KISH celebrates clubs and athletes

CAPTION: Kensington Intermediate Senior High school’s major award sports awards winners cherish their hardware Wednesday night after the KISH Awards ceremony. From Left, John Bowness Achievement award winner Jordan Snively, acting Athletic Director Faro Halupa, Female Athlete of the Year Malary Schurman and Male Athlete of the Year Jared Oatway.

 

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Kensington Intermediate Senior High school’s Athletes and clubs were front and center Wednesday night for their annual awards banquet in the school’s cafeteria.

Grade 12 seniors Jared Oatway and Malary Schurman took home the awards for Athletes of the Year at the top honour’s celebration.

Schurman, an 18-year-old from Stanley Bride and daughter of Bonnie and Isaac Schurman, played many sports for the school including volleyball, basketball and rugby.

Schurman earned the Coaches’ Choice award for volleyball, was the Most Dedicated Player on her rugby team and was the Most Valuable Player for the basketball team.

She plans on going to Saint Mary’s University next year, where she will try out for their varsity rugby team.

Schurman said that winning the award was a “Super honour” for her.

“There’s been a lot of hard work and dedication put into my sports, so it’s awesome.”

She said the trophy was important to her after the work she put into her sports.

“It’s like good payback for all the hard work and dedication that I put into my sports. It’s just a great honour.”

Oatway, 18-year old male athlete of the year, is from Kensington and is the son of Mark and Darlene Oatway. He played soccer, basketball and track and field, winning the Douglas Ramsay Most sportmanlike player on the soccer team.

Oatway said he plans to move on to UPEI and begin training with the soccer team there.

“I probably won’t play next year, but it’ll be nice to play with them a bit and practice with them.”

He said he was surprised that he won the Male Athlete of the Year award.

“I thought a buddy of mine was going to win it but I guess not,” he said. “(From winning the trophy) I’m happy and excited.”

Richard Younker, girl’s volleyball coach and one of those involved in voting for Athlete of the Year, said Schurman was a team leader and a valuable part of every team she played on.

“You look at the all-stars that she won, the awards that she won (Wednesday night) like most dedicated, most valuable for every team she was on. She was clearly the choice for Female Athlete of the Year.”

Younker said Oatway is a prototypical coach’s athlete and that’s why he won the male athlete of the year.

“He works hard, he’s dedicated, he may not be the most skilled player on each team, that’s for sure, but he certainly played every sport dedicated,” he said. “I think he was a good choice.”