Brian Kilrea Lifetime Achievement Award, Coaching: Mike Rivet
For over 30 years Mike Rivet has arrived at an arena or ice oval, put on his speed skates, and gone on the ice to help speed skaters develop into better athletes and better people. Canada’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic athletes Ivanie Blondin, Vincent De Haître, and Isabelle Weidemann started with Mike at the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club when they were just learning to speed skate. He has also coached deaf-blind athlete Kevin Frost to long and short track Impaired Skating World Championship titles. For Mike it has never mattered if the person he was coaching was just learning to skate or if they were preparing to represent Canada – he would treat them all with enthusiasm, respect, and share his evident love of the sport of speed skating. Rivet has also been previously named the Ontario Speed Skating Coach of the Year, and Speed Skating Canada’s Coaches Award of Excellence. He is truly the first person that comes to mind when anyone in the sport talks about coaching in Ottawa.
Lifetime Achievement Award, Technical Official: Nadine Crowley
A former international level basketball official, Nadine Crowley is now dedicating her knowledge and energy at the grassroots level in Ottawa, provincially, nationally, and internationally to create and implement training programs to develop officials of all ages. A member of Canada Basketball’s Board of Directors, Canadian Basketball Officials Commission and the FIBA Licensing Advisory Group, Crowley is involved in the early stages of community building and aligning Canadian officials with the rest of the basketball world. Currently one of 11 FIBA Referee Instructors in the world to have obtained their level 2 instructor certification, Nadine was the instructor at the Senior Women’s 2018 World Championships. In her officiating career, Crowley was on the floor at three World Championships, numerous Pre-Olympic Championships, Asian Games, FISU Games, and Canadian Championships. She was the 2014 winner of the prestigious Ted Earley Memorial Award, presented by the Canadian Association of Basketball Officials. Locally, Nadine founded the Officiating Mentorship Program for the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa in 2012 and was the Referee-in-Chief for five years.
Lifetime Achievement Award, Sports Volunteer and Administrator: Peter Lawrence
Originally from England, Peter Lawrence immigrated to Ottawa in 1962 and started his coaching career at the Bayshore and the Plant Bath pools and became the major force behind those initial water polo events in the city. A few years later, Peter was pulled into exciting projects run by the City of Ottawa during 1966-1969. He played an instrumental role in designing and influencing the architectural decisions for the Brewer Park, Pinecrest and Gloucester pools, ensuring they could be used for water polo games. Today, at the age of 82, besides swimming several times every week on his own, coach Peter is still fully committed to his coaching routine. He continues to introduce young girls and boys aged 6-13 to the sport at several weekly sessions happening at different city pools, working as one of the most dedicated coaching resources in Ottawa Titans Water Polo Club. Countless number of junior coaches have had the opportunity to learn from coach Peter as he was tasked with organizing and mentorship duties. The many contributions of Peter Lawerence over his time in Ottawa has allowed the Ottawa Titans to become the largest Canadian water polo club.
Mayor’s Cup: Kathleen Murphy
Kathleen Murphy represented Canada at the 1976 Olympics in gymnastics at the age of 16. After her gymnastics retirement she continued her passion for amateur sport by volunteering her time in as many capacities as she could. She volunteered her time on the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre board of directors for over ten years, eight of which she served as the President of the club which is now one of the largest in the province. In 2008 she began to multitask her volunteering efforts and helped to found the Ottawa National Diving Club. Beginning with only two divers and one coach, she has grown the club to over 250 members and 12 coaches. An NCCP Certified Comp-Intro Coach-Level 2, Kathleen continues to volunteer her time in a coaching and administrative capacity to this day. In 2017, Murphy was a representative for the 2021 Canada Games bid in Ottawa, and in 2018 she was named the Executive Director of Dive Ontario. A community builder and outstanding Ottawa sports representative, Kathleen Murphy will continue to look for new opportunities to bring amateur sport to the next level in Ottawa.
Kristina Groves Trophy, Female Athlete of the Year: Isabelle Weidemann
In her Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, Isabelle Weidemann skated to a seventh-place finish in the 3000m. She continued her Olympics with even stronger results, placing sixth in the 5000m before helping Canada to a fourth-place finish in team pursuit. She captured her first ISU World Cup win in November, claiming gold in the 3000m, and then set a personal best time in the same event at the World Cup event in the Netherlands in December where she finished second. Weidemann also placed first in the event at the Canadian Single Distances Championships this fall, alongside a win in the 5000m and third place in the 1500m. Weidemann finished 2018 ranked 1st in the world for long-distance events. A member of the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating club, Isabelle first represented Canada as a junior in 2014 and now trains with the national team in Calgary, Alta. Isabelle is a mentor and role model to younger skaters and has no hesitation in volunteering to share her knowledge and lead training sessions when she is visiting Ottawa.
Male Athlete of the Year: Mike Woods
Two years after being named Ottawa’s top athlete in cycling Mike Woods had a career year in 2018. The year of successes was topped by a bronze medal performance in the road race at the 2018 World Road Cycling Championship. That was Canada’s first podium finish at that event since 1984. Other 2018 highlights for Woods include winning stage 17 at the Vuelta a Espana, and a second-place finish in Stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia, finishing the Giro nineteenth overall. Woods also raced to second place in the prestigious Liège-Bastogne-Liège one-day race. The leader of the EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale team is the top Canadian in the world rankings, in 37th place, and was named Canadian Male Cyclist of the Year.
Male Coach of the Year: Steve Johnson
2018 marked Johnson’s 25th season as head coach of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s soccer team and will be one of the most memorable. Johnson’s squad captured the 2018 U SPORTS national championship on home field, capping a dominant season which also featured Johnson’s ninth OUA conference championship win. Johnson has coached the Garnet and Grey to the playoffs in all 25 seasons that he has been at the helm of the program but brought the team back to the national championship tournament for the first time since 2014, posting a 20-1-1 record and averaging 2.56 goals per game to just 0.47 against.
Female Coach of the Year: Cassandra Smith
Cassandra Smith is a high performance coach and leader in snowboarding, and founded The Ottawa Akademy Snowboard Program. In 2018, the level 4/5 certified coach saw her team of 15-17-year-old snowboard cross athletes claim 13 podium finishes and six other top five finishes at regional events in Ontario and Quebec, and three podiums at provincial events. Smith’s team finished the year with four top ten finishes at nationals, and one of her athletes captured a bronze medal at the Ontario Winter Games. At the U16 level Cassandra’s athletes are ranked first and second in Ontario, and she will see one of her athletes represent Canada at the 2019 Universiade. Smith has been successful in creating a remarkable snowboard program in the Ottawa area despite there being no permanent snowboard cross racing track at any of the local mountains.
Female Team of the Year: Carleton Ravens Women’s Basketball
The Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team made history with its first national championship in 2018, claiming the U SPORTS banner to cap an undefeated season. The team won 23 straight regular season games, captured the OUA conference championship for the second straight season, and entered the national championship as the top-ranked team in the nation. A close win in the semifinal was followed by a dominant performance in the national final. Following the historic win, the Ravens players ensured that their story was told – sparking an important dialogue about the media coverage devoted to women’s sport.
Male Team of the Year: Canada Top Flight Academy Senior Men
In its first two years of operation, the Top Flight Academy senior men’s team has won back-to-back national championships. The team defended its National Preparatory Association title in the spring of 2018 and is currently enjoying another successful season. With a league record of 4-0 and an overall mark of 17-2 heading into 2019, the team is the number one ranked high school team in Canada. Some of Canada’s top high school basketball players are members of Top Flight, and are developing their skills among and against the nation’s elite.
Spirit of Sport Award: Sindy Hooper
Hooper competed at the 2018 Ironman World Championships, nearly six years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After undergoing surgery which removed half of her pancreas half of her stomach, her gallbladder and duodenum, chemotherapy and radiation followed. None of that kept Hooper from returning to triathlons and her unbelievable strength and determination is now an inspiration to others.
Eight months after her surgery Hooper ran the Ironman Canada and raised over $50,000 for cancer research. Now, in addition to her training, Hooper is sharing her story with a desire to give back and inspire others to become more physically active. She has formed three running teams which have raised close to $200,000 for oncolytic virus research at The Ottawa Hospital, and acts as a coach and motivational speaker. Hooper’s motto is make every moment count, a message that resonates among all athletes and can motivate others to take up their own journey in sport.
