. Their success comes from a strong developmental and junior program and the supportive staff at the school.

St. Lawrence Central High is the 2A School of the Year for 2001. A runner up for the award last year, St. Lawrence has had an incredible year, winning four provincial high school titles - boys soccer, girls soccer, boys basketball and girls basketball. The federation's male and female student-athletes of the year as well as coach of the year hail from St. Lawrence Central High. St. Lawrence has been able to build such a strong program with the help and support of its administration and its staff.

Stephenville High School will be awarded the 4A School of the Year Award. This past year Stephenville has hosted four zone, 10 regional and three provincial tournaments and have also participated in 11 provincial tournaments. They are active in every federation sport as well as some other non-federation sports. Stephenville has won championships in cross country running, cross country skiing, and wrestling. Teams and individuals from Stephenville have also been recognized for their sportsmanship behaviour at provincial tournaments. They have a strong intramural program for Grades 9 - 12 and have had great academic success and a wide range of other involvement.

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

2001 05 24                                       10:30 a.m.