2019 NOMINEES Swimming Alec Elliot Drew Becker Becker Drew Horseshoe pitching Ice Track & Field Track Loren Gabel Loren Foster Malleck Foster Ultimate Field Hockey Field Alyssa Mason Alyssa Samantha McCrory Martial Arts Pat Pytlik Pat Mike Poulin Poulin Mike

2018

NOMINEES Squash Howard Armitage Howard Basketball Track & Field Track Ben Flanagan Ben Flanagan Murphy Burnatowski Burnatowski Murphy

Basketball Tyler Miller Tyler Figure Skating Figure Andrew Poje Andrew

Golf Figure Skating Figure Garrett Rank Kaitlyn Weaver Welcome to the 2020 Virtual Recognition Event

Greetings from The Chair 2020 COMMITTEES VOLUNTEERS It’s good to be back following a one-year hiatus (2019) and the challenges of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Organizing Committee John Thompson, Waterloo (Chair) This year’s innovative virtual recognition program is in keeping Mike Aultman, Kitchener (Vice-Chair) with the unusual circumstances that everyone is facing (enduring) Ann Bilodeau, Kitchener as the world responds to the global health challenge. Steve Brown, Elmira Mary Ann Burke, Kitchener This recognition of the outstanding performances and achieve- Gord Dearborn, Kitchener ments of our community’s elite athletes is important and is an Tim Forsyth, Kitchener Craig Herner, Kitchener appropriate thank you to the nominees who represent Kitchener- Jean Howitt, Cambridge Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich locally, nationally and Dave McLelland, Kitchener internationally throughout the world. Bill Pegg, Kitchener Bill Poje, Waterloo Special appreciation to our community’s leaders – Regional Chair Bob Stebbings, Cambridge Karen Redman, Kitchener Mayor and Waterloo Darren Stevenson, Waterloo Penny Swinston, Kitchener Mayor Dave Jaworsky for publicly acknowledging our 15 nominees as part of our event. Nomination Committee A huge cap-tip to Darren Stevenson of 519 Sportsonline for his Jean Howitt, Cambridge (Chair) Joe Allen, Waterloo production experience in co-ordinating the virtual program in Mike Aultman, Kitchener collaboration with KW Habilitation’s Ann Bilodeau and Jeremy Tim Forysth, Kitchener Heatherington. Ruth Ann McBride, Waterloo Bill Poje, Waterloo As well, the sports community appreciates David Agular for Nancy Stayzer, Conestogo producing a replay of the event as part of Rogers TV local Roger Tupling, Kitchener programming. Selection Committee During the past year, dozens of volunteers listed in the committees John Thompson, Waterloo, (Chair) worked tirelessly to nominate, select and recognize this great Ann Bilodeau, Kitchener (Vice-Chair) Keith Baulk, Kitchener roster of awesome local athletes. Wayne Berwick, New Hamburg Sheila Brown, Waterloo Congratulations to each of the 2018 and 2019 nominees – and Steve Brown, Elmira special thanks to their families, coaches and support teams - your Marg Burnett, Heidelberg hometown community is in awe of your dedication and spirit, and Jerome Freiburger, Waterloo proud of your achievements. Zoe Hahn, Linwood Sandra Hanmer, Waterloo Leon Martin, Elmira John Thompson Philip Salubi, Waterloo Steve Singer, Waterloo Bob Stebbings, Cambridge Thank you Kelvin Tran, Waterloo to our major Communications Committee funding Bob Stebbings, Cambridge (Chair) sponsors Gord Dearborn, Kitchener Craig Herner, Kitchener 2 Athlete of the Year 2018 Nominees

as he placed 1st in both of the Masters Squash Howard Armitage Championships 75+ and 70+ categories, en route to being ranked number one in , prior to Squash capturing his world championship. Howard Armitage, Armitage also played football for the Rough PhD, MBA, BSC of Riders and learned squash while living in Kenya in his Waterloo is the founder twenties. He is an active member at Northfield (now of the Conrad School of Greystone) Racquet Club and is looking forward to Entrepreneurship and competing again at the world level. Business at the Uni- versity of Waterloo, and a 2018 World Squash Champion! Armitage captured gold in the masters division (75-79 years old) by dispatching five worthy opponents to capture his first world champion- ship in Charlottesville, Virginia. 2018 was a sterling year for the classy competitor

Before embarking on his professional career, Murphy Murphy Burnatowski played for the Canadian Senior National Team (2011- 17) as well as the University National Team Basketball in 2013.