Special Recognition Award – Harriet Cherry
Harriet Cherry is receiving a Special Recognition Award for her long dedication to the sport of equestrian. At 87 years old, she is the face of competitions in the Ottawa area and a highly respected official who is also in demand at international competitions. One of Canada’s first Federation Equestre Internationale stewards, Harriet is known for her fairness, knowledge of the rules and fabulous sense of humour. In addition to her stewarding duties, Harriet has also held other officials’ statuses with Equestrian Canada; she was a Recorded Hunter, Jumper, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hack Judge. Harriet has a love for stewarding and horses, and her commitment to the equestrian community has made an impact generations of athletes.
Special Recognition Award – 80-Plus Hockey Hall of Fame
The 80-and-over Hockey Hall of Fame, which was inaugurated in Ottawa in 2011 by the Ottawa Elder Skatesmen. The members of the senior adult hockey league formed the Hall to recognize and celebrate local hockey players who had attained the age of 80 and were still actively engaged in their beloved sport of recreational hockey. The growth, and the interest in, the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame continues to expand from coast to coast – accentuated by this year’s induction ceremonies in both Ottawa-Gatineau and in Saskatoon, Sask. In 2019 an induction ceremony in Vancouver is planned, while American inductees have also been honoured as part of an annual tournament. To date there have been over 250 senior hockey players inducted into the Hall of Fame. Induction is not based on a record of exceptional hockey proficiency or achievement; rather, it is based on the inspiring reality that a nominee is actively participating in the sport of hockey at age 80 or over. Every inductee is a messenger for the importance of staying actively involved in a sport in their vintage years, and subscribes to the Hall’s motto, “Passing the puck – À vous la rondelle.“
ATHLETICS – TIM NEDOW: This member of the Ottawa Lions Track-and-Field Club is ranked #14 in the world in the men’s shot put. In 2018, Tim won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games held in Australia and a silver medal at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships held in Toronto. This 6-time Canadian champion and 2016 Olympian broke the magical 21-metre mark outdoors in 2018, putting him in elite company in his event.
BADMINTON – JENNY LEI: Jenny was Ottawa’s highest-ranked badminton player out of all singles divisions, slotting in at #11 in Canada for U19 girls. The RA Centre player represented the Ottawa District at the Ontario Winter Games in March 2018, winning a silver medal. Jenny competed in numerous provincial and national events and was recognized as the Ottawa District’s Outstanding Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season.
BASEBALL – CADEN GRIFFIN: A past Little League World Series player for the East Nepean Eagles, Caden has gone on to earn many big-time opportunities across North America, including time with the Canadian junior national team and Ontario Blue Jays 16U team. Caden helped the Canadian entry for the Futures Games in Indianapolis to its first-ever undefeated record. Selected by Jays scouts to play for Ontario at the T12 tournament at Rogers Centre, he also won 2 away tournaments (in Houston and Baton Rouge) and went 4-0 for the Blue Jays. Caden appeared in prospect events such as the Oklahoma Sun Belt Classic and the T12 (Robbie Alomar) tournament, and has earned a 2020 scholarship to the University of Missouri.
BASKETBALL – MERISSAH RUSSELL: Merissah flexed her muscles on basketball courts in Ottawa and around the globe in 2018. The 16-year-old was the youngest player on Team Canada for the Commonwealth Games, where her team finished 4th in Australia. The Capital Courts forward also represented Canada in Latvia and then led Canada with 11.8 points-per-game at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Belarus. She will attend the University of Louisville come 2020.
BIATHLON – ZACHARY CONNELLY: A member of the U20 national team, Zachary was a double-bronze medalist in pursuit and sprint in the boys’ age 15-16 division at 2018 Canadian Championships. This Chelsea Nordiq club athlete also won the youth men’s division at the North American Biathlon Cup event in Jericho, VT. The Louis-Riel high school student is currently in Slovakia to represent Canada at the Youth World Championships.
BOBSLEIGH – SEYI SMITH: London 2012 men’s 4×100-metre relay runner Seyi Smith made his second Olympic appearance in 2018, this time at the Winter Games –
following in the footsteps of past Ottawa coach/mentor Glenroy Gilbert. The bobsled brakeman pushed Canada to the best start times in all 4 heats of the 4-man competition in PyeongChang, though had to settle for a 6th-place finish by the time their sled got to the bottom. Seyi’s crew was 4th overall on the 2017-2018 World Cup circuit.
BOWLING – MATTHEW LEONARD: During an important masters tournament at the Orleans Bowling Centre in April, Matthew Leonard bowled a perfect game – the centre’s first perfect score in nearly 20 years. Matthew’s year-end average was 263, which placed him in the top-3 amongst Ontario 5-pin bowlers. His standing qualified him for nationals for the third year in a row, where he helped his team to a Canadian championship.
BOXING – MARIJA CURRAN: The reigning Canadian women’s boxing champion in the 81-kilogram division, Marija Curran had her first go at a world championship in 2018. The full-time federal government employee was 1 of just 6 Canadian women to make the grade for the worlds thanks to strong international performances. Marija lost her first bout at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in India to the fighter who won the world title.
BROOMBALL – AMANDA SMITH: A past player in Southern Ontario, Amanda has made a defining contribution to the Eastern Rebels since moving to the Ottawa area in 2016. A strong defensive player who can see the play developing, Amanda was named National tournament MVP while helping the Rebels to the Canadian crown – one of many titles her team captured, including regional, provincial, national and Canada Cup victories, plus a world bronze medal.
CANOE/KAYAK (SPRINT) – MADELINE SCHMIDT: Maddy had a great year both domestically and on the international stage in 2018. At the Canadian Championships, this Rideau Canoe Club product won gold medals in the senior women’s K-4 500 metres and the open women’s K-4 200 m. She also won 6 other silver medals and placed 3rd in one more boat. At the World Championships in Portugal, she came 9th in the women’s K-4 500 m. At the U23 worlds in Bulgaria, Maddy was 14th in the K-1 500 m. Wearing the maple leaf once more back on home water, she won a pair of gold medals (K-1 & K-4 500 m) at the Pan Am Championships at her current training base in Dartmouth, N.S.
CANOE/KAYAK (WHITEWATER) – CAM SMEDLEY: Cam maintained his place atop the Canadian canoe slalom scene in 2018. He won national gold in the C-1 men’s event as well as in the C-2 mixed event with his sister Alison. This Rio 2016 Olympian returned to Brazil this year for the World Championships, and made it through to the semi-final round, placing 21st overall in the C-1 men’s event. That was Canada’s best result across all singles slalom events. The Ottawa River Runners athlete also helped Canada to an 11th-place finish in the men’s team competition.
CRICKET – NABIULLAH NAWABI: Since arriving on the Ottawa cricket scene in 2006, this Afghanistan native has made a major impact in the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council league. The Capital United Cricket Club player was #2 in the association taking 57 wickets in 2018, he scored 732 runs, and also recorded 15 fielding catches, 4 catches, 2 stumpings as wicketkeeper, and participated in 3 runouts – his abilities with the bat, ball and in the field making him the archetype of a cricket all-rounder.
CURLING – RACHEL HOMAN: The skip of the powerhouse Ottawa Curling Club rink was once again one of the best in the world in 2018. Though proud to become Olympians for the first time, Team Homan was disappointed to wind up on the wrong side of a number of tight matches in PyeongChang – their 5 losses coming by just 7 points combined – to finish 4-5 and out of the medals. But Rachel’s rink rebounded in a big way to win the several World Cup and Grand Slam of Curling events (they now hold the career record for GSOC titles), and finished 2018 as the World Curling Tour’s #1-ranked women’s team.
CYCLING – MIKE WOODS: Mike established his place as one of the best Canadian cyclists of all-time with his exceptional 2018 season. The climbing specialist became the first Canadian to win a medal (bronze) in the elite men’s road race at the World Championships since 1984 – 2 years before he was born. Racing for the EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale World Tour team, this former Ottawa Lions runner earned several more podiums against world-class fields – 2nd Liège-Baston-Liège (Belgium one-day classic race), 2nd Stage 4 Giro d’Italia, and 1st Stage 17 Vuelta a España – his first victory at a Grand Tour event.
DIVING – HENRY McKAY: First honoured as Ottawa’s top diver at age 11, Henry had a breakout year on the world stage in 2018. This Nepean-Ottawa Diving Club athlete won Canada’s first World Junior Championships gold medal since Alexandre Despatie in 2002 when he and partner Victor Povzner bested the always-dominant Chinese – and the rest of the world – in the men’s 3-metre synchro competition in Ukraine. Henry also placed 4th individually in the men’s 1 m event at the junior worlds. The 18-year-old also enjoyed success at the senior level, earning national medals as well as his first-career FINA Grand Prix podium – a silver in the 3m synchro at a November event in Australia.
