Don Cormier accepted his Stephen Award as Senior Athlete of the Year on Saturday with great pride, noting being selected by an independent committee is even a bigger honour.
He was one of three Athletes of the Year presented the Stephen Award on Saturday night at the annual Stephen Awards Banquet and presentation of awards.
William Forsey was named the Junior Male Athlete of the Year by acclamation; while Erin Boyd took the honour of being named Junior Female Athlete of the Year, with only one other nominee in her category - swimmer and track and field competitor Katarina Roxon.
"I was really surprised to be named for the award. Katarina is an amazing athlete, competing on national and international levels. This feels very good when you're amongst company like that and you get named. It feels amazing," Boyd said.
Boyd said she basically spends her life playing sports and is dedicated to each and every one she's involved in.
She dedicates five to six hours per week at figure skating, three hours a week at senior basketball and plays volleyball, senior soccer, ball hockey and minor broomball.
On a provincial scale, she competed in figure skating, basketball, volleyball, soccer, broomball and ball hockey.
As a volunteer, her contribution to athletics includes work as a Canskate coach, assistant with the Jackrabbit Ski Program of Whaleback Nordic, as well as scorekeeping for basketball and Canteen for School Sports at her school.
The Stephenville High Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program nominated her for the award.
Cormier is a past recipient of the senior athlete award, taking it the last time for the year 2007, with no nominees put forward in 2008 and 2009.
"It was disappointing to see those two years vacant considering the calibre of athletes in this area. To not get someone nominated is very discouraging," he said. "It's important for each club to be responsible enough to nominate someone from their organization."
"I was really surprised to be named for the award." - Erin Boyd, Junior Female Athlete of the Year
Cormier plans to keep competing in his sports of cross-country skiing and powerlifting and said with two grandkids with an interest in sports, he plans to compete against them. The Stephenville Powerlifting Club and the Stephenville Olympic Club nominated him for the Stephen.
Chris Dugas, a Special Olympics competitor in track and field events, was the other nominee for the award this year.
"It was an honour to be nominated with an athlete like Chris. He's training in powerlifting with us as well and is a strong athlete," Cormier said.
Forsey said it feels good to be recognized locally for all the competitions he has taken part in inside and outside the province.
He recognized his coaches for their support and help and said without the support of his parents (Rosemary and William Forsey) both emotionally and financially, he wouldn't be able to compete half as much as he do.
During 2010 he was named Stephenville High Varsity MVP in cross-country running, badminton, track and field and cross-country skiing.
He captained his soccer team and won the regional 4A School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Tournament. He was also on the team that won the Regionals 4A in softball.
Forsey excelled in all his sports on a provincial level, adding volleyball to the list and was presented the Sportsmanship First Award.
On a national level, he competed in track and field in Ottawa with a second in heat finish in the 800 metre. In skiing he represented Newfoundland at the Eastern Canada Championships in Gatineau, Que. and at the Canadian National Championships in Whitehorse, Yukon.
He also represented the province at the Atlantic Badminton Championships.
Whaleback Ski Club nominated him for the Stephen Award.