Murphy Burnatowski of Waterloo is a travelling basketball phenom. Following an outstanding career at Sir John A Macdonald Secondary School in Waterloo, Murphy played NCAA Division I basketball (2009-14) at the University of Maine and later Colgate University before embarking on a professional career that has seen him play for teams in the Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Cyprus, Vietnam and now Canada.

In 2018, Murphy played 37 games with the cham- pionship Fribourg Olympic squad of the Switzerland Basketball League averaging 30.2 minutes and 14.6 points per game. As a result of his stellar play, he was name to the Eurobasket.com Swiss All-Imports Team.

His play in Asia resulted in travelling to exotic destinations that included Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Macau. 3 Athlete of the Year 2018 Nominees

to the University of Michi - Ben Flanagan gan, Ann Arbor where his success con tinued. Track & Field In June 2018, in his final NCAA T&F Champion ship, Ben Flanagan of Kitchener had an illustrious career (4- he had a me mo rable final time MVP) at St. Mary’s High School before advancing lap in the 10,000m to become a National Colle- giate Champion. Other race results included gold in the PAC-12 Cardinal Classic 10,000m and the Canadian 5K Road Race National Championship (new Cana - dian record at 13.56); 2nd place finishes in Quad City Times Bix 7 km Road Race and Iowa State Classic 5,000m and a Bronze medal in the 5,000m at the Canadian Track & Field Championships. Based on his successes, Ben was the recipient of three US Track & Field Cross-Country Coaches Association awards and recognition as a Division I Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year and the University of Michigan Male Athlete of the Year.

member of the Tyler Miller Rollin Rap - tors where he was Basketball named an All Star. With Team Canada, Tyler Miller of Kitchener was introduced to wheelchair he and his team- basketball in 2007 with Twin City Spinners. He had mates finished 3rd always been a keen athletic competitor, and he at the Mitsubishi focused to excel in this new-found and challenging Electric World Chal- sport. lenge Cup in Tokyo, Japan; 5th at the 2018 was a busy year competing, domestically and Continental Clash in internationally with a 5th place finish at the National Sheffield, Great Wheelchair Basketball Championship (Div 1) as a Britain and 12th at the 2018 World Wheelchair Basket- ball Cham pionships in Germany. Tyler’s story is about excellence, endurance, dedi - cation, hard work, success, elation, disappointment, joy leadership and community advocacy. Tyler was the community’s Athlete of the Year in 2012, and his career spans more than a decade competing at the highest level on the National and Inter national stage. 4 Athlete of the Year 2018 Nominees

in Milan, Italy. They did Andrew Poje & earn a gold medal at the Autumn Classic International hosted in Kaitlyn Weaver Oakville, ON. During their specta cu - Figure Skating lar pairs’ career, Kaitlyn Andrew Poje and Kaitlyn Weaver of Waterloo and Andrew are three- represented Canada at the 2018 Olympics in time world medalists in Pyeongchang, Korea, and dazzled the world in their ice-dance and are two- Olympic dance to the music of “Je Suis Malade”that time local Athlete of was performed live by Lara Fabian days previously. the Year recipients They finished 7th, dupli - (2014 and 2010). cating their Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia four years previously. The pair finished as bronze medalists in the Canadian Figure Skating Championship in Van - couver and earned an other bronze at the ISU World Championship

5 Athlete of the Year 2018 Nominees Garret Rank Golf

Garrett Rank of Elmira has balanced a two-sport career as a referee in the and as an accomplished amateur golfer during hockey’s “off-season”. Garrett’s 2018 highlights were qualifying for the US Amateur Open in Pebble Beach, CA as well as being one of 19 amateurs who qualified for and played in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, NY. Other successes included winning the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur in Burlington and the Investor’s Group Ontario Men’s Amateur in St. Thomas. Garrett also carded third-place finishes in the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in Duncan BC and in an international tournament in Lima, Peru. Garrett is a graduate of the , and has been a nominee for our community’s Athlete of the Year program four times previously (2017, 2016, 2012 and 2011).

A Look Back… From humble beginnings in 1999 as part of the Big Brothers 31st Annual Sports Celebrity Dinner, and 21 years later the Athlete of the Year program is a stand- alone event with a legacy of recognizing the best of the best in our sports community. Thanks to supporters who have been with the Athlete of the Year program since inception – Civitan Sports Waterloo Region, Hockey Club, Rogers TV and Rogers Radio Group.