EQUESTRIAN – CAROLINE LANTHIER: Caroline’s 2018 accomplishments include earning the high point award in the adult amateur division at two Equestrian Canada gold-level competitions in Ottawa, receiving the Ottawa Area Dressage Group’s first-level adult amateur champion and merit awards, while her 6-year-old horse was chosen as the area’s top young horse. Caroline also excelled abroad, finishing as reserve champion in the first-level division for 17- to 21-year-olds at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival in New York state and recording the highest dressage test score of all 250 riders competing at the Festival.
FENCING – KELLEIGH RYAN: This Ottawa native has moved into the top-25 of the women’s foil world fencing rankings thanks to consistently strong performances on the international stage in 2018. Kelleigh was the top Canadian at the Pan Am Fencing Championships in Cuba, where she fell by a close 15-12 margin in the final against the #3 fencer in the world to win silver. She helped Canada to a 6th-place performance in the women’s foil team event at the World Championships in China, and was 1 of 4 Canadians to qualify for the individual round-of-64, finishing 42nd overall. Also amongst her strong international showings was an October Satellite World Cup win in Denmark. The 32-year-old past Pan Am Games champion is gearing up for a run at the 2020 Olympics.
FIELD HOCKEY – JOSHUA KUEMPEL: 2018 was a year of highs and lows for Joshua. A field hockey player with the Nepean Nighthawks club since he was 10 years old, this defender helped the under-18 Canadian men’s national 5v5 team to 5 victories in 6 matches to win a bronze medal at the Youth Pan American Championships in Mexico. The performance qualified Canada for the Youth Olympic Games. Joshua was selected to the team for the global event as well, but had to miss the Games due to an injury.
FIGURE SKATING – CHRISTIAN REEKIE: This product of the Gloucester Skating Club earned a 7th-place finish in the junior pairs event at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Vancouver. The performance put Christian within striking distance of the national podium despite having only joined forces with his new partner 7 months earlier. He and Isabella Mancini of the Burlington Skating Centre trained together under coach Bryce Davison of the Hamilton Skating Club.
FOOTBALL – NEVILLE GALLIMORE: This 6’2”, 330-lb. defensive lineman made his mark for one of the best teams in NCAA football in 2018. In his junior season with the University of Oklahoma Sooners, Neville played in all 12 of his team’s regular season games and finished amongst the Big 12 conference’s statistical leaders for tackles, sacks and forced fumbles. The Sooners earned a record of 11-1 and went on to win the Big 12 championship over Texas and qualified for the final 4-team College Football Playoff. Playing in the nationally- televised Orange Bowl, Neville had 2 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles in a 45-34 loss to #1-ranked Alabama. The St. Patrick Catholic High School grad is targeting an NFL career after college.
FOOTBALL (AUSSIE RULES) – JORDAN HARCOMBE: Jordan was the leading goal kicker for the Ottawa Swans during a historic season for the local Aussie Rules football club. The Swans enjoyed an undefeated season en route to victory in the Australian Football League of Ontario grand final title – the first team from outside Toronto to accomplish that feat. Jordan was also selected as the AFL Ontario’s Best and Fairest Canadian by coaches and umpires for 2018.
FOOTBALL (TOUCH) – KATHERINE McISAAC: Katherine is one of the top receivers in the Ottawa Nepean Touch Football League and also amongst the best in the province. She was one of the top scorers in league and tournament play, and is also called upon to be a lockdown defensive player in man- to-man coverage. Katherine was a member of the provincial championship-winning Ottawa Saints women’s touch football team in the 2018 season.
GOLF – ANTONIA HO: This 13-year-old member of the Kanata Lakes Golf Club is a rising talent on the local golf scene. In May, she won the Golf Quebec Pee-Wee Division Championships in Valleyfield, and later prevailed again come August at the Golf Quebec Pee-Wee Provincial Girls Championships in Drummondville. Also an 8th-place finisher at the U13 Golf Ontario Championships, Antonia topped the Golf Quebec 2018 Order of Merit standings.
GYMNASTICS (ARTISTIC) – SAMUEL ZAKUTNEY: Sam had a big year in college, national and international-level gymnastics in 2018. This Penn State University biomedical/ mechanical engineering student earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honours. He was recognized as an All-American for parallel bars (where he was NCAA bronze medallist) and high bar. The Ottawa Gymnastics Centre athlete placed 4th all-around at the Canadian Championships (with a pair of bronze medals on floor and parallel bars) to earn his spot as the youngest member of the senior men’s national team. The 20-year-old helped Canada to a 5th-place team performance at the Pan Am Championships in Peru, and later made his debut at the World Championships, placing 18th with his team in Qatar. The 2020 Olympics hopeful currently has the longest streak of consecutive honours out of all sports on the Ottawa Sports Awards programme, having now won the top local gymnast award for 7 years in a row.
GYMNASTICS (RHYTHMIC) – MELANIE LI: A rhythmic gymnast since age 3, Melanie (Mimi) has worked her way up from level 1B 10 years ago up to the highest provincial level in 2018. This Ottawa Rhythmic Gymnastics Club athlete trained between 15-19 hours per week and was rewarded with many medals in both individual and group competitions. The highlight was sweeping each event en route to the level 6C division gold at the Ontario Championships.
HOCKEY – SASHA CHMELEVSKI: Sasha has been a key part of the Ottawa 67’s since arriving as part of a blockbuster trade featuring current Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny during the 2015-16 season. This San Jose Sharks draft pick averaged nicely over a point-per-game throughout 2018 for the Ontario Hockey League-leading 67’s. A dual U.S./Ukraine citizen, the California native was the second-leading scorer for Team USA en route to a silver medal performance at the World Junior Hockey Championships during the holiday season in British Columbia.
HOCKEY (BALL) – ZACK RHEAUME: Zack was the leading scorer for the Ottawa Godfathers, who went a perfect 18-0 in the Greater Ottawa Ball Hockey Association and were ranked 16th across North America. He helped the Godfathers to the finals of the Burrows Cup in Drummondville and was named an all-star at the Harrisburg Super Bowl Tournament. Zack also led his team to Dek hockey tournament titles in Trois-Rivières, Quebec City and the first-ever event in Ottawa.
HOCKEY (PARA) – ANTON JACOBS-WEBB: Anton grew up playing para hockey in the
Ottawa are and has recently earned a spot on the Canadian national team roster. A past member of the national development program, Anton was one of the newcomers called up to take the place of 6 players who departed after Canada’s overtime loss to USA in the 2018 Paralympics final, including Ottawa’s Ben Delaney. He helped Canada to another runner-up performance at the 2018 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup in December in London, Ont. Now a full-time Team Canada player, Anton has not forgotten his roots as he volunteers at Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario events and mentors many children in the Ottawa community.
JUDO – BEN KENDRICK: Winner of this award for the fourth consecutive year, Ben competed across the globe in 2018 after previously conquering Canada at the youth levels. The recent Louis-Riel high school graduate earned a gold medal in the under-21 men’s 90 kg competition at the Junior European Cup in Bosnia, a silver medal at a Junior European Cup in Czech Republic, and a bronze at a Junior Asian Cup in Hong Kong. Ben also represented Canada at the Judo Junior World Championships in Bahamas. He fell to the eventual champion in his first match. The Canadian senior men’s bronze medallist was also selected by AthletesCAN for funding to help athletes rise onto the Olympic stage in the future.
LACROSSE – SAM FIRTH: Sam was the leading scorer for the Nepean Knights Jr. ‘B’ lacrosse team in 2018 with 50 goals and 62 assists – second-best overall in the league. His 112 points was the second-highest total for a Knights player in the team’s 26-year history. The eastern conference MVP helped Nepean back into the post-season for the first time since 2015, and was picked up by Orangeville for the Jr. ‘A’ playoffs following the Knights’ first-round exit. En route to a runner-up finish, Sam wound up 6th in Jr. ‘A’ playoff scoring with 29 points in 13 games.
LAWN BOWLS – CHERYL McBAIN: This Elmdale Lawn Bowling Club member skipped the Novice Ladies Triples team to an Ontario Championship at the 2018 provincial contest in Sarnia. Cheryl also won the Governor General’s Novice Ladies Singles competition, an interprovincial competition held between bowlers from Ontario and Quebec.
