Kristina Vaculik, and Zack Greer to Our Hall
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2019 Induction Ceremony Program 6:00 pm Cocktails – Silent Auction Opens 7:00 pm Opening Ceremonies – Rob Snoek Inductee Entrance National Anthem Introduction Of President Greetings From Dignitaries Toast And Grace Dinner Served Live Auction Break Keynote Speaker – Lindsay Hamilton Induction Ceremonies – Rob Snoek, Inductor Closing Remarks By President Note: Silent Auction Will Be Closing In Segments Throughout The Evening. A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE WHITBY SPORTS HALL OF FAME A warm welcome to our friends who join us here this evening for the 22nd Annual Induction Gala of the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame. We have assembled annually from the inception of our Hall in 1998 to recognize individuals and teams for their accomplishments, successes, and contributions across a variety of sports disciplines on behalf of our community. As representatives and ambassadors of the Town of Whitby, from local playing fields and arenas to the international stage, our inductees have inspired a great deal of pride throughout our municipality for many years. This evening, we celebrate the addition of Troyhann Santos, Kristina Vaculik, and Zack Greer to our Hall. On behalf of our Board of Directors, it is my privilege and pleasure to extend congratulations to our newest inductees on this significant achievement. Individual plaques commemorating their induction will be placed on permanent display in our Hall at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre, and some of the memorabilia collected by tonight’s inductees over the duration of their respective careers will also be on exhibit for the next year. Our volunteer committee trusts that our 2019 Gala will produce lasting memories for all in attendance, and we are truly appreciative of your continued support of our efforts. Kind Regards, Rocky Gualtieri President, Whitby Sports Hall of Fame Saturday, April 27, 2019. Dear Friends, Thanks to everyone gathered here tonight to congratulate and celebrate the 2019 inductees to the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame. Youth involvement in sports is extremely important, and builds resilience, character and improves self-confidence. Each inductee serves as a role model to young people throughout our community. Tonight we honour and celebrate the talents and dedication of: Zack Greer Troyhann Santos and Kristina Vaculik As the Member of Parliament for Whitby, I commend you for your commitment to the pursuit of athletic excellence. Our community values your achievement, and thanks you for your dedication and hard work. Warmest congratulations to each of you and best wishes for a memorable event. Sincerely, Celina Caesar-Chavannes Member of Parliament for Whitby April 27, 2019 I am delighted to congratulate Zach Greer, Troyhann Santos, and Kristina Vaculik for their induction into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame. As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby and former member of the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, I am proud of the inductees that our community produces and shares with the world of sports. Tonight, we honour and celebrate Zach, Troyhann and Kristina's athletic accomplishments, and dedication. These athletes have represented the Town of Whitby with honour, distinction, and determination. Their collective achievements will become part of our local history and will be remembered by Whitby residents today, and for generations to come. Congratulations, Lorne Coe MPP, Whitby Zack Greer Athlete - Lacrosse Born and raised in Whitby, Zack spent many summers playing with the Whitby Warriors and the Oshawa Blue Knights. He played his junior lacrosse for the Whitby Warriors and received the Joey Nieuwendyk Award as Rookie of the Year for 2002. He also earned the Dean McLeod Award for Playoff MVP in 2004. In the fall of 2005, Zack headed to Duke University on a lacrosse scholarship. In his four years at Duke, Zack was named an All-American three times, including two first-team selections. He ended his career at Duke as the all-time leader in goals scored for both the university and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and was the recipient of the Jack Turnbull Award, presented to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Attackman of the Year, following his 2008 season. After graduating from Duke, Zack used his fifth year of eligibility to pursue his MBA degree at Bryant University. Zack began his professional career in box and field lacrosse in 2009. He was drafted third overall in both the Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League drafts. He spent time with the Long Island Lizards, the Denver Outlaws, and the Dallas Rattlers of the MLL, winning a championship with Denver in 2014. During his nine seasons in the NLL, Zack amassed more than 500 points (including 275 goals) and he won back-to-back league