Baseball player Luc Simpson of Aldergrove was among those recognized as the Athletes of the Year by the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack.
The Cliff Neufeld Leadership Athletes of the Year were Luc Simpson (outfield, Aldergrove, baseball) and Taiysa Worsfold (guard, Kamloops, basketball). The award goes to athletes who not only excel in their sport but also lead by example with their teammates and the community.
Simpson’s coach Ray Chadwick said about his captain: “As a coach, you hope your athletes are talented enough to continue their sport of choice at the highest level possible. If not, you hope that the athlete you’ve watched grow over the course of his time with you has shown that he has matured and will be an asset to our society. Both he and Alex both definitely have done that. If Luc isn’t fortunate enough to play at the next level, whatever he chooses as his profession or career there is no doubt that the work ethic and attitude toward life he has shown will be very successful.”
Simpson spearheaded all of the baseball team’s community work along with encouraging other varsity athletes at TRU to do the same. He was also involved with promoting the TRU athletic program and their activities on social media.
Worsfold is a “Big Sister” through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in Kamloops. She coordinated an ‘organ donation’ awareness night at one of the WolfPack basketball games this year and helped volunteer at the New Life Mission. She also coaches young basketball players individually and worked at a number of local skills clinics throughout the year.
“Taiysa is a model student athlete,” says her head coach Scott Reeves. “She leads our team in scoring, maintains a straight A average and is our leader in the community. We are very proud of Taiysa and her many accomplishments.”
Other nominees were Sydney Goward (Williams Lake, cheerleading), Brett Parker (Langley, basketball), Logan Geisbrecht (Williams Lake, cheerleading), Ryan Pidhirniak (Coquitlam, cross country), Alesha Miller (Vernon, cross country), and Brianne Rauch (Kimberley, volleyball).