Athletes, teams, coaches celebrated at Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards
Nanaimo’s outstanding athletes and championship teams received another rousing cheer at this weekend’s Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards.
The 18th Annual Awards Banquet was held at the Coast Bastion Hotel on Friday, February 24th and honored athletes and teams for their accomplishments in 2022.
This year’s Team of the Year was the Vancouver Island University women’s basketball team, who got another chance to host national teams after a previous pandemic cancellation and made it to overtime in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Finals.
Junior Team of the Year was the Nanaimo Timbermen U16 team, which went undefeated in provincial championships and won gold.
Male Team Athlete of the Year was Nanaimo NightOwl’s baseball bat Tim Holyk, while Female Athlete of the Year was VIU Mariners volleyball player Jane Lytvynenko, the Ukrainian winger who led her team to a national championship just weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Male Individual Athlete of the Year was hammer thrower and Commonwealth Games medalist Ethan Katzberg, while Female Individual Athlete of the Year was record-breaking Olivia Lundman.
Junior Team Athlete of the Year was Barsby Bulldogs All-Star Linebacker Colton Finstad, and Junior Team Athlete of the Year was Nanaimo Christian School Volleyball MVP Olivia Phillips.
Junior Male Individual Athlete of the Year went to NDSS decathlete and sprinter Nate Paris, and Junior Female Individual Athlete of the Year went to another NDSS standout, cross-country captain Brea Gillette.
Off-road triathlete and cyclocross champion Normon Thibault was named Masters Athlete of the Year, and five-pin bowling provincial champions Corey Cooper and Grady Work were named Partners of the Year.
High Performance Coach of the Year was Nanaimo Timbermen Senior A coach Tewanee Joseph, Grassroots Coach of the Year was Timbermen U16 coach Shane Terris and Sports Administrator of the Year was NightOwls GM Jim Swanson. Basketball Official of the Year was Wayne Clouthier.
The Steve Smith Memorial Award for Excellence in Extreme Sports went to mountain biker Darren Berrecloth. Jessie and Harry Whittam shared the Michael Rhode Memorial Award for longstanding service to the sport for their contributions to the Nanaimo Curling Club, while softball administrator Brian Cornborough was honored with the Hero In You Award.
The final award of the evening was Sports Story of the Year and the winner was longtime bathtub competitor and advocate for the sport, Jaime Garcia, who finally broke through in 2022 by winning the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race.
The full list of finalists included:
Masters Athlete of the Year – Denise Bonin, athletics; Tammy Leslie, rider; Normon Thibault, triathlon and cyclocross.
Sports Administrator of the Year – Chris Bowman, lacrosse; Robb Hunter, ice hockey; Jim SwansonBaseball.
Official of the Year – Wayne Clouthier, basketball; Jacoby Krassmann, lacrosse; Carson Prescesky, ice hockey.
Partner of the Year – Shae McKeever and Alex Joiner, rowing; Grady Work and Corey Cooper, bowling; April and Steve Seixeiro, curling.
Grassroots Coach of the Year – Troy Lovasz, football; Shane Terris, lacrosse; Mike Viers, athletics.
High Performance Coach of the Year – Glenn Clark, lacrosse; Tewanee Joseph, lacrosse; Kevin Lindo, soccer.
Young Athlete of the Year – Brea Gillette, running; Ocea Fawkes, cycling; Taylor McPherson, swimming.
Junior Male Individual Athlete of the Year – Nate Paris, athletics; Mitchell Gauthier, swimming; Gavin Esleyer, athletics.
Young Athlete of the Year – Kaitlyn Carlson, volleyball; Olivia Phillips, volleyball; Rylee Wing, Lacrosse.
Junior Male Team Athlete of the Year – Colton Finstad, football; Max Poirier, baseball; Jackson Tonsi, basketball.
Individual Athlete of the Year – Monica Bonczak, Jiu-Jitsu; Oriana Fraser, motocross; Olivia Lundman, racing gear.
Male Individual Athlete of the Year – Ethan Katzberg, hammer throw; Cam Rasmussen, bodybuilder; David Swailes, Bowling.
Team Athlete of the Year – Jade Dillabough, soccer; Cara Dunlop, soccer; Jane Lytvynenko, volleyball.
Male Team Athlete of the Year – Sean Donaldson, ice hockey; Cameron Gay, basketball; Tim HolykBaseball.
Youth Team of the Year – NDSS Islanders Junior Girls Cross-Country Run; Nanaimo Timbermen U16 Lacrosse; Wellington Wildcats Golf.
Team of the Year – Nanaimo United Div. 1 men’s football; Nanaimo Timbermen senior A lacrosse; VIU Mariners Women’s Basketball.
Sports Story of the Year – Nanaimo hockey player Matthew Wood leads BCHL in scoring; VIU Women’s Volleyball Team Wins Fourth Consecutive National Championship; Veteran bathtub racer Jaime Garcia breaks through and wins his first major race.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards Athlete Assistance Fund, which helps high-profile athletes with travel, training and equipment expenses.
For more information on the awards and to nominate an athlete, team, coach, official, sports administrator or volunteer for 2023, visit www.nanaimosportachievementawards.com.
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