COQUITLAM, BC –—In a year of amazing feats and great achievements, the new Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to play tribute to a select group of athletes and builders as part of its grand opening.

As part of the newly renovated Coquitlam Sports Centre (633 Poirier Street), the Hall of Fame is presenting an annual award, named the Wall of Fame.

At the November 23 induction ceremony this select group will be honoured for their accomplishments in 2009.

The recipients are:
DISABLED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Dustin Walsh (Track and Field)—Dustin, who competed as a blind runner at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, won gold at the IBSA Pan American Games in Colorado in the 400m dash. At the Canadian nationals, he finished 2nd in both the 200m and 400m events, and later established a new personal best of 54.36 seconds in the 400 metre. He was also named BC Athletics 2009 Male Athlete with a Disability.

JUNIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Brittany Rogers (Gymnastics)—Brittany represented Canada at the World Gymnastics championships, becoming the lone Canadian at the event to advance to a final — she placed seventh overall in vault. At the Vitaly Scherbo Cup in Belarus, Brittany finished 1st in vault, 3rd in floor and 3rd all-around.

JUNIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ronald Lam (Figure Skater)—Ronald placed 2nd at the BC championships and 4th at the Canadian Jr. Men’s championships (scoring 1st in the short program). He was named to Canada’s junior national team and represented Canada at ISU Jr. Grand Prix events in Poland (where he finished 5th) and Croatia (9th).

HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Elise Horton (Basketball, Soccer)—Elise capped her senior high school year in two sports, playing a role in Centennial’s BC berths in both basketball and soccer. She scored 24 points for her team in a must-win playoff game that ended a 16-year provincial tournament drought. She was a Fraser Valley 1st team all-star, and at the B.C.s was an honourable mention. In soccer, Elise led Centennial with seven goals in four Fraser Valley games, and played a major role in its sixth-place showing at the provincials.

HIGH SCHOOL MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Lemar Durant (Basketball, Football)—The two-sport star began 2009 by guiding Centennial to a series of key wins, including scoring 34 points in the North league final, en route to the B.C. AAA boys basketball championship tournament. In football, the wide receiver was shifted to quarterback early in the season and never looked back, spearheading Centennial’s undefeated drive to a B.C. AAA Football title. In the final, he rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns, earning the MVP award. He was named BC High School Football’s Pepsi AAA Player of the Year.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Karlee Diesing (Volleyball)—As a third-year power hitter at Capilano University, Karlee captained her volleyball team to a second-place finish in B.C. She finished in the league’s top-10 in kills, aces and digs. She was the only women’s player in B.C. to crack the top-10 in three statistical categories, and was chosen the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association’s Female Volleyball Player of the Year, the BC Colleges Athletic Association Player of the Year, and Capilano University’s top female athlete.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Bryan Leitch (Hockey)—Bryan became the first Quinnipiac University men’s hockey player to lead the NCAA in scoring, totaling 59 points over 39 games (1.51 points per game) as a senior. He also led the nation with a new-team record 47 assists, and was selected to the ECAC Hockey Second Team, while listed as a Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate.

SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ruky Abdulai (Track and Field)—Ruky won bronze in the long jump at the 2009 Summer Universiade, and set a new meet record (6.60m) in the long jump at the Harry Jerome Track Classic. She was named BC Athletics Senior Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

MASTER ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Laura Ramsay (Squash)—Laura brought home the bronze at the 2009 World Masters Squash championships in the women’s 55-59 open division. In BC, she topped the master women’s over-55- and 60 divisions, was ranked second in the over-50, and 4th in over 45 category.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Wes Taylor (Baseball)—Wes managed the Coquitlam Junior Little League All-Stars to a second straight Canadian national championship crown, and onward to the Taylor, Michigan Junior World Series.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Coquitlam Little League junior All Stars (Baseball)—The Coquitlam 13-14 year olds won the B.C. championship, beating White Rock 5-3 in the final. In the Canadian national final, they edged Medicine Hat 4-3 for a second consecutive year. That rocketed the team to the Junior World Series, where the club represented Canada with pride.

For more information on the inductees and the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame, contact president Lois McNary @ l.mcnary@coquitlamshof.com or 604.616.1341