championships with Edmonton in 2015 and Saskatchewan in 2016 respectively. On the international stage, Zack won a silver medal with Team Canada and was named to the All-World team at the U-19 World Field Lacrosse Championships in 2003. He was first selected to the Senior Men’s National Field Lacrosse Team in 2010, followed by another selection in 2014 where he helped lead Canada to a gold medal victory over the United States. Zack also won a gold medal with Canada’s Senior Men’s Box Lacrosse Team in 2015 at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. Troyhann Santos Athlete - Lacrosse Troyhann began her distinguished career in 1982 when she registered for boys’ box lacrosse in the Whitby Minor Lacrosse Association, and she continued to develop her knowledge and skills by competing with and against boys’ teams for the next eight years. In 1984, Troyhann’s considerable skills helped her earned a position with the Team Ontario Girls’ Field Lacrosse squad, and she would eventually compete for the province of Ontario at 10 National Women’s Field Lacrosse championships, capturing three gold medals along with five silvers and three bronze. Her prowess in field lacrosse caught the attention of coaches at no less than six universities in the United States, and she would ultimately become only the second Canadian woman in history to be awarded a lacrosse scholarship by an American school, choosing to attend James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. During her collegiate career as a member of the James Madison University Dukes, Troyhann helped lead the team to third place finishes in the Colonial Athletic Association in both 1992 and 1993 while garnering All-South Second Team honours in 1992 and All-South First Team honours in 1993; she was also named team co-captain in her senior year (1993). At the international level, Troyhann represented Canada on four occasions, including the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia in 1994 and the Women’s Field Lacrosse World Cup championships in 1997, 2001, and 2005. She served as the team captain for the Commonwealth Games squad and was Canada’s leading scorer in that tournament; she was also a co-captain of the 2001 and 2005 World Cup teams and finished seventh in scoring at the 2001 tournament. Upon her retirement as a player, Troyhann has continued to devote her time and energy to the sport of lacrosse at the coaching and executive levels. She has coached Team Ontario boys’ and girls’ squads in both field and box lacrosse at numerous national championships, earning 12 medals, including nine gold, two silver, and one bronze. In November of 2018, Troyhann was named as Women’s Program Director for EDGE Lacrosse, the leading program in Canada for player development in the sport. Kristina Vaculik Athlete - Gymnastics Kristina Vaculik began her career by competing at gymnastics meets in the Greater Toronto Area, and by the age of 9, she was practicing 30+ hours per week under the instruction of 1980 Olympic Champion Elena Davydova and associate coach Valery Yahchybekov. She then moved to the national stage where she excelled at the pre-Novice and Novice levels, winning several titles including All-Around Champion at the 2003 Eastern Canadian Championships and the All-Around title at the 2004 Elite Canada Championships. At age 13, she joined the Canadian National team and set her sights on the Olympics. From 2005 to 2008, she represented Canada at several World Cup competitions, winning one gold and one silver medal. She also competed for Canada in two Pacific Rim Championships, at which she won two individual and two team medals. In 2008, Kristina placed second in the All-Around at the Canadian National Championships but elbow surgery forced her to miss the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2010, Kristina returned to her sport on the national and international stages, winning the All-Around title at the Canadian National Championships, along with two golds and two silvers at the Turnier der Meister World Cup in Germany, and two bronze plus a team silver at the Pan Am Championships. Following these successes, Kristina chose to accept a 4-year athletic scholarship to Stanford University. After her first year of university, she returned home for one full year to train in preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games. During that year, she competed at the 2011 Pan Am Games, winning bronze in the All-Around and silver on the balance beam while contributing to Canada’s team silver; she also participated in the 2011 London Olympic Test Event where she helped Canada qualify a full team for the 2012 Olympic Games. After earning a spot on the Olympic team, Kristina contributed to Canada’s historic fifth-place finish at the games. Kristina returned to Stanford in the fall of 2012; in her junior year, she was named 3-time Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week and won bronze medals at the 2014 Pac-12 Championships and at the 2014 NCAA Championships.