2015 Award Finalists announced
Twelve finalists have been selected for this year’s Annual Athletic Awards. There are three finalists in each of four categories – Executive, Coach, Female and Male Athlete of the Year.
Here is this year’s slate of finalists. Read on for a brief summary of each finalist. Award winners in each category will be announced at the Sports Hall of Fame & Annual Athletic Awards Ceremony at the Reid Community Centre on Friday evening, January 29.
‘Peter Halliday’ Memorial Award for Executive of the Year
Chris Fowler, Mount Pearl/Paradise Youth Bowling
Christine Young, Summit Synchro
Stephen Pike, Pearlgate Track & Field
Coach of the Year Award
Andrew Murphy, Mount Pearl Soccer
Charles Dyke, Mount Pearl Minor Baseball
Mark Miller, Pearlgate Track & Field Club
Female Athlete of the Year
Julia Kawamoto, Track & Field
Lauren Humby, Rugby
Samantha Marsh, Target Shooting
Male Athlete of the Year
Daniel Kelloway, Track & Field
Matthew Murphy, Rugby
Sam Leawood, Swimming
Meet the finalists...
Executives
Chris Fowler grew up with YBC program and has been volunteering since he graduated the program. Chris spends is at the bowling alley year round coordinating the Youth Bowling Junior Division, as well as program promotions, fundraising and pitching in to coach where needed, including his own Junior Boys Team.
Christine Young pretty well single-handedly pulled the Mount Pearl synchro swim program back from the brink when falling registration numbers threatened the very existence of the 30 year old synchro program. Thanks to her tireless fundraising, promotions and volunteer team building efforts the new Summit Synchro Club is a ‘growing concern’.
Stephen Pike was a driving force for a stronger, more self-sufficient Pearlgate Track & Field Club. As President he pushed for a much needed electronic timing system and officials training, new events like the ‘Mount Pearl Mile’ series; he recruited more Executive expertise to strengthen planning and governance; and raised the profile of the club.
Coaches
Andrew Murphy was player/coach with the Men’s Challenge Cup soccer team, assistant coach to the MUN SeaHawks team, and head coach for NLSA Provincial Boys U16 team. He was recipient of the Phonse Warren Memorial Award, and was named head coach for the Men’s Canada Games team for 2017.
Charles Dyke coached the Mosquito AAA Blazers Minor Baseball team to the first Provincial Championship for Mount Pearl Minor Baseball since 2005. The team went on to a Silver medal finish at the Atlantic Championships.
Mark Miller coaches a core group of 25 athletes who are dominating local, school and NLAA Age Class track & field meets and cross country. Many of these athletes are setting provincial records and winning top spots at Atlantic and National Championships.
Female Athletes
Lauren Humby is a talented ‘outside half’ (quarterback) with the local Dogs Rugby Club. In 2015 she played with the Provincial Rock U20 side, was a Premier’s Athletic Award recipient, and played for the CIS Silver Medal Acadia team. She is prospect for the U20 National Team.
Julia Kawamoto was 2015 Pearlgate Track & Field Senior Female Athlete of the Year, dominating the Female ‘Mile Series’ and the ‘Twilight Series’, and placing ‘second’ in 1500 at the National Hershey Indoor Championships. Julia is ranked 6th in Canada for 1500m Indoors.
Samantha Marsh started the year as flag bearer for Team NL at the Canada Winter Games, where she won ‘Gold’ in Women’s Team and Individual Rifle. She was a Pan Am finalists and has been selected to the Canada Senior Development Shooting Team.
Male Athletes
Daniel Kelloway is a ‘400m’specialist. This year he was awarded Pearlgate Track & Field’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Premier’s Scholarship and Athletic Awards, GNAC Academic and Athletic Honors, and Athletics Canada NEXTGEN Tier 2 athlete status with Olympic potential.
Matthew Murphy plays with Dogs Rugby Club, and the Provincial and Atlantic Rock teams. Co-captain of the Canadian Bronze Medal Rock U19 team, Matthew was also selected to play with U20 Canadian Team.
Sam Leawood swims with Marlins and MUN SeaHawks. A MUN Swim Entrance Scholarship winner, Sam competed at the Pan Am Trials in 2015 and qualified for Olympic Trails. Ten of his 17 medals for ‘free’ and ‘fly’ at AUS and East Coast Championships are ‘Gold’.
About the Awards
The Annual Athletic Awards program was developed in 1995 to recognize and honour outstanding achievements and contributions by athletes and volunteers in Mount Pearl sports. Sport Alliance Chair, Jerry Rice says the program also helps to raise community awareness about the quality of local sports programs, and the positive impact sport is having in our community. In addition to the Annual Awards the overall Alliance Athletic Awards Program includes Youth Awards, Achievement Awards and Recognition Awards. For more information go to http://mpsportalliance.ca/?Content=Programs/Alliance_Awards