6 Athlete of the Year Nominees 1998-2017

2017 2012 2008 2003 Dan Benvenuti ...... Ultimate Chelsea Aubry ...... Basketball Mandy Bujold ...... Boxing Jason Douglas ...... Boxing Alec Elliot ...... Swimming Maddie Buttinger . . . . .Track & Field Katie Harnock ...... Basketball Amanda Overland . . . .Short Track Speed Chris Ernst ...... Track Cycling Kory Lorentz ...... Standing Lisa Hutson ...... Mountain Biking Skating Tim Grant ...... Adventure Racing Amputee Hockey Alyssa Lagonia ...... Soccer Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Brandon Horn ...... Fastball Dustin Miller ...... Long Track Speed Andrew Poje ...... Figure Skating/ Megan Poss ...... Synchronized Boris Katchouk ...... Ice Hockey Skating Ice Dance Swimming Alyssa Lagonia ...... Soccer Tyler Miller ...... Wheelchair Kelly VanderBeek . . .Alpine Skiing Jamal Murray ...... Basketball Miranda Ranieri ...... Squash Basketball Richard Singh ...... Powerlifting Paige Nosal ...... Ringette Garrett Rank ...... Golf 2002 Jaimie Phelan ...... Track & Field Kelly VanderBeek . . . . .Alpine Skiing Mike Poulin ...... Lacrosse Leah Robinson ...... Track & Field Sharon Bowes ...... Shooting Garrett Rank ...... Golf Mark Scheifele ...... Hockey 2007 Jennifer Button ...... Swimming 2016 2011 Chelsea Aubry ...... Basketball Colin Doyle ...... Lacrosse Ryan Benesch ...... Lacrosse Kory Lorentz ...... Amputee Alec Elliot ...... Swimming Keely Brown ...... Ringette Mandy Bujold ...... Boxing Ice Hockey Darryl Fitzgerald ...... Lawn Bowling Mandy Bujold ...... Boxing Luca Congi ...... Football Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Alyssa Lagonia ...... Soccer Dillon Heap ...... Football David Edgar ...... Soccer Erin Scherrer ...... Figure Skating Jamal Murray ...... Basketball Jake Jagas ...... Wrestling Laurie McGrath ...... Running Garrett Rank ...... Golf 2001 Alyssa Lagonia ...... Soccer Andrew Poje ...... Figure Skating Mark Scheifele . . . . .Ice Hockey Ian Logan ...... Football Dhane Smith ...... Lacrosse Richard Singh ...... Powerlifting Dana Ellis ...... Track & Field Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Kevin Sorley ...... Sledge Hockey Mark Sommerfeld . . . .Golf Jennifer Fratesi . . . . .Swimming Miranda Ranieri . . . .Squash Kelly VanderBeek . . . . .Alpine Skiing Donna Mancuso ...... Boxing 2015 Garrett Rank ...... Golf Alex Singer ...... Sailing Ryan Benesch ...... Lacrosse Leah Robinson ...... Track & Field 2006 Kelly VanderBeek . . . . .Alpine Skiing Brienne Stairs ...... Field Hockey Mandy Bujold ...... Boxing Chelsea Aubry ...... Basketball 2000 Alec Elliot ...... Swimming 2010 Rebecca Barras ...... Diving Mike Hoffman ...... Hockey Luca Congi ...... Football Art Binkowski ...... Boxing Brandon Horn ...... Fastpitch Softball Mandy Bujold ...... Boxing David Edgar ...... Soccer Jennifer Button ...... Swimming Jamal Murray ...... Basketball Stephen Drew ...... Track & Field Katie Harnock ...... Wheelchair Donna Mancuso ...... Boxing Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Jake Jagas ...... Wrestling Leah Robinson ...... Track Basketball Laura Nicholls ...... Swimming Kristen Moore-Towers & Figure Skating/ Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Scott Stevens ...... Ice Hockey Dhane Smith ...... Lacrosse Dylan Moscovitch . . . .Pairs Tyler Varga ...... Football Miranda Ranieri ...... Squash Kelly VanderBeek . . . . .Alpine Skiing Andrew Poje & Figure Skating/ Erin Scherrer ...... Figure Skating 2014 Kaitlyn Weaver . . . .Ice Dance Mark Sommerfeld . . . .Golf 1999 Miranda Ranieri ...... Squash Becky Pavan ...... Volleyball Kelly VanderBeek . . . . .Alpine Skiing Leah Robinson ...... Track & Field Jennifer Butto ...... Swimming Tanner Pearson ...... Ice Hockey Ron VanKoughnett . . . .Duathlon Brienne Stairs ...... Field Hockey Colin Doyle ...... Lacrosse Andrew Poje & Figure Skating/ Curtis Gloade ...... Cycling Kaitlyn Weaver . . . .Ice Dance 2005 Silvana Shamuon . . . . .Martial Arts 2009 Thomas Hope ...... Basketball Chelsea Aubry ...... Basketball Lennox Lewis ...... Boxing Tyler Varga ...... Football Cam Burke ...... Golf ...... Lacrosse Laura Nicholls ...... Swimming Amanda Woodcroft . . .Field Hockey Colin Doyle ...... Lacrosse Katie Harnock ...... Wheelchair Kelly VanderBeek . . . . .Alpine Skiing Alec Elliot ...... Swimming Jake Jagas ...... Wrestling Jessica Buttinger . . . . .Field Hockey Basketball Fitzroy Vanderpool . . . .Boxing Alyssa Lagonia ...... Soccer Katie Harnock ...... Wheelchair Amanda Overland . .Short Track Speed Basketball Andrew Poje ...... Figure Skating/ Skating 1998 Taveena Kum ...... Boxing Ice Dance Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Ron VanKoughnett .Duathlon Miranda Ranieri ...... Squash Laura Nicholls ...... Swimming 2013 Dennis Wideman . . . . .Ice Hockey Kevin Overland ...... Speed Skating Jenna Blasman ...... Snowboarding 2004 Louise Powell ...... Triathlon Jason Tibbits ...... Football Emily Brown ...... Soccer Dana Ellis ...... Track & Field Maddie Buttinger . . . . .Athletics/ (Pole Vault) Fitzroy Vanderpool .Boxing Track & Field Jennifer Fratesi ...... Swimming Javon Masters ...... Basketball Kristen Moore-Towers & Figure Skating/ Emiley Jellie ...... Swimming Dylan Moscovitch . . . . .Ice Dance Sean O’Brien ...... Fastpitch Softball Andrew Poje & Figure Skating/ Amanda Overland . . . .Short Track Speed Kaitlyn Weaver ...... Ice Dance Skating Josh Williams ...... Golf Sarah Pavan ...... Volleyball Amanda Woodcroft . . .Field Hockey Miranda Ranieri ...... Squash *Bold font and highlighting indicate recipients 7 Athlete of the Year 2019 Nominees Drew Becker Horseshoe Pitching

