Sports community celebrates the Class of ’22
By Craig Westcott/March 17, 2023
There were so many nominees, and so many guests backing them at the annual Conception Bay South Athletic Awards and Hall of Fame Induction last week, that organizers had to remove the tables from the grand room at the Manuels River Centre to accommodate everyone.
Most of the nominees were in the junior male and female Athlete of the Year category. All told, there were 44 nominees in seven categories and four lifelong achievers inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Councillor-at-large Rex Hillier, who happens to be the town’s very first Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award winner from when the awards were first started in 1974, filled in as emcee after the scheduled host, Carla Hodder of the Town’s recreation department came down with the flu.
“This year is a special edition of the Sports Awards, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Town’s incorporation,” said Hillier. “Once the nine original communities joined together in 1973, they hosted the first Award Ceremony in 1974, celebrating the first of what would be many notable athletes from Conception Bay South.”
Meanwhile, it wasn’t Hillier who noted that he was the Town’s first Male Athlete of the Year, but Mayor Darrin Bent who pointed it out, setting up the councillor-at-large for some good-natured ribbing about his age.
“The female Athlete of the Year that year was Valerie Haines, and usually when we get an event like this, they dust the two of us off at the same time and stand us up here,” said Hillier.
Both Hillier and Haines, in addition to being exceptional athletes in a variety of sports in CBS, were also outstanding Canada Games athletes.
“I miss her tonight,” Hillier admitted. “I talked to her two weeks ago – she’s on vacation… But she did say to pass along her congratulations to all the athletes and ‘Please pass along my thanks to all the builders who are recognized here this evening.’ So, thank you very much on Val’s behalf.”
Hillier alo thanked the event’s sponsors, The Shoreline News, Parsons and Sons Transportation Limited, and Local CUPE 3034.
Mayor Bent, meanwhile, told the athletes that the work and lessons they learn from sports will carry through to the rest of their lives.
“We believe our town is a better place to call home, a better place to raise a family and a better place to set up a business because of the investments we make in recreation,” said the mayor. “And the contributions that we get from all the volunteers, people who help with the organizing of the sports and the coaches, as well as the athletes, make us a great place to call home.”
Topsail – Paradise MHA Paul Dinn offered congratulations to everyone who was nominated.
“This room is filled with special guests and there’s not a loser here,” said Dinn. “You’re all winners. The minute you step foot on a field, or on an ice surface, or dive into a pool, whatever you do, as soon as you do that, you’re a winner, because there are so many out there who can’t do it. So, when you leave here tonight, be happy for being nominated and being recognized as one of the best in your area.”
Getting to the winners, the Senior Male Athlete of the Year for 2022 is curler Ben Stringer.
“While this award has only one nominee for 2022, this individuals’ accomplishments are certainly worthy of the title Senior Male Athlete of the Year,” said Hillier. “Ben Stringer has made a name for himself in the sport of curling. Ben’s team won the men’s provincial tankard, moving them to compete at the junior Provincials. After winning both competitions, Ben’s team represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the junior and men’s levels at the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier. They landed a quarter final finish in the Junior event, playing 14 of Canada’s best junior teams. Ben went on to win the Rick Rowsell Classic, and took second at the Bally Haly Cash Spiel. They also competed in the Under 25 NextGen Classic against 10 Canadian teams, where the team captured a semi-final finish.”
Stringer couldn’t attend the ceremony to accept his award, as we was competing at the Tim Hortons Brier in London Ontario.
The Senior Female Athlete of the Year Award went to Hope Bishop Frizzell, who competed at many levels in softball, volleyball, and baseball.
“She has represented our community and province at two National Championships, competing at Canada Volleyball Nationals in Edmonton, and Canada Baseball Nationals,” said Hillier. “In softball, she is a member of 14 teams of different divisions. Overall, she won gold at four separate provincial championships, four regional championships, and silver at two regional championships. She is also recognized by the NCAA as a D1 Division Athlete. Hope has also received numerous individual awards for her accomplishments.”