MODERN PENTATHLON – ROBERT BONOMO: This past national medallist for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees swim team has quintupled his sports pursuits and become Canada’s top male athlete in modern pentathlon. In 2018 – not long after taking up the 5-sport, 1-day pursuit following his varsity swim career – Robert joined the national team. He was the top Canadian, 22nd overall, at the Pan American Championships in Peru. He will be a top prospect to return to Lima as 1 of 2 Canadian men’s 2019 Pan Am Games entries. Robert topped the Pan Am swim standings in both the individual event and the relay.
ORIENTEERING – ERIC KEMP: Eric has been orienteering for most of his life with the Orienteering Ottawa club and is now, at age 29, one of strongest orienteers in North
America, especially over technical terrain. At August’s North American and Canadian Championships, Eric earned medals in 3 of the 5 individual races, finishing 4th and 5th in the other two. In addition to racing, Eric contributes to the orienteering community by mapping competition sites and organizing training for fellow competitors.
PARASPORT – JOSH CASSIDY: A day after a 10k race in Atlanta, this Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club athlete won a silver medal in the men’s 1,500-metre para wheelchair race back on his childhood track at the Canadian Championships, finishing just .32 seconds behind multi-world record holder Brent Lakatos. Shortly thereafter in Quebec City, he won a 1,500 m race with the second-fastest time recorded in the world that season. Josh is also a strong marathoner, finishing 6th in Boston and 9th in London, UK.
RINGETTE – KAITLYN YOULDON: This Team Canada player from Ottawa was the National
Ringette League’s co-leading scorer in the 2017-2018 season, hitting 100 points in 22 games. She helped the Gatineau Fusion to a 12-8 regular season, a playoff series victory, and an appearance at the Canadian Ringette Championships. She’s averaging 4.5 points again to kick off 2018-2019 and will likely suit up for Canada again come the 2019 World Championships this November in Burnaby, B.C.
ROWING – LOUISE MUNRO: This Ottawa Rowing Club product made her debut for Canada at the 2018 Under-23 World Rowing Championships this summer in Poland. She and her crew reached the ‘A’ final of the women’s quadruple sculls competition, placing 5th overall. Representing Queen’s University at the 2018 Canadian University Rowing Championship, the mechanical and materials engineering student was dominant in winning the women’s single sculls gold medal, finishing well ahead of her nearest chaser by over 5 seconds.
RUGBY – MAYA MONTIEL: Maya is a second-year communications major at the University of Ottawa and was part of the Gee-Gees women’s rugby team’s Quebec conference championship season and the U Sports national bronze medal win in 2018. Maya was a second-team conference all-star, scoring 6 tries during the regular season for the Gee-Gees, who are undefeated against Quebec opponents since 2014. She also played for the Canadian women’s under-20 team this summer against England and USA, and earned a Quebec league championship playing club rugby for the Ottawa Irish.
RUNNING (CROSS-COUNTRY) – FARAH ABDULKARIM: This product of the Ottawa
Lions Track-and-Field Club now studies at the University of Mississippi and competes for the Ole Miss Rebels in cross-country running and track-and-field. In the fall 2018 cross-country season, he finished 3rd at the NCAA South Regional Meet and won a team title with the Rebels, who also won their first-ever South Eastern Conference Title. Farah then helped Ole Miss to a top-20 team finish at the NCAA Championships.
RUNNING (ROAD RACING) – TOMMY DES BRISAY: Tommy’s had a lock on this award for 5 straight years now as he continues to dominate the local road racing circuit. In 2018, he won the 9 Run Run Half Marathon and the Chelsea Challenge 10 K. Another impressive performance for the Ottawa Lions Track-and-Field Club member was his 7th-place overall finish in the Army Run Half Marathon. This 2017 World Para Athletics Championships competitor was also 4th at the Canadian Track-and-Field Championships in the T20 1,500-metre para ambulatory event, though his road racing results come against runners of all abilities.
SAILING – BRIAN PECKOVER: Brian was part of a large local contingent that sailed in the 2018 Mobility Cup at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. He took home a gold medal for 1st overall out of 35 competitors in the gold fleet at Canada’s international regatta for sailors with disabilities. Alongside the National Capital Able Sail Association, his home Nepean Sailing Club will welcome the 2019 Mobility Cup in September.
SKELETON – MIRELA RAHNEVA: This former Ottawa Lions Track-and-Field Club runner and University of Guelph Gryphons rugby player made her Olympic debut in 2018 in the sport of skeleton. Mimi recorded posted the 3rd-best start times through the 4 heats of the women’s skeleton competition in PyeongChang, though finished 12th overall for a Canadian team that didn’t match up technologically against the podium finishers. Mimi finished the 2017-2018 World Cup circuit ranked 8th overall (despite missing the final pre-Olympics World Cup race to rest a persistent back/hip injury that made it hard for her to dress herself on some mornings). She returned to form in her last race of 2018, placing 5th at the Winterberg World Cup in December.
SKIING (ALPINE) – DUSTIN COOK: The Ottawa Sports Awards 2015 Male Athlete of the Year made his Olympic debut in 2018. Dustin posted his best result against global competition on the biggest stage, placing 9th in the men’s super-G. That was the top result for the Canadian men’s alpine skiing team in PyeongChang. He also finished 32nd in the Olympic downhill and earned a top World Cup result of 15th competing regularly amongst the best skiers on the planet.
SKIING (CROSS-COUNTRY) – PIERRE GRALL-JOHNSON: Pierre capped a solid season with multiple podium performances at the 2018 Cross Country Canada Ski Nationals in Thunder Bay. He finished 3rd overall in the junior men’s category (for athletes born in 1999) and 1st for his age group in the long sprints. Pierre helped Nakkertok Nordic to its unprecedented 9th consecutive aggregate championship. Pierre is now based in Thunder Bay, having joined the National Team Development Centre after completing his studies at Glebe Collegiate Institute.
SKIING (FREESTYLE) – DEVON MARTEL: Devon is a 3-year veteran of the Ontario Mogul Freestyle Ski Team who has travelled throughout Canada and the U.S., competing at senior-level events. In the 2017-18 season, he achieved the top ranking for Ontario in men’s moguls out of 53 athletes. His best event was the Canada Cup Series at Calabogie Peaks Ski Resort, where he finished 7th out of 55 in the final round of competition. Devon has moved to Whistler and is lead coach for the Whistler Blackcomb Freestyle Club, guiding their Elite Park Team this winter.
SOCCER – KAYLA DA COSTA-PACHECO: Kayla enjoyed a Hollywood finish to her university soccer career with the uOttawa Gee- Gees women’s team. The 5th-year defender won just about every prize she could in 2018. She was an Ontario all-star and a first-team All-Canadian, while her underdog Gee-Gees rose to the top and captured their program’s first Canadian university championship since 1996 on their home field.
SOFTBALL – ELISSA SIVEL: This Pembroke native led her Bytown Belles to a bronze medal at the 2018 provincial championships, posting an earned-run-average of just 1.23 at the tournament. Elissa was also named top pitcher at a tournament in Innerkip. She’s long studied the art of pitching a softball, and today is 1 of 2 Master Pitching Instructors with Softball Canada. She’s also recently signed on as pitching coach for the University of Ottawa women’s softball team.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS – SOPHIE LACOURSE-PUDIFIN: Sophie has earned success in many sports and was selected as the Greater Ottawa Special Olympics Ontario organization’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2018. At the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S., Sophie placed 1st overall in Level 4 Rhythmic Gymnastics, which she trains in three times a week. Sophie also trains in dance, participates in CrossFit on a weekly basis, skis routinely and plays summer sports such as soccer and canoe-kayak. She’s been invited to compete for Team Canada at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.
SPEED SKATING (LONG-TRACK) – ISABELLE WEIDEMANN: A member of the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club since age 6, Isabelle has steadily pushed herself higher and higher in the speed skating world to the point where she’s now a strong contender for the podium every time she takes on the the world’s best. She made her Olympic debut in 2018 at age 22, and finished the calendar year as the world’s #1-ranked woman in the 3,000-metre & 5,000 m disciplines. This is the first time Isabelle has won the top speed skater honour from the Ottawa Sports Awards – the same year that she’s collecting the 2018 Kristina Groves Female Athlete of the Year Trophy, which stands as a true testament to the sport’s depth and tradition of success in Ottawa (Groves, Ivanie Blondin and Vincent De Haitre all having won World Cups). A part-time geology student at the University of Calgary while training at the national team’s home oval, Isabelle has no hesitation to volunteer to share her knowledge and lead training sessions when she is back in Ottawa.