Drew Becker of Kitchener was the number one ranked horseshoe player in Canada for three successive seasons (2017-19) with an impressive Ringer Per - centage of 70.08% in a memorable 2019 season. In 2019 Drew participated in 12 events, including the National Championship Horseshoe Tournament in in August where he compiled a 16-2 record en route to the Canadian title. With seven top-10 finishes in his final 10 events, he was dominant as he claimed 1st place in the Ontario Provincial Singles in Brighton, ON and the provincial doubles and the Wayne Becker Memorial Doubles hosted in Wellesley, ON. He also finished 2nd at the Khaki Club March Event and the prestigious Elmer Hohl Ringer Classic. As well, Drew had a 3rd place finish at the Khaki Club Doubles #2 as part of his amazing season. Drew has been ranked as the #1 Canadian in four of the past five years – 2015 and 2017-19. Alec Elliot Swimming Alec Elliot of Waterloo had an outstanding 2019 where at the London, ON World Para Swimming Champion - ships, he claimed his first career medal at worlds, bronze in the 400m freestyle S10. He also reached the final in his two other individual events, the 200m individual medley up five multi-class medals (tying him for most among SM10 (4th) and Para-swimming team members), including a team- 50m freestyle S10 high four gold (100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m (8th), and set a butterfly, 200m individual medley) as well as one silver personal best time (50m freestyle). He set personal best times in the 100m in the 200m IM. freestyle, 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley. At the 2019 Alec also won five medals at the Parapan Am Games: Canadian Silver in the 400m freestyle and Bronze in the 100m Swimming Trials in breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m IM and 100m Toronto, Alec piled backstroke. 8 Athlete of the Year 2019 Nominees

