The Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame has announced their 2016 award winners.
Jonah Pataki has been named this year’s 2016 Athlete of the Year.
Pataki completed his 4th year as a running back for the Queen’s University Golden Gaels. In eight games this season, Pataki finished 4th in rushing yards in the OUA, rushing for 814 yards on 148 carries. He also scored 7 rushing TD’s, good for 4th in the OUA.
Ric Vancollie has been named the 2016 Coach of the Year. Vancollie coached the Wallaceburg Minor Midgets to the OMHA ‘BB-D’ championship, after beating Erin-Hillsburgh in the final.
Torri Handsor and Casey McGee have been named the co-winners of the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award.
Handsor is currently playing in her second year on the St. Clair College women’s basketball team. In her rookie season last year, she averaged 9.3 points per game, and is enjoying another successful run with the Saints this year.
McGee led the Wallaceburg Sting and the entire First Division in scoring in his second season playing in the men’s soccer league. Overall, McGee scored 29 goals for Wallaceburg.
The 2016 Builders of the Year are Penny and Bob Bishop. The Bishop’s are certified Tennis Canada instructors and have been teaching the sport in schools for over 10 years. They were instrumental in helping the Municipality secure funding for the tennis court improvements at Steinhoff Park, and they run an annual summer program at the courts each year.
Brad Maxim is the Ray Aarssen/Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship winner this year. Maxim played multiple sports at WDSS, including: soccer, football, volleyball, hockey, swimming, badminton and curling. He currently plays soccer for the Swing and attends the University of Western Ontario.
The awards will be handed out at the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame annual dinner, being held on January 28, 2017.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in the near future.