SPEED SKATING (SHORT-TRACK) – CONNOR ROGERSON: A speed skater since age 5 with the Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club, Connor is now part of the Calgary Olympic Oval National Training Centre’s short-track speed skating program. He finished the 2017-2018 season as the #3-ranked junior male on the Ontario short-track circuit and has moved into regular national competition as well. Connor has also qualified to represent Ontario at the upcoming 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.
SPORT CLIMBING – CAT CARKNER: Cat is the first-ever award winner in this new
category, added thanks to her performance on the world stage in the newly-added 2020
Olympic sport of sport climbing. Cat was the Ontario champion in the junior girls’ bouldering event at the provincials, she placed 5th at the youth nationals, and was 6th in Pan American competition. But the biggest highlight came when she was selected to represent Canada at the Youth Olympics Games in Buenos Aires. Cat was Canada’s only climber participating at the Games. The 18-year-old placed 18th overall.
SQUASH – IMAN SHAHEEN: Iman continues to show exceptional talent and results in competitive provincial and Canadian squash circles. In 2018, the 13-year-old won an under-15 girls’ Ontario Junior Open title. Her talent recognized, she was selected to be part of the Canadian junior team for the Canada/USA Battle of the Borders team championships. Iman was the bronze medallist at the recent Canadian International Junior Squash Open, surprising many visiting international rising stars. Locally, she is Ottawa’s highest-ranked female squash player and routinely plays and wins against veteran adult male players.
SWIMMING – ERIKA SELTENREICH-HODGSON: Selected as Ottawa’s top swimmer for a fourth consecutive year, Erika had a big year on the national and international stage in 2018. Four years after placing 4th in Scotland, she jumped up onto the Commonwealth Games podium at the 2018 event in Australia. The Nepean-Kanata Barracudas and Greater Ottawa Kingfish product won bronze in the women’s 200-metre individual medley, and also finished 4th in the 400 m IM with a new personal-best time. Racing for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, Erika also completed her career grand slam in 2018, winning her fifth women’s 200 m IM gold medal in five tries at the Canadian university championships. She represented Canada at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, earning a 6th-place finish in the women’s 400 m IM.
SWIMMING (ARTISTIC) – MADDIE BERRY: Maddie was a standout performer with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Artistic Swimming Club in 2018, placing 2nd in the solo, duet and team events at the Canadian university championships. She later competed alongside a slew of Olympic team members at the Canadian Championships. Maddie then went overseas and earned a place on Great Britain’s national team. She’s expected to soon make her debut on the FINA world circuit. Maddie has also twice earned the Gee-Gees’ Spirit Award by encouraging and motivating all around her to improve and persevere.
TABLE TENNIS – ANN SHIAO: Set to represent Ontario at the Canada Winter Games, this member of the Geng Table Tennis Academy enjoyed a standout 2018 season. Competing in the under-18 girls’ singles and team events, Ann claimed a pair of silver medals at the 2018 Ontario Summer Games in London. She was named to the shadow squad for Table Tennis Canada’s world championships team and is a member of Canada’s U18 team.
TAEKWONDO – TÉANA AVERBECK: A member of Phoenix Taekwondo Martial Arts Academy, Téana was a member of the junior national team in 2018. On top of her quarter-final appearance at the World Taekwondo President’s Cup in Las Vegas, the Kyorugi athlete was the provincial & national champion in the junior girls’ 44kg division. She also placed in the top-32 at the 2018 world juniors.
TENNIS – DAN PERGEL: Dan was the top-rated junior male tennis player from Ottawa in 2018. Competing at an Ontario circuit tournaments in the GTA, Dan was a semi- finalist in the under-18 boys’ singles division in one event and finished 5th out of 40 at another. Ranked 27th in Canada in the U18 boys’ singles category, Dan earned a win over an opponent ranked inside the top-5 and was a member of Team Ontario for both the indoor and outdoor junior nationals.
TRAMPOLINE – AIDAN MCCANN: Aidan consistently finished amongst the best in the province competing in the Level 3, 15-and-over division boys’ division during the 2017-2018 season. This Ottawa Gymnastics Centre athlete won a Provincial Cup event, and placed 2nd in his 2 other Cups. He won another silver medal to conclude his campaign at the Ontario Championships.
TRIATHLON – JOANNA BROWN: Though she called it one of her most challenging seasons to date, Joanna remained Canada’s top women’s triathlete this past season. Joanna placed 18th overall in the World Triathlon Series (down from 7th in 2017). Her top WTS result came on home soil at the Montreal stop where she finished 4th. The highlight of the year came early in the season when she won the women’s bronze medal for Canada at the Commonwealth Games.
ULTIMATE – BEN CHEER: Ben captained Ignite, Ottawa’s junior competitive team, for his 3rd consecutive year in 2018. Ignite won a provincial silver medal and a trip to the Canadian Ultimate Championships, where Ben led the team in points. The next week, he competed at the 2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships, winning a silver medal with Canada’s under-20 open team.
VOLLEYBALL – SHAINAH JOSEPH: After concluding her career with the Florida University Gators with her school’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA championship game, Shainah moved on to join the Canadian women’s team full-time come 2018. Ottawa’s lone national volleyball team member was a bronze medallist at the Pan American Cup in the Dominican Republic and finished 18th overall at the World Championships in Japan.
WATER POLO – BOGDAN DJERKOVIC: Bogdan made a huge impact across all levels
of water polo in 2018. This Ottawa Titan was a national silver medallist in Water Polo Canada’s senior league, and an all-star at the 19U level as well. He stood on the Pan American podium with the Canadian junior men’s team in Florida, scoring 5 goals in the bronze medal match. The University of the Pacific Tigers NCAA player is the youngest member of Canada’s senior national team and has attended training camps in Hungary, Spain and Japan.
WEIGHTLIFTING – CATRINA EARNSHAW: Catrina maintained her place as Ontario’s top
junior female weightlifter in 2018. Despite competing with an injured thumb, she was
Ontario’s best at the junior women’s nationals, placing in the top-10 overall. The third-year Carleton University student finished her junior career in style with her third consecutive gold medal at the Ontario Junior Championships.
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY – BEN PERKINS: Just over 10 years after a car accident left him a quadriplegic, Ben has worked his way onto the Canadian wheelchair rugby team. He has received funding from Ontario’s Quest for Gold program since 2013, which has allowed him to train and develop into a national team-calibre player. A national bronze medallist for Ontario in 2018, Ben made his Team Canada debut in Japan and joined them again for a tournament in Czech Republic. His goal is now to be in Tokyo for the 2020 Paralympic Games.
WRESTLING – ERICA WIEBE: After a light 2017 season, the Rio 2016 Olympic champ was back in top form in 2018. Erica repeated as Commonwealth Games champion in dominant fashion, besting her opponent in the gold medal match by technical superiority, 14-3. The Stittsville native won many more international tournaments, including the Kiev Open, the Canada Cup, the Spanish Grand Prix and the Poland Open. She then finished up with a bronze medal in the women’s 76 kg class at the World Championships in Hungary.
ASHBURY COLTS FOOTBALL TEAM – OFSAA Provincial Champions: Alexandre Lefebvre, Brodie Warner, George Marchenko, Ian Scott, Segun Asekun, Carter Harris Fowell, Huzaifah Rana, Owen Seaman, Lukas Cote, Zach Bruketa, Liam Zed, Victor Ovind, Son le, Reinis Ustubs, Matthew Boulet, Adrian Liepmann, Kade Erickson, James Crystal, Vincent Verkammen, Alberto De Laho Hernadez, Jafaar Hussien, Samuel-Olivier Benloulou, Dominic Salas, Daniel Ngor, Xristopher Aliferis, Alex Gingras Desjardins, Brad Hunger, Jordy Auger, Pat Spiteri, Jose Yanes Valdes, Nathan El-Khoury, Lawson Lin, Lambert Pomerleau, William Jones, Tyler Wilson, John Li, Zach Auger, Sasha Dilawri, Jordi Kokkinnakis, Jack Donaldson, Head Coach Jon Landon, Assistants Tom Christie, Andy Moore, Rob Hamm, Zach Macaulay, Alex Patrick & John Biewald.
