At a banquet on Sunday night at the Delta in Victoria, seven BC Wheelchair Basketball Society members were honoured for their exceptional achievements in the sport. This year’s winners are:
Junior Athlete of the Year – Jack Kosterman: Jack has come a long way since we met him as a mohawked pre-teen. Since day 1, Jack has shown exceptional commitment to the sport, spending many hours at the gym and always being the first to volunteer for a demo or other event. He is a respected leader of the Langley Gold Rush program and is already a mentor to younger players. Today, he's one of Canada fastest-rising wheelchair basketball stars. Despite not being invited to the original selection camp, he made the 2013 U23 Junior National team and will be a key part of our BC Junior Team as we head into the 2015 Canada Games.
Female Athlete of the Year - Amanda Yan: More than one coach has said that Amanda Yan is the most coachable athlete they've ever met. With her positive attitude and strong work ethic, Amanda is willing to do whatever it takes to improve her game. Those qualities have paid off, since Amanda made the national team after only 2 years of playing, made the All Star team last year and will represent Canada at the 2014 Women's Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.
Coach of the Year – Arley McNeney: Arley retired from wheelchair basketball in 2007 and has been coaching ever since. Arley has such a strong fundamental knowledge of wheelchair basketball and has been an excellent teacher to our junior athletes and development athletes. She has also been a popular City League coach because of her knowledge and entertaining coaching skills. Her dedication to the sport especially in coaching in recent years has supported the growth of new and developing players in Lower Mainland tremendously.
Referee of the Year – Tony Muro: Tony is a dedicated wheelchair basketball official who always has time to explain the rules to beginning athletes and is known for his fairness and dedication to the sport. After our head referee Dean decided to step away from being on the court, Tony has stepped in to referee higher-level games. We are so grateful to have Tony and is decades of experience in our community.
Male Athlete of the Year – Deion Green: Deion has always been a talented wheelchair basketball player. It was easy for everyone to see his growth in last few years but he definitely proved his abilities when he won both Division 1 All-Star and Division 2 MVP at BC Finals in 2013. This year he took his game to the next level by moving to the Wheelchair Basketball Academy in Toronto. His dedication paid off when he was selected to the men's senior national team for the year of 2014. We are so excited to see Deion evolve as a player.
MJ Boudreault True Sport Award – Alphonsus To: Fonzi is known as one of the hardest-working wheelchair basketball players around. He always pushes the hardest, is willing to learn, and is willing to help. Whether he's playing with veteran players or new players, he knows how to enjoy the game while pushing hard or supporting others. This year, he stepped up to help even more off the court. Whether he's organizing a drop-in program, attending an early morning practice, or organizing a division two team, Fonzi is an excellent teammate both on and off the court.
Our last award is a new award that was created in honour of Kenny Hall. Kenny was a Paralympic medalist and a valued member of the wheelchair basketball community who passed away last year. Kenny’s mom and stepfather were on hand to give this very special award to Avril:
Kenny Hall Spirit Award – Avril Harris: Avril Harris has been playing wheelchair basketball pretty much since the beginning. In recent years, however, he's grown into a well-rounded young athlete who coaches, organizes and trains at a high level. His love of the sport is obvious. Whether it's managing the Let's Play program in the North, coaching local wheelchair basketball, or training to represent BC at the 2015 Canada Games in his hometown, Avril does it all and does it with his best. He is a tough player on the court but he always cares others and does anything to help out his teammates, his friend, and the community. We truly appreciate his talent and willingness to give to our sport and feel lucky to have him in our community.
