2007 Awards

Year 10 – Wednesday May 28, 2008

RIM Park, Forbes Room, Waterloo

Nominees:

Chelsea Aubry – Basketball

Kitchener

As Captain of Nebraska University (NU), and the Canadian Sr. National Team, Chelsea continues to excel on both the national and international stages. She led NU to a 5^th place finish in the NCAA tournament, Canada to 4^th in the Pan-Am Games in Brazil, and 5^th in the Olympic Qualifier tournament in Chile.

Chelsea is #2 at NU for single season three-point pe3rcentage at 43%.

She achieved a 2^nd Team Academic All-Big 12 Honours and an Honourable Mention for All-Big 12 NCAA Team.

She now turns her focus to WNBA Draft and the 2010 Olympics in London.

Ryan Benesch – Soccer

Kitchener

After a stellar Jr. “A” career as Captain of the K-W Braves where he amassed 400 points (2^nd All-Time) Ryan was selected 1^st overall in the 2006 National Lacrosse League (NLL) draft. He went on to score 33 goals and 25 assists in 15 games, was named Rookie of the Week three times, Rookie of the Month for March 2007 and was honoured with the NLL Rookie of the Year Award.

He will join his hometown K-W Kodiaks this summer to continue honing his skills for what looks like a very bright professional career.

Mandy Bujold – Boxing

Kitchener

Mandy joined the Waterloo Regional Boxing Academy to achieve her personal fitness goals and became the Sr. Ontario Champion and Jr. Canadian Champion in 2006. She finished off the year with the Gold Medal at the Ringside World Championships. Mandy continued her climb on the national women’s boxing scene in 2007, winning Gold at the Pan-Am Games and the Canadian National Championships. Mandy earned a spot on Canada’s National team and is ranked 4^th in World Amateur Standings. With a performance like that, Mandy was named Rookie of the year by Boxing Canada.

David Edgar – Soccer

Kitchener

David is one of only two players to play in three Under-20 World Championships. In 2006 Soccer Canada named him Male Youth Player of the Year and in 2007 he became the Captain of the U-20 National Team.  He was named Captain of the Newcastle United Reserve Team and on January 1, 2007, David scored his first career goal with Newcastle United and in May 2007 he signed a new two-year contract.

Laurie McGrath – Running

Baden

Laurie started running in 2003 and she loves to run for a long time which earned her #1 ranking in the Overall ACU (Association of Canadian Ultra) Marathoners Series in 2005 and 2006. She was also ranked #2 in the ACU 24 Hour Runs for 2004, 2005 and 2006 to become the 2007 National Overall Series Champion of the ACU series.

The more she runs, the more records Laurie sets and her list for 2007 includes: Seaton Trail 78 km; Sulphur Springs 100 Mile; Creemore Vertical Challenge; Dirty Girl 24 Hour and Ottawa International 24 Hour Self- Transcendence Race.

She holds the Canadian record / 8^th in the World for the IAU 24 Hour World Challenge; the Canadian record in the Open Women’s 100 Mile Run (15:59:07) was 1^st in the Ontario Ultra Series 50 km Challenge Cup and won the Ontario Cup for the highest point total over 12 races for men and women.

It’s no wonder Rogers named her “Woman of the Year” in the Sports and Recreation Category.

Andrew Poje – Figure Skating

Waterloo

Andrew teamed up with his new partner Kaitlyn Weaver in August 2006 and went on to win three Bronze Medals that year.  They won two of the ISC Jr. Grand Prix Circuit and another one at the World Jr. Championships. Andrew continued to climb the world rankings in 2007, repeating as Bronze medalist at the ISU World Jr. Championships. He finished the year in style with a Bronze at the BMO Financial Sr. Canadian Championships. Earlier this year after less than two years with his new partner, he won Silver at the Canadian Sr. Championships on his quest to compete in the 2010 Olympics.

Richard Singh – Powerlifting

Kitchener

Richard was once named “Strongest Teen in Canada” and now he is the new AWPC (Amateur World Powerlifting Congress) World Champion for Under-19. He also set a new world record for bench pressing 453 lbs, beating the old record of 412 lbs. and was named ”Best Overall Teem Lifter” at the AWPC World Championships.

Nick-named ”Super Kid”, Richard is also the National and Provincial Champion, holding 21 Provincial and nine National records. Of note is the fact that Richard only competes in events where there is drug testing as he is a strong advocate and promoter of ”clean sports”.

Mark Sommerfeld – Golf

Waterloo

Mark plays for the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) where he has been the most dominant golfer in the Horizon League over the past three years. He led the league in stroke average all three years and is the two-time NCAA Horizon League Player of the year. Mark finished 3^rd in 2007 at the Horizon League Championship and has been instrumental in UDM winning te championship in 2005 and 2007. He earned All-Tournament Honours for the third consecutive year and was ranked 5^th among men’s amateur golfers in Canada.  He also won the U.S. Amateur Open Qualifier and is now a member of the Canadian National Amateur Team.

Kelly VanderBeek – Alpine Skiing

Kitchener

Kelly has been a member of the Canadian National Alpine Ski Team for seven years and although she trains in Chilliwack BC, she is proud to call Chicopee her home club. Kelly is no stranger to the Athlete of the Year program as she has been a nominee six times and was the 2004 recipient.

By virtue of her 11 Top Ten finishes in 2006, she was named the Pacific Sport Athlete of the Year. She has continued to climb the World Rankings and captured her second World Cup Medal in 2007, her first Silver to match the Bronze she won at Lake Louise in 2006. Kelly was 2^nd in Downhill at Arlberg, Austria; 5^th Downhill and Super G at Tarvisio and San Sicario, Italy; 6^th Downhill in Aspen, Colorado and Ranked 5^th in Downhill and 8^th overall for 2007.

Perhaps the Gold Medal is just around the bend – at the 2010 Olympics.

INDIVIDUAL:

Bill Pegg – Kitchener

For four decades, the name Bill Pegg has been and continues to be liberally sprinkled throughout a multitude of community organizations including Forest Hill T-Ball; Kitchener Minor Baseball; Kitchener Minor Girls Softball; Kitchener Dodgers Junior Baseball; Kitchener Panthers Baseball Club; Sr. and Jr. Intercounty Baseball Association; Baseball Ontario; Tri-City Baseball League; K-W Youth Basketball; Kitchener Basketball Officials Association; Kitchener Sports Association; K-W Charities Bingo Association; ISC Fastball Tournaments; Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce and Waterloo Knights of Columbus in a multitude of volunteer positions. It’s stated that if you want something done, find a busy person and the perfect example is Bill Pegg.

ORGANIZATION:

Kitchener Sports Association

In 1944, the Kitchener Sports Association was formed with an initial objective of building a new arena in Kitchener. The result was the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, a jewel among the community’s sporting assets. The organization continues to have a major impact, primarily through successful fund-raising initiatives including bingo and the 50/50 draws at the home games of the Kitchener Rangers. Provision of funds are targeted through a variety of programs within KSA that include travel and capital grants, scholarships, Olympic Dreams grants, and hosting of the annual volunteer recognition dinner, which will celebrate its 20^th anniversary this autumn.

TEAM:

Elmira Sugar Kings Jr. “B” Hockey Team

The inaugural recipient in the team category is the Elmira Sugar Kings Jr. “B” Hockey team whose numerous successes on-ice and continuous support for its players and alumni off-ice, both present and past, serves as a role-model for teams in any sport. The Sugar Kings have been operating for 34 years and its sound management, competitive spirit and dedication to a “Hometown Hockey” operating philosophy, has garnered the team a solid reputation locally and provincially.