Orillia Secondary School (OSS) recently hosted its annual Athletic Awards Banquet.
The celebration was attended by more than 250 students as the school reflected on their achievements over the course of a busy athletic year. This year, OSS offered 34 teams that participated in the Simcoe County Athletics Association.
It is a favourite night of the year for many coaches and athletes as they look back through video compilations assembled by coaches. The students enjoyed the evening with friends and teammates; the event was a dinner party that featured a few words about some significant accomplishments by so many hard working student athletes.
Some major awards are highlighted below:
OSS Future Legends
This award is for students in Grade 9 to 11 who demonstrated a level of excellence that stood out as significant in their sport.
This year's recipients were Ellaina Murdoch and Carter Holmes. Murdoch was a standout basketball player on the senior team and an OFSAA qualifier in track and field. Holmes was a standout in football, basketball and track and field.
True Grit Award
This award is given to a student who shows resilience and perseverance as a member of a team that coaches find extraordinary. This year's recipient is Canyon Ferguson, a Grade 10 student. She was a member of flag football, wrestling, hockey and rugby teams who displayed the grit that coaches found extraordinary.
Ian MacMillan Award
This Award is presented to graduating students who played a sport at OSS and will continue to play that sport at the post-secondary level. This year's recipients are Matthew Dell’Unto, who will play post-secondary baseball, and Sophie Pallopson who will play post-secondary basketball. The award is named in memory of long-time teacher and coach from ODCVI.
Character Award
This award is presented to students who show outstanding character in athletics and the classroom in their time at OSS. These students demonstrate the high standards of leadership, sportsmanship and achievement that will serve as role models for their teammates and classmates. This year's recipients are Cole Bremner, Grade 12, and Rhiannon Monague, Grade 12.
Nighthawk Performance Awards
These awards are presented to graduating students who had some extraordinary performance for a team or multiple teams, that stood out to coaches as being of great significance to the success of their teams, or their own individual accomplishment. This year there were three recipients.
Sophie Pallopson earned this award for her outstanding performance throughout the basketball season.
Max Majewski earned this award for his play with the football team and his outstanding and school record-breaking performances as a member of the track and field team.
Ariel McGee earned this award for her great play as a member of the rugby team and her outstanding accomplishments as an OFSAA participant for the swim team.
