St. Clair celebrates athletics

By Maureen Mariampillai

St. Clair College athletes traded in their uniforms for suits and dresses for one special night.

The 46th annual awards banquet for the varsity and intramural athletes and coaches celebrated their achievements at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts April 11.

Athletic coordinator Jay Shewfelt said it was an important day for the athletes and coaches to not only recognize their work but the best way to wrap up the year.

Changes are coming to the athletic department such as the opening of the SportsPlex in 2014, which will feature the triple gym with an indoor running track and fitness centre. Shewfelt said they will also be offering every Saints varsity athlete a $1,250 scholarship.

“The reason we’re doing it is two-fold. We want to help recruit top athletes but it’s also a way to alleviate some of the pressure on their day to day life,” said Shewfelt.

He said one of the big challenges they find with their athletes these days is the ability for the athletes to juggle school, varsity sports, jobs and personal lives.

“It seems to be getting more difficult each year. The classes are getting tougher and the hours are getting longer,” said Shewfelt.

Nominated for female Athlete of the Year for Outstanding Achievement, Alexa Georgiou is a first-year collaborative nursing student with a part time job and said she would definitely be taking advantage of the scholarship next semester so that she can focus more on school and softball.

“At first it was tough, like first semester was really tough, but then I just started to time manage … take out some time from studying or work or softball and just take out time for myself. You know, watch a movie or something,” said Georgiou.

While playing for the women’s fastball team, Georgiou said it was a great feeling to be recognized in the community by receiving The Windsor Essex County Sports Person of the Year.

“I’ve been playing this sport for almost my whole life so being able to see it pay off was just a great experience,” said Georgiou, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association bronze medalist.

About 315 guests attended the banquet with CTV’s Bob Bellacicco hosting as master of ceremonies. Other special guests attending were St. Clair College president John Stasser and host of TV show Face to Face John Fairley. The event featured a virtual tour of the SportsPlex and a highlight reel of the year.

Cross-country runner Andrew deGroot took home the Athlete of the Year award, among others, for his silver medal at the provincial level and gold at national. Shewfelt said deGroot was very sick during the provincial competition, but still won silver.

“Then he went from there to nationals and dominated at nationals and won gold,” said Shewfelt.