Three seniors earned the distinction of being named the 2023-24 Athletes of the Year at the annual Duncan Christian School athletic awards earlier this month.
Grayson Dunn was the senior boys Athlete of the Year while Sydney Dollman and Danika Fitzpatrick were named the senior girls Athletes of the Year.
"A Duncan Christian School athlete of the year will have successfully participated in several sports seasons over their high school career and have demonstrated a strong athletic ability," said athletic director Tom Veenstra. "This athlete will have made positive contributions with coaches noting their potential. They will have demonstrated their own skills, teamwork and sportsmanlike attitudes, as well as recognizing where they could have done better. Above all, the athlete should be or have the potential to be an example of the type of athlete and individual who Duncan Christian School strives to develop through the sponsorship of extra-curricular athletics."
To earn his award, Dunn was a star on the track and field team as well as an Island all-star in basketball. He was the MVP of the senior boys basketball team that won the Island Championships and was the Most Sportsmanlike player on the senior boys volleyball team that also won the Island tournament. What's more, this year Dunn earned the DCS Servant Leadership Award in the area of athletics.
Dollman was on the senior girls volleyball team that qualified for the provincials three years in a row as well as the MVP of the senior girls basketball team that won the BC Christian Tier 2 Basketball Championship two straight years, and the MVP of the tournament. A Novice Basketball referee, she also earned the JT Memorial Minor Basketball Official award.
Captain of the senior girls volleyball team that qualified for the provincials three straight years, Fitzpatrick was an Island volleyball all-star. She was the Most Sportsmanlike player on the senior girls basketball team that won the BC Christian Tier 2 basketball Championship two years in a row and an outstanding role model and leader in athletics.
The junior Athlete of the Year Awards were earned by Sarah Monahan and Addie Nederlof for the girls and Inho Baek and Syrius Guo for the boys.
Monahan and Nederlof also won BC Christian Jack Boersma Junior Athlete Awards.
The Anne Muller Award for the DCS basketball player who demonstrates the most energy and enthusiasm was awarded to Katie Bertucci this year while the John Thomas Memorial Basketball Minor Officials plaques were awarded to Dollman, Annabelle Faustino, Hannah Nelson, and Mercedes Gary.
The Sportspersons of the Year for outstanding service in 2023-24 were Annabelle Faustino and Hannah Nelson.
"Over the past three years, we have hosted nearly 300 basketball games and these two Grade 12s were at the basketball minor officials score table for most of these games," Veenstra said. "She has helped make DCS a place where referees loved officiating and where teams loved to play."
