PICTOU – Leigha MacDonald and Peyton Briand shared female athlete of the year honours at Pictou Academy this year.
The two received the award – The Thistle Cup – at the school’s non-academic awards night on Tuesday, when Briand also received the Ron O’Flaherty Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in school sports along with academic excellence.
Ethan MacCallum garnered male athlete of the year honours, taking home the Cambridge Cup.
Note: The athlete of the year awards are presented in memory of Noah Russell (Class of 2007).
Philip Ruiz, the girls soccer coach at Pictou Academy, received the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Outstanding Service Award, while Caleb Halfpenny and Peyton Briand took home NSSAF Exemplary Participation Awards given to both a male and female athlete for their contribution to school sports.
The NSSAF International Student Athlete Award went to Derrick Cho (basketball) and Elsa Lopes-Quintas (badminton, cross-country, soccer, track and field). Emma Ruiz was named the L.G. Bud White Memorial Award winner, presented annually to a Pictou Academy basketball player, to recognize their outstanding contributions to the school and the community.
Other sports awards winners (MVP denotes ‘Most Valuable Player’, MIP denotes ‘Most Improved Player’):
• Girls Hockey: Leigha MacDonald (MVP) and Jenna Ferrara (MIP).
• Girls Soccer: Kari Waller and Emma Ruiz (co-MVP) and Peyton Briand (MIP).
• Cross Country: Elias MacMillan (Top Male) and Kelli MacDonald (Top Female).
• Top Golfer: Josh Temple.
• Top Curler: Rachael Van Veen.
• Badminton: Peyton Briand, Erin MacMillan.
• Boys Basketball: Ethan MacCallum (MVP) and Brady Kennedy (MIP).
• Baseball: Ethan MacCallum (MVP) and Dylan Lougheed (MIP).
• Girls Softball: Thea Waller (MVP) and Kylie MacCormack (MIP).
• Girls Basketball: Myla Briand (MVP) and Kelli MacDonald (MIP).
• Track and Field: Jake Temple (Top Male), Leigha MacDonald and Peyton Briand (Top Female).
