Finalists announced for the Sport BC 52nd Annual Athlete of the Year Awards
Feb 13, 2018
Sport BC, on behalf of the BC Sport community, has proudly announced the outstanding amateur athletes, coaches, and officials, named as finalists for 14 of the 18 award categories to be presented at the upcoming Athlete of the Year Awards. We are proud to be the longest standing sport recognition event in Canada and this year signifies a historic achievement for sport with our 52nd anniversary.
The 52nd Annual Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner is set for Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver Hotel. The ceremonies will recognize BC’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport over the 2017 season. Each finalist was nominated by their Provincial or Multi-Sport Organization, High School, College or University. The Selection Committee, chaired by Bernie Pascall, included 16 highly regarded sportswriters, broadcasters, and amateur sport leaders in British Columbia.
“Each year the Athlete of the Year Awards selection committee reviews all nominations and recognizes the talented and deserving athletes, coaches and officials”, notes President & CEO of Sport BC, Rob Newman. “The nominees for the 2018 Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards represent 23 sports and 29 various cities who are all representative of the strength and depth of sport development in our province over the last 52 years. Each year, we are grateful for the support and contribution of our sport and business partners and volunteers.”
An additional four awards will be presented at the ceremony including the Best of BC, KidSport BC Community Champion, Harry Jerome Comeback and the Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Athlete with a Disability
Tomas Bourassa (Delta) – Wheelchair Tennis
Tristen Chernove (Cranbrook) – Para-Cycling
Liam Stanley (Victoria) – Para-Athletics
College Athlete of the Year
Shun Takano (Vancouver Island University) – Soccer
Rachel Beauchamp (Douglas College) – Basketball
Megan Rosenlund (Vancouver Island University) – Volleyball
Female Coach of the Year
Tara Self (Coquitlam) – Athletics
Tina Hoeben (Penticton) – Swim
Carmen Murray (Elkford) – Curl
Male Coach of the Year
Steven Manley (Vancouver) – Wheelchair Tennis
Barry Lyster (Maple Ridge) – Cycling
Garrett Collier (Delta) – Athletics
Female High School Athlete of the Year
Jacqueline Lew (Pinetree) – Wrestling
Dakota Chan (McMath) – Multi-Sport
Katarina Vlanovic (Fraser Heights) – Athletics
Male High School Athlete of the Year
Ryan Baker (Windsor Secondary) – Football & Baseball
Brodie Hofer (Langley Christian) – Volleyball
Michael Dowaniuk (Semiahmoo) – Volleyball
Female Junior Athlete of the Year
Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove) – Ice Hockey
Desirae Ridenour (Cowichan Bay) – Triathlon
Maggie Coles-Lyster (Maple Ridge) – Cycling
Male Junior Athlete of the Year
Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam) – Ice Hockey
Anastas Eliopoulos (Vancouver) – Athletics
Tyler Tardi (Surrey) – Curl
Female Senior Athlete of the Year
Shallon Olsen (Surrey) – Gymnastics
Heather Wurtele (Kelowna) – Triathlon
Marielle Thompson (Alpine Ski) – Whistler
Male Senior Athlete of the Year
Yuri Kisil (Calgary) – Swim
Adam Hadwin (Abbotsford) – Golf
Michael Mason (Nanoose Bay) – Athletics
Master Athlete of the Year
Glenn Carlsen (Okanagan Falls) – Swim
Siew Har Hong (North Vancouver) – Badminton
Christa Bortignon (West Vancouver) – Athletics
Athletics Team of the Year
UBC Men’s Track & Field (UBC) – Athletics
Team Tardi (Surrey) – Curl
UBC Women’s Volleyball (UBC) – Volleyball
University Athlete of the Year
Mallory Velte (SFU) – Wrestling
Danielle Brisebois (UBC) – Volleyball
Adam Jones (SFU) – Soccer
Official of the Year Scott McLaren (Penticton) – Softball
Andrew Armstrong (White Rock) – Triathlon
Andree Montreuil (Vancouver) – Gymnastics
