Holy Cross Hawks hand out yearly athletic awards

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The Holy Cross Collegiate Hawks handed out their annual hardware May 12, recognizing the very best in another year of athletic achievements.
For the third-straight year and second-straight year at the senior level, Alex Nwoye was named the senior male Athlete of the Year.
“It’s a great honour to win this award. It’s great to know that the school recognizes me for the hard work that I have put in to get better as an athlete,” said Nwoye, a Grade 11 student.
Nwoye was a key player in the start-up boys’ volleyball team that had been absent from the Hawks program for years. While he never made provincials in volleyball, he won the south central zone championship for high jump and finished second in long jump. At provincials, he placed fifth in the intermediate high jump with a final cleared height of 1.75 metres and fifth in the intermediate long jump with a distance of 6.11m.
“I think by playing multiple sports at school, being active and working on his footwork in his jumping really helped him on the basketball court,” said Hawks Athletic Director Josh Jalbert.
On the hardwood is where Nwoye excelled once again. As the starting shooting guard on the Hawks, Nwoye constantly led his team in points and assists. While the Hawks fell short of their goal to win zones, Nwoye’s year was punctuated by a 58-point performance Jan. 17 against the Oilfield High School Drillers.
“That was a great game and the most points I’ve ever scored, but I still try to look back and see how I can be better next time,” said Nwoye. “I missed eight free throws in that game, so it just goes to show that even on your best day, there is always room for improvement.”
The senior female Athlete of the Year also went to a Grade 11 student in Hope Given.
Given was a leader on the basketball team as one of the returning players in the locker room. She also played volleyball and threw the javelin and discus for the Hawks track and field team.
“Hope is a great, well-rounded athlete,” said Jalbert. “Her best quality is her compete level that she brings to every sport, no matter the occasion. She was the MVP for the basketball team and a key contributor on volleyball and track.”
In the junior ranks, Hayley Tanton was recognized as the junior female Athlete of the Year.
“It felt pretty cool to receive this award,” said Tanton, a Grade 9 student. “We didn’t have the greatest basketball and volleyball seasons, but everyone worked hard and we all contributed to the team.”
Tanton was part of the volleyball, basketball and badminton junior programs.
“Hayley was dominant in every sport she played,” said Jalbert. “She was a leader on each team and attacked games with a smile on her face.”
Joe Szasz was the junior male Athlete of the Year.
It isn’t too often you see the starting centre be nimble enough to win a south central zone title in badminton doubles, but that’s the type of athleticism that has coaches at the senior ranks excited about Szasz moving forward.
“He’s a great athlete who can handle any situation in any sport,” said Jalbert. “He works hard, is a great leader and really a wonderful representative for HCC.”
Szasz also played on the volleyball team, and in track and field.