Editor’s Note: Six accomplished athletes have been nominated as Orillia’s top athlete for 2017. Over the past several days, OrilliaMatters has profiled the nominees. Today, we conclude the series with a look at nominee, Dipinekumar Patel.
There was a time, many years ago, when cricket was quite popular in Orillia. But in more recent years, if you uttered the word ‘cricket’ in the Sunshine City, most would have assumed you were speaking of the insect.
But all that changed last year. Thanks, in part, to an initiative by the Orillia Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to help celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary, a Heritage Cricket Match was organized. As a result, the Orillia Cricket Club (OCC) was reborn on April 13, 2017.
While several people in the community got behind the initiative, it was Dipinekumar Patel who spearheaded the effort. The 33-year-old was not only instrumental in forming the club, he became one of its top players and went out of his way to promote the sport and mentor young players.
“He was always going the extra mile on and off the field,” said Anan Patel, who nominated Dipinekumar for the city’s top athletic prize. “He is vice- captain of the team and an outstanding all-around player in the game of cricket.”
Dipinekumar Patel was chosen as “man of the match” in the Heritage Classic and earned “man of the season” honours for the Orillia club this season. While talented and driven he was also a leader. “On the field he is very sportsmanlike, plays fair and really well,” said Anan Patel. “He is constantly mentoring younger players and organizing games to play (against) teams from other cities in Ontario.”
Dipinekumar Patel was also an “instrumental and very valuable member of the OCC committee” and helped form the club, scheduled practices and games, assisted new players and organized things for visiting teams.
He ensured the Heritage Classic was a success. In that game, the nominee helped the newly-formed OCC club beat members of the original team. The winners’ trophy was a cricket bat once owned by Stephen Leacock.
Thanks primarily to his efforts, the OCC hosted several games this summer at the artificial turf field at the West Orillia Sports Complex; the club is now a member in good standing with the Ontario Cricket League. Because of the local team’s professionalism, other teams have already pledged to return this summer for tournaments Patel is planning.
The athlete of the year is chosen by a nine-member panel of local judges. The award will be handed out during a meeting of City Council Feb. 12. The award was first presented in 1952 after Norm Davis created a trophy for the honour. Past winners include Walter Henry, Bill Watters, Brian Orser, Clary Payne and Gander Ross.