BYTOWN SENIOR ‘C’ DRAGON BOAT TEAM – Club Crew World Champions Jennifer Birch-Jones, Jeffery Boucher, Pierre Brault, Susan Burns-McIntyre, Margaret Chaput, Chuck Charlton, Maureen Colenutt, Carole Comtois, Cathy Egan, Bob Einarsson, Monica Kerwin, Sheila Kerwin, Edward Keyes, Gwen Lapierre, James Long, Terry Longhorn, MacDonald, Margarita Makosz, Tim Marta, Pat Mayer, Helen McGraw, Merv McIntyre, Maureen Nestor, Carolyn Odecky, Gilles Periard, Leung PK, Gloria Rankin, Jane Roberts Long, Mona Schuller, Larry Shwan, Sharon Squire, Doug Tapley, Elizabeth Tapley & Debby Whately.
CANADA TOPFLIGHT ACADEMY SENIOR MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM – National Preparatory Association Champions Khaleem Sarazin, Ali White, JD Muila, Alston Harris, Atik Gilao, Jevon Westcarth, Ricky Houle, Aiden Warnholtz, Lual Akot, Stephane Okenge, Muon Reath, Ankit Choudhary, Nick Ciccolini, Head Coach Tony House, Assistants Willy Manigat, Alain Cadieux, Trevor Steynor, Trainers Devin Chohan & Christa Blackmore.
CARLETON UNIVERSITY SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING TRIO – Eastern Canada Divisional Champions Elise Bordeleau, Elizabeth Cross & Mackenzie Lafreniere.
CARLETON UNIVERSITY RAVENS MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM – Ontario Champions & National Bronze Medallists Marcus Anderson, Owen Boisvert, Yaslin Joseph, TJ Lall, Munis Tutu, Mitch Jackson, Cam Smythe, Mitch Wood, Stanley Mayambo, Will Spaulding, William Kohler, Troy Reid-Knight, Eddie Ekiyor, Alain Louis, Dontae Mitchell, Eman Owootah, Biniam Ghebrekidan, Head Coach Dave Smart, Assistants Aaron Blakely, Dean Petridis, Jean-Emmanuel Jean-Marie, Osvaldo Jeanty, Rob Smart & Willy Manigat.
CARLETON UNIVERSITY RAVENS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM – Ontario & Canadian Champions Jenjen Abella, Stephanie Carr, Alexandra Trivieri, Jaclyn Ronson, Alyssa Cerino, Madison Reid, Emma Kiesekamp, Catherine Traer, Brianne Hamilton, Nicole Gilmore, Cynthia Dupont, Karyne Jolicoeur, Jacey Aikens, Elizabeth Leblanc, Heather Lindsay, Head Coach Taffe Charles, Assistants Dave Malowski, Sarah Kennedy, Eric Parthenais, Anthony Carter & Lindsay Parent.
CARLETON UNIVERSITY RAVENS WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TEAM – Ontario & Canadian University National Champions Zoë Williams, Emma Holmes, Emily Jones, Maggie McClure, Alyssa Stowe, Laura Inkila & Adrienne Hynes.
CUMBERLAND UNITED COBRAS MASTERS WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM – Ontario Cup Champions & National Bronze Medallists Sarah Abrahams, Sophie Anderson, Katie Chinkiwski, Kyla Clark, Christiane Fox, Laura Frose, Jen Groleau, Jill Johnson, Jacinta Kennedy, Christine Labelle, Samantha Sauve, Stacey Edgar, Aisha Stinson, Alyssa Tomkins, Noel Trepanier, Danielle Rochon, Head Coach Ted Juett, Assistant Andy Nera & Manager Danielle Vella.
CUMBERLAND UNITED COBRAS UNDER-15 GIRLS’ SOCCER TEAM – Ontario Cup Champions Alexis Virgo, Amelia Thompson, Emma Ladouceur, Flavie Dube, Jessica Boyle, Kylen Grant, Riley Bonadie, Sheridan Michel, Florence Belzile, Tia Lovegrove, Ella Riley, Elizabeth Martin, Hannah McCallum, Anna Demarbre, Raisha Emile, Chloe Headland, Janelle Boileau, Head Coach Patrick Boyle, Assistants Pavel Cancura, Duane Bonadie, Jessie Burgins &Manager Krista Ladouceur.
EAST NEPEAN EAGLES JUNIOR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM – Ontario Champions Matthew Fahey, Luke O’Connor, Tyson Normand, Aiden Duncan, Eric Tao, Hayden Wellstead, Calder Kuseler, Owen MacDonald, Brayden Goldberg, Nick Hum, Phil Pietrobon, Liam Finn, Dom Vizzari, Head Coach/Manager Steve Goldberg, Assistants Scott Kennedy & William Hum.
EASTERN REBELS ELITE LADIES BROOMBALL TEAM – Regional, Provincial, National Elite & Canada Cup Champions, World Bronze Medallists Chanel Marion, Jaime Burnett, Gracin MacMillan, Lisa Labelle, Jasmine Leclerc, Veronique Cayer, Trisha Lacombe, Dara Ferguson, Cynthia Wever, Kyla Burwash, Justine Hughes, Stephanie Legault, Jenna James, Emjay Vandelaar, Michelle De Repentigny, Amanda Smith, Caroline DeRepentigny, Briget O’Reilly, Celine DeRepengtigny, Coaches Gerry Wever, Kevin Kealey & Manager Theresa Wever.
ELMDALE LAWN BOWLING CLUB WOMEN’S NOVICE TRIPLES TEAM – Ontario Novice Triples Champions Dawn Voisey, Cheryl McBain & Tina Dutta.
GLEBE CI GRYPHONS CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING TEAM – OFSAA Provincial Champions: Overall Girls Team: Cara MacDonald, Rebecca Black, Zoe Gardiner, Freya Hurst, Grace Fader, Maddie Nowlan, Annika Steele, Ivy Bialowas, Anna-Sierra Heffernan-Wilker, Teagan Stewart, Emma Jarvis, Ella Wood, Rosalyn Barrett, Teagan Shapansky, Sarah Moore, Sarah Macintosh, Jasmine Lyons, Mackenzie Kitchen & Coach Kirk Dillabaugh. Junior Boys’ Team: Sebastien Cino, Ben Rundle, Owen Pensom, Keito Newman, Elliot Cole, Robin Mason & Coach Kirk Dillabaugh. Junior Girls’ Team: Teagan Stewart, Anna-Sierra Hefferman-Wilker, Emma Jarvis, Ella Wood, Zoe Gardiner, Ivy Bialowas & Coach Kirk Dillabaugh.
GLEBE CI GRYPHONS JUNIOR WOMEN’S DOUBLES ROWING CREW – Canadian Secondary School Champions Rachel Weber & Mackenzie Mihorean.
GLOUCESTER-CUMBERLAND DEVILS UNDER-14 ‘AA’ RINGETTE TEAM – Ontario Champions Julia Wilson, Taylor Forrest, Maya Howard, Kyra Sullivan, Katie Bray, Maya Velazquez, Julia Emery, Camille Desmarais, Gracyn Cooper, Tia Flynn-Mantyla, Cyndii Chestnut, Karly Singleton, Kiera Bell, Olivia St-Martin, Katrine Gagnier, Emma Flynn-Mantyla, Head Coach Dave Mainwood, Assistants Celine Leduc, Jessica Mainwood & Ed Forrest.
GLOUCESTER WOLVERINES UNDER-16 BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAM – Ontario Cup Division 1 Champions Rene Konga, Zion Lim, Noah Masena, Isaiah Pemberton, Keith Rowen, Sacha Gauthier, Kemeal Khaddage, Ayden Vineberg, Shandon Anderson, Marcus Hollingsworth, Zach Stone, Alex Atherton & Coach Daren Pemberton.
GO CAPITAL SYNCHRO CLUB AGE 11-12 DUET – Ontario Champions Nanxi Jiang, Carlota Cabedo & Coach Brooke Whitney.
GO CAPITAL SYNCHRO CLUB AGE 13-15 TEAM Ontario Champions Carolyn Busnarda, Julie Clay, Lara Joslin-Lee,Frederique Desjardins, Melissa Pilon, Catherine Prystupa-Maule, Evelyn Riendeau & Coach Marie Albert.
LOUIS-RIEL REBELLES BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM – OFSAA ‘A’ Provincial Champions Francis Bessette, Antoine Ducharme, Oliver Ducharme, Vincent Ducharme, Nycholas Gagné, Adrian Gaspar, Bebelo-Noah Masena, Jacob Matheson, Tristan Siguoin, Zachary Stone, Coaches François St-Denis & Alexandre McLellan.
