Morin, Dalseg honoured at Rotary Awards dinner

Jourdan Morin and Graham Dalseg capped their high school careers by claiming two of the most prestigious awards given to local athletes on Tuesday night.

At the 49th Annual Rotary Sports Awards Dinner, honouring local high school boys athletics and the Sportsperson of the Year, Morin won the Walter Lowe Trophy as the top male high school athlete for his multi-sport performance at Korah.

Sir James Dunn's Graham Dalseg also emerged with the prestigious B'nai B'rith Award as the graduating high school student best combining athletics with academics.

It was the second award of the night for both as Morin earlier won the individual sport award for football while Dalseg was honoured with teammate Ian Flaxey in Badminton.

Morin, who hopes to attend Cambrian College in Sudbury, starred in five sports at Korah which included a league MVP selection in senior football. A stellar guard on basketball court, Morin, who stands at five-foot-six and 155 pounds, also played hockey, badminton and track and field.

"I'm honoured. I knew it would be close between Kyle Gauthier and I," said Morin "Football most likely made the difference for me. The coaches at Korah were awesome. They were easy to get along with and they were also your friend."

Dalseg also played a key role as a winger with the city champion Sir James Dunn hockey team. In badminton, Dalseg won city and Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) championships before winning the B flight at the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) championships.

"I knew I was in the running but everyone in that category was very strong in academics," said Dalseg, who carried a 96 percent average at midterm this semester. "I think this is my biggest thrill because the award recognizes academics and athletics in all sports. I won the award for hockey but this is for everything."

Sherri Smith headlined the entire event by capturing the H.P. Broughton Award as Sault Ste. Marie's Sportsperson of the Year. (Click here for related story)

Another highlight of the night was the induction of three members into the Russ Ramsay High School Sports Hall of Fame including Sault Star reporter Peter Ruicci along with coaches Ken White and Art Anderson.

Ruicci began covering high school sports while in grade 13 at Sir James Dunn. In his career, Ruicci has reported and broadcast games on radio, television and in the newspaper.

In 28 years at SJD, teacher Ken White has dedicated countless hours to the athletic program as a coach. Known mostly for his success as a football coach, White also coached wrestling and track and field while serving time a league convenor.

Anderson, a 30-year teacher at Bawating and Korah, enjoyed the most success as coach of the cross-country running and ski teams. Anderson also spent his time coaching football and track and field.

Meanwhile, the Korah Colts ended a 16-year winning streak by Sir James Dunn by capturing the Ross Winslade Trophy as the top school accumulating the most points within the city for all boys and girls sports sanctioned by the Local Athletic Association.

Korah's Winslade honour marks the first time a school other than SJD or Bawating have captured the award. Sir James Dunn has won the trophy 21 times in its 25-year existence and Bawating four.

*** The following is a complete list of award winners with nominees:

BADMINTON:

Winner: Graham Dalseg/Ian Flaxey - Sir James Dunn

Nominees:

Kyle Gauthier - Bawating Kyle Cormier - Korah Marc Caputo - St. Basil Ben Oliver - St. Mary's Mitch Piper - White Pines

BASKETBALL:

Winner: Wes Ontonovich - St. Mary's

Nominees:

Christian Johnson - Korah Trevor LaForrest - Sir James Dunn Josh Marasco - St. Basil Mike Wiemer - White Pines D.J. Wright - Bawating

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING:

Winner: Dominik Graf - Sir James Dunn

Nominees:

Andrew King - St. Basil Jon Harvey - St. Mary's Kevin Sawyer - White Pines David Dutkiewicz - Bawating Jamie Kiddle - Korah

CURLING:

Winner: Clint Cudmore - Korah

Nominees:

Rick Mills - St. Mary's Andy Downing - White Pines

FOOTBALL:

Winner: Jourdan Morin - Korah

Nominees:

Alanzo Clarke - White Pines Mike Storozuk - Bawating D.J. Idehen - Sir James Dunn Mark Porco - St. Basil Anthony Amadio - St. Mary's

HOCKEY:

Winner: John Ellis - Sir James Dunn

Nominees:

Kyle Lanteigne - Bawating Kyle Leonard - Korah Frank D'Addetta - St. Basil Jordan Rochetta - St. Mary's Josh Reed - White Pines

SOCCER:

Winner: Mark Cicino - St. Basil

Nominees:

Jamie Robertson - Korah Matt Irving - Sir James Dunn Darcy Lillie - St. Mary's Henrik Lundorff Kristenson - White Pines

TRACK & FIELD:

Winner: Dominik Graf - Sir James Dunn

Nominees:

Dustin Supak - St. Basil Andrew Posteraro - St. Mary's Nick Peters - White Pines Kyle Gauthier - Bawating Tysen Vanderloo - Korah

WRESTLING:

Winner: Josh Lynch - St. Basil

Nominees:

Matt Leblanc - Bawating Allen Middleton - Korah Chris Izydorczyk - Sir James Dunn

WALTER LOWE MEMORIAL TROPHY: (Male high school athlete of the year)

Winner: Jourdan Morin - Korah

Nominees:

Phil Ruicci - St. Mary's Alanzo Clarke - White Pines Kyle Gauthier - Bawating Matt Irving - Sir James Dunn Jordan Zuke - St. Basil

B'NAI B'RITH AWARD: (Graduating student best combining athletics and academics)

Winner: Graham Dalseg - Sir James Dunn

Nominees:

Adam Stevenson - White Pines Kyle Lanteigne - Bawating Anthony Spina - St. Basil Marc Palumbo - St. Mary's

H.P. BROUGHTON TROPHY: (Sault Ste. Marie Sportsperson of the Year)

Winner: Sherri Smith

Nominees:

Soo Bantam Greyhounds AAA Bantam Major hockey team Soo North Stars AAA Midget hockey team

ROSS WINSLADE TROPHY: (Top school in all sports based on a points system)

Winner: Korah

RUSS RAMSAY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HALL OF FAME: (Exceptional contributions to high school sports)

Inductees:

Peter Ruicci Ken White Art Anderson

***