Roar on Tigers

Cara Groves claimed the trophy for rookie ofthe year. (Nick Pearce Photo)

Dal’s varsity athletes left the jerseys at home and put ontheir fanciest duds for the Black and Gold Athletic AwardsBanquet.

Held at the end of each season, the banquet is a chance torecognize Dal’s elite athletes and coaches and thank the manyvolunteers who assist throughout the year.
The highlights of the 56th annual edition were the awards foroutstanding male and female athletes: runner Celia Peters andswimmer David Sharpe.

A native of New Glasgow, N.S., Ms. Peters is a co-captain of theTigers track and field team who broke a 15-year old AUS record inthe 600-metre event this season. She also took three other AUSfirst place finishes in the 1,000-metre, 4-by-800 and4-by-200-metre relay events. In the AUS conference this season, shewas honoured as the AUS Track and Field MVP, the AUS Athlete of theYear and an AUS First Team All-Star. At the CIS Championships, sheearned a silver medal in the 600-metre event and bronze in the1,000-metre event.

From Halifax, David Sharpe had an outstanding freshman year as aTiger swimmer. He broke six AUS records, and won seven AUS titles,including four individual and three relay events. He was honouredas AUS Rookie of the Meet, AUS Swimmer of the Meet, AUS Swimmer ofthe Year, and an AUS First Team All-Star. At nationals, he earned agold medal in the 50 metre backstroke and three silvers in the 100metre backstroke and the 100-metre and 200-metre butterfly events.His gold medal performance at nationals was the first individualgold medal for a Dalhousie swimmer in a decade.

Award winners Peter Lord is the coach of the year.(Nick Pearce Photo) Here’s the complete list of awards handed out at the April1 event: A.J. Sandy Young Award (for contribution to Nova Scotia sport):Dr. Carolyn Savoy Team MVPs (basketball): Simon Farine and April Scott Team MVPs (cross country): Russell Christie and CarolineSchlosser Team MVPs (hockey): Benjamin Breault and Jocelyn Leblanc Team MVPs (soccer): Ross Hagen and Jeanette Huck Team MVPs (swimming): David Sharpe and Terri-LynnBenison   Team MVPs (track & field): Simon Watts and CeliaPeters Team MVPs (volleyball): Max Burt, Sander Ratsep and MaggieMorrison Manager of the Year: Chuck Wheeler, men’s hockey Volunteer awards: Bryan Fader, Ardith & Laurie Haley,Lauren Marsh-Knickle Trainer of the Year: Jessica Nichols, men’sbasketball Rookies of the Year: David Sharpe, swimming, and Cara Groves,cross country/track and field Coach of the Year: Peter Lord, track and field President’s Awards for academics, athletics, leadershipand community service: Kaitlyn McNutt, women’s hockey and Andrew Sullivan,men’s basketball