game and was named as Loren Gabel a First Team All- American and ECAC Ice Hockey Hockey Player of the year for the second Loren Gabel of Kitchener, a graduate of St. Mary’s High successive season. School, enjoyed an outstanding hockey career at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. In her final With her prolific scoring, collegiate year with the Golden Knights, she led all Loren was named the Division I scorers with 40 goals and 69 points in 38 ECAC Championship Tournament MVP, Best Forward and First team All-Star and was also named to the ECAC All- Academic team and received the 2019 Patty Kazmaier Award as the top NCAA Division I player. While competing for Team Canada in the World Championships in Espoo, Finland, Loren notched six goals in helping Canada to a Bronze Medal. Loren finished her career as Clarkson’s all-time leading scorer, having led the Golden Knights to four NCAA Frozen Four appearances and two national championships.

Championship in Ottawa, Foster placed 3rd in the Foster Malleck 1,500m and won the 800m and 2,000m steeplechase at the Ontario U19 Championships, and represented Track & Field Canada for the first time at the Jamaican U18 Invitational in Kingston, Jamaica Foster Malleck of Kitchener graduated from St. Mary’s As a member of Team Canada, he won Gold in the High School, following four years as his cross country 1,500m at the Can-Am U20 Championship in San Jose, team’s MVP and enrolled Costa Rica, establishing a new personal best. at Boston College. As a 2019 Freshman, at the Patriot League Indoor Championships, Foster finished 4th in the one-mile at the PL Championship; 14th in the 3,000m run and recorded a personal best of 4:06, second-best in the indoor season. Foster also won the prestigious one mile race at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. At the Canadian U20 9 Athlete of the Year 2019 Nominees Alyssa Mason Ultimate

Alyssa Mason of Waterloo has quickly carved a solid reputation as a dominant player in Ultimate and had a memorable two-year run of dominance. Following her success as a member of the bronze winning University of Waterloo team at the Canadian University Ultimate Championship in Brampton in 2018, she joined the 6ixers, a very strong club team in Toronto. The 6ixers competed in the Triple Crown Tour with Gold at the Canadian Championships in Edmonton, AB and the USA Northeast Regional in Boston, MA and a Silver medal at the USA National Championship in San Diego, CA. As a member of Team Canada in 2019, Alyssa scored four goals and recorded five assists with Canada winning a Bronze Medal at the U24 Worlds in Heidelberg, Germany. Alyssa has also been named to Team Canada for the 2020 World Championships.

matches against Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and USA. Samantha McCrory Sam was also selected to the National Indoor Field Hockey Program and played for Canada in Minsk, Field Hockey Belarus against Belarus and Ukraine. Samantha McCrory of Waterloo built a solid foundation for her field hockey career, ending 2018 with her University of Victoria team winning a Gold Medal at the National University Cham - pionships. In 2019 while training with both the U21 and Senior Canadian National Teams, she competed in a tour of China earning six caps and added another four caps at the Belgium Training Camp. While in Belgium she joined the Division 1 Royal Victory Hockey Club and added experience in 10 Athlete of the Year 2019 Nominees

He finished the 2018-19 NLL season with 621 regular Mike Poulin season saves, bringing his career total to 5236. After his 899:32 min. in front of the net, his career total Lacrosse became 8208:50. Those totals place him in sole possession of seventh most saves and minutes played Mike Poulin of Kitchener had a busy 2019 between in NLL history. the pipes on the lacrosse floor. With more than a decade of playing experience in the he compiled an 11-4 record with his Georgia Swarm team. Mike also helped Canada win the Gold Medal at the World Indoor La - crosse Championships in Langley, BC and was named to the tourna - ment’s all-star team. As well, he led the Peterborough Lakers to the Gold Medal and at the Senior A Club Championships successfully defending the Lakers 2018 title.

in the MMA Unified and in September in the Boxing Pat Ptylik event. Competing in Provincial and National tournaments, Pat Martial Arts compiled an amateur record of 27-7 and a pair of “no- contests”. Pat Pytlik of Waterloo as a 16-year-old with an interest in fitness and competitive fighting, was drawn to Muay Thai, a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques, under the tutelage of Kru Chris Greg. Pat took the sport more seriously and moved to Thailand and endured four months of dedicated and focused training. Injuries early in his career were a challenge and he returned to Canada. Pat relocated to Alberta where he discovered Mixed Martial Arts and he became hooked on the sport. Pat won the Unified Mixed Martial Arts welterweight belt in Enoch, AB and in March 2019 again competed

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