MAVERICK VOLLEYBALL CLUB 16-AND- UNDER LONGHORNS BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM – Ontario Division 1, Tier 1 Champions Ahmad Abdelaziz, Sebastien Beauchesne, Francis Bessette, Kylar Code, William Deschamps, Dillan DiTomaso, Olivier Ducharme, Jacob Ferland, Tristan Godmaire, Maxime Gratton, Head Coach Kerry Maclean, Assistants Nick Krawchuk & Joel Bergeron.
NEPEAN KNIGHTS INTERMEDIATE WOMEN’S BOX LACROSSE TEAM – Ontario Intermediate ‘A’ Champions Grace Armstrong, Ariana Bowditch, Haley Bowditch, Paige Dalley, Brigette Deering, Hunter Gibbons, Sofie Green, Madison Hatfield, Emilee Hendrycks, Jennica Klassen, Emma Lepine, Tara Lepine, Cindy Le, Kayle Osborne, Jessica Peters, Brianna Rino, Madeleine Snook, Ashantae Spalding, Head Coach Chris Armstrong, Assistants Clayton Lepine, Jeff Green, Trainer Mark Bowditch & Manager Laila Gibbons.
NEPEAN KNIGHTS MIDGET BOX LACROSSE TEAM – Ontario ‘A’ & Ontario Summer Games Champions Nick Ford, Issac Bennett, Nick Bafia, Tristan Nicholson, Issac Laflamme, Mickael Roy, James Footit, Saxon Heatley, Isiah Moran-Weekes, Zach Thompson, Payton Tasse, Charlie Hertner, Nolan Downey, Sam Parent, Max Roxburg, Nathan Lassenba, Joey Gasperetti, Will Johnston, Matt Clavet, Owen Tasse, Liam Roxburgh, Will Ross, Coaches Jason Tasse, Pat Laflamme, Wayne Lassenba, Greg Kent, Trainer Tim Bafia & Manager Kathi Moran.
NEPEAN KNIGHTS UNDER-16 BOYS’ FIELD LACROSSE TEAM – Ontario ‘A’ Champions Isaac Laflamme, Will Ross, Nolan Downey, Willem Firth, Tristan Nicholson, Justin Stevenson, Caleb Rampley, Josh Warren, Joel Sweet, Josh Sweet, Charlie Hertner, Parker Kennedy, Theo deKoning, Owen Wills, Isaac Wills, Austin Lamoureux, Coaches Pat Laflamme, Tim Stevenson, Greg Rampley & Colin Ross.
NEPEAN RAVENS UNDER-16 ‘AA’ RINGETTE TEAM – Ontario Champions & National Bronze Medallists Amanda Law, Rileigh Hache, Laiya Evraire, Emma Scott, Christina Caldwell, Grace Maika, Grace Perry, Emma Kelly, Alyssa Le Gard, Anna Steckly, Alyssa Wong, Ella Simpson, Andie Carson, Heather Dunnion, Katrina Tremblay, Michaela Bertram, Manager Colleen Hache, Head Coach Jessica Crouch, Assistants Melissa Crawford, Molly Lewis, Jeff Maika & Trainer Perry Steckly.
NEPEAN SYNCHRO SWIM CLUB – Ontario Champions Age 13-15 DKN Duet: Rowan Cudmore & Clara Thomas.
NEPEAN SYNCHRO SWIM CLUB – Ontario Champions Age 13-15 TIE Team: Charlotte Bouchard, Sonia Dunn, Sarah Lockie, Sally Ralph, Zoë Rütten, Brianna St. Cyr, Evelyn Wille, Coaches Emma English & Isabelle Lemay.
NEPEAN SYNCHRO SWIM CLUB – Ontario Champions Age 16-20 DEC Duet: Caitlyn Brennan, Natasha Strong & Coach Elly Cross.
NEPEAN SYNCHRO SWIM CLUB – Ontario Champions Age 16-20 TJP Team: Emily Armstrong, Amelia Bennet, Caitlyn Brennan, Melissa Gourlay, Mallory Leclair, Olivia Perry, Amanda Reed, Madisyn Smith, Natasha Strong, Coaches Jennifer Tinneberg & Bridget Moore.
ORLEANS RED SOX SENIOR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM – Ontario Champions Keane Burelle, Tristan Haman, Paul McDonald, Yannick Beaudry, Patric Boutet, Aaron Trellert, Jonathan Lacasse, Craig Alexander, Brandon Baragheh, Tristan Gerin, Brendan Sommers, Cody Pittman, Cooper Morgan, Manager Art Weston, Coaches Jean Haman, Christian Lacasse & Lee Trellert.
OTTAWA JR. RIDERS FOOTBALL TEAM – Quebec Junior Football League Champions Vincenzo Trunzo, Justin Butler, Ekima Edjidjimo, Tyler Scott, Even Yourth, Jaegar Prot, Ty Elliott, Kevin Ngarambe, Ryan Martin Chu, Nick Beer, Alex Gauthier, Connor Bland, Bamki Adewalle, Jordon Gorgichuck, Philip Baptiste, Augustine Mande, Vincent Ramos, Temayne Rockburn, Alexander Johnny, Eden Mansour, Jordon Olleik, Jonah Zlatinskzy, Sheldon Maleek Desir, Chris Brosso, Jahdel Ferron, Jabez Willy Diakiesse, Austin Mackay, Alex Hatina, Steven Rugenara, Darryl Jean Baptiste, Akash Bakshi, Dovonan McLean, Alex Lamarche, Geoffrey Bien-Aimie, Jason Lachance, Josef Pisani, Nick Verzeroli, Richard Saunders, Patrick Jelanie Briggs, Paul Lukusa, Eric Bento, Patrick Kearney, Trysson Miner-McNeil, Liam Pacquette, Tavon Hibbert, Cody Corbin, Connor Picco, C.J. Wallace, Jean Calvin Irankunda & Head Coach A.J. Palladino.
OTTAWA LIONS TRACK & FIELD CLUB – Ontario Overall Senior Club Champions & Cross-Country National Medallists Youth Girls’ Cross-Country Running Team – National Bronze Medallists: Rosalyn Barrett, Skye Pellerin, Cara MacDonald, Zoe Gardiner, Olivia MacAskill, Isabelle Honnegar, Pippa Norman, Elana Tyman, Coaches Kirk Dillabaugh, Lorraine McKenzie, Zach Quevillon & Sarya Ross. Masters 50 Cross-Country Running Team – National Silver Medallists: Liz Maguire, Marc Molgat, Rob Muir, Dave Kary & Coach Ray Elrick.
OTTAWA PHOENIX OPEN ULTIMATE TEAM- Canadian Champions Dan Benvenuti, David Colic, Patrick Keenan, Colin Green, Luke Phelan, Paul Renaud, Léon Forest-Nault, Geoff Bevan, Russ Nicolls, Nick Boucher, Alexandre Bernard, Bryce Ring, Jeremy Hill, Carson Turner, Matt O’Brien, Jonathan Hallett, Paul Mensah, Mathew Berg, Frederic Caron, Khalid Al-Zahrani, Kyle Cantal, Karl Loiseau, Adam O’Donnell, Tyler Sadler, Aidan Hayter, Scott Graham & Colin Froats.
OTTAWA ROWING CLUB – Royal Canadian Henley Champions Sr. Men’s Lightweight Dash (Alex Kunkel), Sr.
Women’s LW Four & Sr. W. LW Eight. Royal Canadian Henley Masters Champions Women’s AA-C 8+, Women’s AA-C 2-, Women’s AA-B 2x, Mixed AA-B 2x & Women’s AA-A 1x. Ontario Champions Sr. M. LW 4x, Sr. W. 4x, U17 W. 4x+, U23 W.2x, Sr. M. 4-, U19 W. 4+ & U17 Single.
OTTAWA SAINTS WOMEN’S TOUCH FOOTBALL TEAM – Provincial Champions Kim Mathieu, Danielle Mathieu, Judith Dulong, Ariane Lachance-Scantland, Lianne Neufeld, Lacey Thompson, Katherine McIsaac, Shawna Dawson, Gabrielle Mantha, Sydney Simard, Lauren Wong, Erika Schreiner, Janelle Blake & Rebecca Duhard.
