Bears celebrate athletic accomplishments
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From golf to football, hockey to basketball, badminton to track and field, Valley Heights Secondary School honoured its athletes at the school's 43rd annual Athletic Awards Night on Wednesday, June 10.
MVP and various special awards were presented by coaches, sport by sport, leading up to the prestigious Athlete of the Year awards. Coaches shared season highlights, photos, anecdotes (generating more than a few laughs), athlete and team achievements.
Two graduating athletes – Tegan Fitch and Rob DeCarolis – summed up their years at Valley Heights, and how sports, and their high school coaches, have impacted their lives.
Playing basketball, Fitch said she and her teammates now understand the value of teamwork, learned what true dedication means, and developed an understanding of sportsmanship. She said Valley Heights teams often steps onto the 'field of sports' as an underdog.
"We are simply smaller than our competitors, we often struggle to find enough players, and we often play with less than stellar equipment or mismatched jerseys," said Fitch. "But none of this matters. We take what some would think are disadvantages and turn them into motivation to win.
"Here at Valley Heights, we never lose. We either win ... or we learn. But we never lose."
DeCarolis, reflecting on an athletic career that started with the football team, said he was "tossed into a brotherhood that played a huge role in shaping my time a Valley. We were a small group, with fifth year seniors on each team demonstrating the dedication, passion and work ethic needed to play at our highest level possible."
Through Grade 10-11, he went from the sidelines to starter.
"As got older we tried to model behaviour that was exemplary to seniors in sports. The next batch of juniors that have listened to us, I feel are more than ready to lead athletics at Valley Heights in the coming season.
"In my time here, I've done the menial tasks assigned to rookies, I've warmed the bench, played games from start to finish and come off the field feeling exhausted. And I've done it all with some of the greatest friends I've had. It is not the sports team itself that has made my time here worthwhile, but the people I put the hours in with at practice, and played with during the games."
VHSS 2014-15 Awards Winners
Cross-country: Megan Wilcox
Cheerleading: Tegan Fitch and Katie Petrella
Golf: Alison Stark
Football: Cary Myny Award – Rob DeCarolis, Justin Cridland; Offensive MVP – Zach Thomas; Defensive MVP – Tyler Roloson, Justin Cridland; Lineman of the Year – Martin McMillan; Rookie of the Year – Jeremy VanWynsberghe; Most Improved – Peter Epp; Mike Nikin Award – Rob DeCarolis, Zach Thomas.
Senior Boys Volleyball: Kendall Doerksen
Junior Boys Volleyball: Riley Fitch
Senior Girls Volleyball: Kristen Fros
Junior Girls Volleyball: Victoria Scheers
Senior Boys Basketball: Adam Simon
Junior Boys Basketball: Jeremy VanWynsberghe
Senior Girls Basketball: Tegan Fitch
Junior Girls Basketball: Julia Knelsen
Badminton: Claire Weaver
Wrestling: Nicole Ketchabaw, Jarred Wilcox
Boys Hockey: Mitchell Schoffro
Girls Hockey: Mara Wilson
Boys Soccer: Jeremy VanWynsberghe
Girls Soccer: Mara Wilson
Rowing: Megan Wilcox
Track and Field: Arabella Alton
Guest speaker: Simcoe grad Anna Ardiel, who rowed on a full-ride scholarship at the University of Louisville.
Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Chris Bevan
Senior Female Athlete of the Year: Brianna Spanics
Junior Male Athlete of the Year: Jeremy VanWynsberghe
Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Claire Weaver