2002 Awards
2002 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Colin Doyle – Lacrosse
Waterloo
After a brilliant Jr. “A” career with the Waterloo Braves and Canada’s World Junior Team, Colin was drafted into the National Lacrosse League (NLL) in 1997. In his first year he led his team with 34 goals and 27 assists to finish 4th overall in the league. He was subsequently named Rookie of the Year in 1998 and has gone on to be Toronto Rock’s most productive and consistent marksman. As the team leader in all offensive categories, he has been instrumental in helping his team win four NLL Championships in the last five years!
He has won numerous individual game MVP awards and was named Championship Game MVP in 1999 and NLL Playoff MVP in 2002. With 47 goals and 23 assist in 2002, Colin led his team once again to their 3rd NLL Championship. He scored three goals and added an assist and was voted Game MVP. Colin was an All Pro last year as well as in 2001 and 1999 and will represent Canada in the World Lacrosse Championships this summer.
Colin also gives back to his sport both on and off the floor. He is the first to stop and sign autographs and the last to leave. He also leads the team in another category – “personal appearances”. He also donates his time at numerous local and provincial lacrosse clinics. He has coached several minor lacrosse teams and is currently the Assistant Coach with his former team, the Kitchener-Waterloo Jr. “A” Braves.
Nominees:
Sharon Bowes – Shooting
Kitchener
Sharon has been a member of Canada’s National Rifle Team since 1983. She is a four-time Olympian, competing in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 2000. Her career highlights include four Top Ten Olympic finishes including 4th place in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. She has 12 Commonwealth Games medals, five Pan-Am medals and several World Cup medals. In 1986 she had the honour of being the flag bearer for Canada at the closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games.
In 2002, Sharon was the Provincial Champion in Sport and Air Rifle and finished 1st in both at the National Trials. She went on to compete at the Commonwealth Games in England, bringing home the Silver in pairs Air Rifle and the Bronze in pairs Sport Rifle. She also finished 4th in the individual Air and Sport Rifle competitions.
Sharon is the Canadian Record Holder in her specialties, Sport and Air Rifle. She also has the distinction of being the first woman to compete in shooting at the Commonwealth Games where she is also a Record Holder. As with most successful athletes, Sharon has also been giving back to her sport as a coach for the Ontario Provincial team since 1997.
Jennifer Button – Swimming
Waterloo
Jennifer is a 13 year member of the Region of Waterloo (ROW) Swim Club and is graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Kinesiology and Sport Management. As the captain of the 2002 Commonwealth Games team, Jennifer brought home a Bronze medal in both the 100m Butterfly, her specialty, and the 4 x 200m Freestyle. She also finished 4th in the 200m Butterfly and the 4 x 100m Medley Relay.
Jennifer went on to the Pan Pacific Championships where she set a Canadian Record in the 100m Butterfly and became the first Canadian woman to break the one–minute barrier for that event! She was also part of the 4 x 100m Medley Relay, which established another Canadian Record and won her another Bronze medal.
2002 was a record-breaking year for Jennifer as she also set a Short Course Canadian Record in the 100m Butterlfy. Jennifer will represent Canada in Barcelona at the World Championships. It is no wonder that CBC Television selected her as one of the 12 Canadian Female Sport Heroes to be featured later this summer as a “woman warrior”.
Kory Lorentz – Amputee Hockey
St. Clements
Kory participated in the “1st” International Amputee Hockey Championships held in February 2002 in Lake Placid, New York. Competing against Russia, USA and Finland Canada went undefeated and brought home the Gold! He also participated in the Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. This was s showcase event and Canada defeated the USA 8-0 in the championship game to win the Gold Medal.
In November 2002 Kory represented Canada in a World Amputee Hockey game in St. Petersburg, Russia. He scored one goal and assisted on another and was named Game MVP as Canada won 3-2. This game was part of the “People of Health” Conference which was to show the Russian people that there are few limitations for people with disabilities.
In 2002, Kory had 21 points (10 goals/11 assists). As the Assistant Captain he is a leader on and off the ice and is actively involved in fundraising for the Canadian Amputee Sports Association and is one of their biggest advocates. Through his hard work and determination, he has overcome his accident and is a role model for his fellow players and opponents.