OTTAWA SWANS AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF ONTARIO MEN’S TEAM – Ontario Men’s Premiership Champions Alexandre Huard, Benjamin Hardie, Brett Whyborn, Cameron Brown, Cameron Ralph, Corey Crawford, David Williams, Dean Janson, Derek Picketts, Douglas Dorward, George Wharmby, Gregory Bridges, Gregory Layman, Gregory Simpson, Ian Baldwin, Jacob Plunkett-Latimer, James Clock, James Mcmaster, John O’Connor, Jonathon Burnett, Jordan Harcombe, Joshua La Porta, Keyvan Abedi, Matthew Powell, Michael Beall, Michael Masek, Michael Wilkinson, Morgan Whyte, Nathan Strom, Patrick Eefting, Riley Turpin, Robert Harbic, Ronan Shaughnessy, Scott Heeney & Yaser Abou Elenein.
OTTAWA SOUTH UNITED FORCE UNDER-15 GIRLS’ SOCCER TEAM – OPDL League & Charity Shield Champions Evelyn Arsenault, Carolyne Beaudoin, Dominique Clarke, Nibonile Dlamini, Tessa Frangione, Marissa Gravel, Alysse Hanisch, Georgia Hogan, Juliann Lacasse, Imogen Lawford-Wickham, Tristan McFarlane, Claire Rea, Taylor Saunders, Nyah Slusarenko, Maya Smith, Mattson Strickler, Head Coach Abe Osman, Technical Director Paul Harris & Goalkeeper Coach Dave Bellemare.
OTTAWA VALLEY BOYS’ BOWLING TEAM – Ontario Winter Games Champions Blake Dopson, Spencer Murray, Myles Wallace, Austin Laprade, Trevor Beaulieu & Coach Barry MacAdam.
OTTAWA VALLEY SENIOR OPEN MIXED 5-PIN BOWLING TEAM – Ontario Champions Carole Lemire, Michel Menard, Joanne Nadeau, Bernie Menard, Victor Collins, Cindy Toll & Coach Michel Carrier.
RACHEL HOMAN OTTAWA CURLING CLUB RINK – Finished 2018 as World Curling Tour’s #1-ranked Women’s Team, Won Curling World Cup event, 3 Grand Slam of Curling Events in 2018 (Champions Cup, Tour Challenge, Boost National), Continental Cup with Team North America & Canada’s 2018 Winter Olympian Representatives Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle, Coaches Adam Kingsbury & Marcel Rocque.
RIDEAU CANOE CLUB – Overall Canadian Club Champions (with 21 gold, 24 silver & 22 bronze medals)
Champion Burgees in U17 Men, U17 Women, Junior Women, Senior Men & Masters Combined Divisions, Canadian Champions:
Senior Men C-15 1,000 Metres: Alessandro Busa, Adam Richard, Conor O’Neill, Alexander Hoferek, Benoit Lacroix, Clayton Sibthorpe, Isaac Finkelstein, Drew Hodges, Ben Tardioli, Stephen Frodsham, Jacob Price, Mark Singer, Lochlen Farquharson, Andreas Dittmer & Captain Reid Farquharson. U17 Men’s C-4 1000M: Alec Sibthorpe, Logan Gauthier, Kieran Graham & Matthew O’Neill. U17 Women C-15 500M: Stephanie Belliveau, Natasha Stewart, Ella Hodgson-Pageau, Felicia Dionne, Chloe Martin, Emma Rainboth, Meredith Munn, Clara Gibbon, Jusrina Bawa, Olivia Pucci, Hayley Conrad, Toshka Besharah, Sarah Mersereau, Maren Bradley & Captain Reid Farquharson. U19 Men’s K-2 200M: Bryan Davey & Alexander Hoferek. Open Women’s K-4 200M: Madeline Schmidt, Toshka Besharah, Natalie Davison & Olivia Pucci. Open Men’s IC-4 200M: Stephen Frodsham, Drew Hodges, Ben Tardioli & Mark Singer. U19 Women’s C-2 200M: Courtney Spratt & Michaela Ermanovics. Jr. Women’s K-4 500M: Katie Hoferek, Diana Carranco, Jennifer Cross & Maren Bradley. Jr. Women’s K-2 200M: Lexy Vincent & Melissa Black. Master Women’s C-1 500M: Isabelle Fradette. Sr. Women’s K-4 500M: Lexy Vincent, Natalie Davison, Madeline Schmidt & August Sibthorpe. U17 Women’s K-4 500M: Olivia Pucci, Maren Bradley, Hayley Conrad & Toshka Besharah. Sr. Men’s C-2 200M: Ben Tardioli & Stephen Frodsham. Jr. Women’s C-2 1000M: Rowan Hardy-
Kavanagh & Courtney Spratt. U17 Mixed C-15 200M: Hayley Conrad, Emma Rainboth, Chloe Martin, Ella Hodgson-Pageau, Olivia Pucci, Cian Brushett, Maren Bradley, Toshka Besharah, Logan Gauthier, Alessandro Busa, Matthew O’neill, Jacob Price, Alec Sibthorpe, Kieran Graham, EOD FO Heather McIntosh & Captain Reid Farquharson. U16 Women’s K-1 200M: Toshka Besharah. Sr. Men’s C-1 200M: Stephen Frodsham. Para VI Women’s K-1 200M: Amelie Beauchamp-Grandmaitre. Para ID Open Men’s K-2: Samuel Galazka & Chloe Martin. Jr. Men’s K-4 1000M: Alexander Hoferek, Lochlen Farquharson, Joseph Spratt & Benoit Lacroix. Sr. Women’s C-2 500M: Rowan Hardy-Kavanagh & Courtney Spratt.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA ARTISTIC SWIMMING GARNET TEAM – Eastern Canada Divisionals Champions Marie Albert, Madeleine Berry, Carlie Cholette, Emma English, Josée Goguen, Gillian King, Isabelle MacLean, Lindsay Pinch, Lauren Stokes & Coach Katie Simanzik.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA ARTISTIC SWIMMING NOVICE TEAM – Eastern Canada Divisionals & National Champions Nilani Ananthamoorthy, Talia Cameron, Meighan Kerr, Jacqueline Moizer, Sarah Zhang, Xin Xu, Coaches Marie-Ève Dorval & Brenna Winter.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA MEN’S FOIL FENCING TEAM – Ontario Champions Patrick Fournier, Brad Bermingham, Josh Briar, Ethan Wong, Evan McDonnell, Matt Blundell, Muhammad Tijani & Coach Jay Logan.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA MEN’S GOLF TEAM – Ontario Champions Anthony Brodeur, Jared Coyle, Gabriel Gingras, Michael Reaume, Nicholas Workun, Coaches Paul Carson & Jeff Gunn.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA GEE-GEES WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM – Quebec Conference Champions & National Bronze Medallists Samantha Alli, Ashley Amson, Emily Babcock, Danielle Belanger, Justine Blatt-Janmaat, Tanika Bonneville, Tylo Borsboom, Tamara Butera, Kenzie Cecchetto, Anabelle Clements, Haleigh Cox, Anna Dodge, Taylor Donato, Sophie Duguay, Daniella Ellis, Claire Gallagher, Katie Geddes, Anastasia Gerzhevich, Emily Gray, Michaela Haley, Talia Hennessy, Paulina Karwowski, Natasha Kerlovich, Amy Marchand-Dion, Erin McCallan, Rachel McCallan, Lauren Minns, Maya Montiel, Ellen Murphy, Taylor Newman, Alexandra Ondo, Dani Pahl, Olena Podolna, Morgan Rogers, Mylene Sigouin-Lebel, Meredith Sirrs, Katie Smith, Emilie Stevens, Georgia Stewart, Lydia Sullivan, Emma Wade, Sarah White, Tori Wyman, Coaches Jen Boyd, Andrew Armstrong, Asya Bartley & Bianca Paiement.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA GEE-GEES WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM – Ontario & National Champions Gabrielle Emilien, Margot Shore, Kayla Da Costa-Pacheco, Miranda Smith, Katherine Bearne, Delaney Rickert-Hall, Lauren Da Luz, Hailey Walsh, Mikayla Morton, Sophie Curtis, Théa Abdul Nour, Katerine Delev, Kaitlyn Ball, Cooper Lee, Julia Rosenthal, Charlotte Gagnon-Lewis, Michelle Salhany, Amélie Lachance-Soulard, Emma Lefebvre, Julia Tardioli, Bryanna Pidgeon, Hillary Damman, Yasmina Enneddam, Perla Khoury, Julie-Anne Lamarche, Sydney Provost, Coaches Steve Johnson, Stuart Barbour, Jean Berchan, Mark Fowler & David Bellemare.