W.L. Seaton Secondary School in Vernon had a clean sweep at the annual North Okanagan Athletic Awards.
Three awards (Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, and Leadership in Sport) were given out in a ceremony outside Vernon City Hall on Wednesday, June 11.
The Athlete of the Year was given to Sierra Munroe. The Grade 12 student at Seaton is a dual-sport athlete in biathlon and rowing, training at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre and Vernon Rowing Club.
In 2024, she won gold at the B.C. Summer Games in girls pairs and mixed fours, and secured a full-ride scholarship to the NCAA school Rhode Island University, for rowing in the fall.
"Sports have been such a big part of my life," Munroe said. "I am grateful for my family, so thank you everyone."
Other nominees in the athlete category was Cassandra Brown (basketball), Shayla Flanagan (gymnastics) and Shanda Hill (ultra athlete).
Team of the Year Award went to the Seaton Secondary gymnastics squad. The team won the B.C. Provioncial Championship in Delta in March, with team members Shayla Flanagan, Penny Bieber, Lily Penner, and Nicole Sjoberg. They were coached by Kennedy Guilbeau.
The other nominee in the category was the Vernon Secondary Panthers senior girls basketball team, which won bronze at the AAA B.C. Provincial Championships in Langley.
In the Leadership in Sports category, Seaton principal Mike Grace was bestowed the honour. Grace has given his time to coach numerous sports teams over the years, including basketball and soccer, while also juggling his administrative duties.
"As you do more and more leadership, that means you do more and more service, so it has been an honour to serve kids," said Grace, who announced that he is retiring at the end of the year. "I am going to keep doing it, and just being mentioned with the others here is incredible."
Other finalists in the leadership category were Norm Crerar of the SilverStar Resort, Steve Feedham of the Vernon and Area Senior Slo-Pitch League and Dianna Wenzlaff, organizer of local running events.