The other nominees included powerlifter Heather Unsworth, multi-sports athletes Molly Gill and Marcienne Theriault, and soccer standout Zoe Rowe.
The Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award went to kickboxer Anna Snow.
Hillier said Snow made a mark in 2022 in the kickboxing world. “She was chosen to represent Canada at the World Kickboxing Championships in Italy, where she came second in the full contact low kick division,” he said. “Anna finished second at the Irish Islander Kickboxing Tournament, and went undefeated in her three boxing bouts in Newfoundland. In addition to kickboxing, Anna also plays volleyball and ultimate frisbee at Queen Elizabeth Regional High School. “
The other nominees included Ava Colbourne, Rayanna Etheridge, Alleigh Fraser, Fallyn Murphy, Carly Power, Avery Strong, Nyah Smith, Emily George, Adele Martin, Peyton Power, an Peyton Long.
The Junior Male Athlete of the Year Award went to gymnast William Osmond, who took top honours at both the 2022 Dream Big and Snow Bowl competitions. “William took gold on rings and silver on vault in Atlantics in PEI, and competed internationally in Las Vegas, where he placed 1st on floor and 1st on vault competing at level 8,” said Hillier. “He trains 20 hours a week, year-round, and coaches up and coming athletes when he can.”
The other nominees included Noah Healey, Charlie Dawe, Liam Nash, Williams Osmond, Declan Kennedy, Rowan Theriault, Thomas McCarthy, Lucas LeDrew, Nolan Martin, Daniel Martin, Jonathan Flynn, Evan Dooley and Wyatt Bursey.
Krista Tobin, who has the busy task of looking after the CBS Soccer Association’s more than 50 referees, was named Executive of the Year.
“This includes confirming registrations, appropriate training, and scheduling for five different locations for nearly 60 teams,” Hillier noted. “She is also a strong advocate for referee respect, and provides support and advice to officials when needed. Krista has also spent 2022 working on a new strategic plan to guide the club for the next three years and is a strong advocate for women in leadership roles in sport.”
The other nominee was Andrea Canning, who has been a member of the CBS Skating Club since 1982.
“Coach Meghan Power is in her ninth season as coach for the CBS Silhouettes Artistic Swim Team, and leads the recreation program, teams, extra routines and figures,” said Hillier. “She was coach for the competitive 13-15 A Team, as well as the 13-15 figures and 16-20 figures athletes. She consistently sees her athletes place well in competition, including winning silver medals at the Winterfest, Provincial and Atlantic competitions. Meghan was named the 2021-2022 Coach of the Year at the Atlantic Regional Championships, and is a role model for her team, athletes, and other coaches.
The other nominees included soccer and basketball coach Mike Ash, baseball coach Todd Powell, soccer and hockey coach Steve Grandy, and soccer coach Chad Murphy.
The Team of the Year for 2022 is the CBS Kiwanis Minor Baseball Association’s 13UAA team,” said Hillier.
“2022 was a great year for the CBS Kiwanis Minor Baseball Under 13 AA Baseball Team,” said Hillier. “They played in the championship game for every tournament they attended, including the Atlantic Championships, hosted in Paradise. They were the first minor baseball team from Conception Bay South to accomplish this in almost 30 years. In addition to this, the team placed second at the Mike Buist Classic and the 13 and under AA Atlantics, and captured gold at the Gerry Murphy Memorial, the CBN Invitational, the Matt and Morgan Memorial, and the 13 and under Provincials.”
The other nominees included the CBS Raiders Under 11 AA Baseball Team, the Holy Spirit High School Senior A Girls Volleyball Team, the CBS Strikers Boys Under 15 Premier Youth League Tier 1 Team, the CBS Silhouettes 13-15 A Team, and the CBS Strikers Boys Under 13 Premier Youth League Team.
The four lifetime achievers inducted into the CBS Sport Hall of Fame are hockey official and administrator Wayne LeDrew, basketball, softball and hockey standout Mark Duff, multi award winning hockey, fastpitch softball and golf player Russ Parsons, and pioneering hockey goaltender Rene Perrin. The Shoreline will have profiles and interviews with all four of those athletes in next week’s edition.