Sarah Pavan – Volleyball
Kitchener
Sarah has led her Forest Heights Collegiate team to back-to-back OFSAA Championships! As a grade nine student, she was selected to the National Junior Volleyball Team and was a member of the Waterloo Tigers Midget Team who won the Gold Medal and the Tigers Juvenile Team who garnered the Silver Medal at the Provincial Championships.
In 2002, as a Grade 10 student, Sarah was instrumental in leading her team to their first OFSAA Championship. She was also a member of the Waterloo Tigers Juvenile Team who won Gold Medals at the Provincial Championship and the East Coast Championship at Penn State University. She then joined the Junior team to win the bronze Medal at the Provincials.
Sarah was selected to the National Junior Team once again and was the Top Scorer at the World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. To top that off, she was selected to the National Youth Team where she won MVP honours at the World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Salt Lake City!
Sarah is a team player who exudes focus, determination, intelligence and heart. This coupled with her 93% scholastic average impacts in a very positive way within her team mates.
Erin Scherrer – Figure Skating
Waterloo
Erin started her 2002 season with a Gold Medal in the Ladies Novice division of the Ontario Winter Games in March. Then she received her first International assignment at the North American Challenge where she placed 7th. This proved to be the turning point in her career as she went on to excel at every qualifier she entered.
She won Gold at the Skate Canada BMO Sectional Championships to advance to the Western Challenge, where she also won Gold and advanced to the Junior Canadian Championships. Then she struck Gold again at the Skate Ontario – Canada Winter Games Qualifier to represent Ontario at the Canada Winter Games in New Brunswick.
Erin’s hard work and determination paid off for her as she won the Silver Medal at the Junior Canadian Championships and the Gold Medal at the Canada Winter Games!
Like many gifted athletes Erin also gives back to her sport by coaching 3-5 year olds and 5-8 year olds. An Honour Roll Student at St. David’s, Erin is a wonderful mentor, attending sessions to encourage young skaters and volunteering at club hosted events including Sectionals and Grand Prix Finals.
Awards of Excellence:
INDIVIDUAL:
Arnie Boehm – Boxing
Kitchener
The man who started the World Boxing Council Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis on his career as a junior boxer in Kitchener, Arnold Boehm made a notable contribution to the youth of the Region of Waterloo through his involvement as a coach with the Waterloo Regional Police Association Boxing Club. Born in Wellesley Township in 1933, one of a family of eleven, he boxed as an amateur in his youth and then worked with Hook McComb in coaching the Police Club boxers.
Boehm was a coach of the Canadian team at the World Junior Championships in the Dominican Republic in 1983 when Lewis won a World title. He helped coach the Canadian team at the Los Angeles Olympics and the North American team at the World Cup IV in Korea in 1985. He coached many more aspiring boxers in the community, including Chris Johnson, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
In 1982 Boehm was named Boxing Ontario’s “Coach of the Year,” was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989 and received a Canada 125 Award in 1992. Boehm passed away on October 9, 2002.
ORGANIZATION:
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club, Kitchener
The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Coub is a major junior ice hockey team and member of the Ontario Hockey League. The Rangers are a publicly owned team, governed by a 39-person volunteer Board of Directors comprised entirely of season ticket subscribers. They are one of the most successful Canadian Hockey League teams in terms of alumni with in excess of 100 alumni players and coaches going on to serve in the NHL, and other professional hockey leagues.
In addition, the Rangers have earned a sterling reputation as a generous corporate citizen, giving back to the community through support of minor hockey and other charitable and not-for-profit organizations.
JEAN UNDERWOOD OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD:
Hogg Fuel & Supply Limited, Kitchener
Hogg Fuel and Supply is a generous supporter of the Big Brothers / Big Sisters Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction and is active in many areas of the Kitchener-Waterloo community. It has been a source for quality petroleum products in Ontario since 1972, and differentiates itself from competitors by a commitment to excellence. This commitment is demonstrated by continued investment in new technologies and ongoing infrastructure improvements, by its recognition in the industry as the market leader, and by the daily actions of employees, all of which combine to provide increasing value to customers.
DAVE BIRNSTIHL MEMORIAL AWARD:
Kitchener Minor Baseball Association, Kitchener
The Kitchener Minor Baseball Association provides baseball programs for youth including T-ball, Rookie Ball, House League, Select and Elite programs and also hosts tournaments on an annual basis.
