Brunet, Mitchell & Trudell honoured

The WESPY Awards never disappoint. This year's keynote speaker, Jack Nicklaus, is the cream of the crop in the golf world and he shared some important wisdom with the full house at the Caboto Club. "Competition is great but you're competition is really, is yourself." Nicklaus said during his on-stage interview with WESPY founder Dominic Papa.

The major awards were then doled out with Mandy Brunet being named female athlete of the year. "I'm speechless right now," said the Holy Names grad who won gold in the triple jump with a leap of 12.39m at the national champoinships in March. "It means so much to me. That was after a really tough part in my life last season coming back from health issues so I had a lot to prove and to come back to the sport. The fact that it was recognized the way it was tonight, I'm so speechless right now."

Brunet has been gearing up for the outdoor season and plans to compete at nationals and hopefully land a spot on Canada's Olympic team. She plans to return to the University for her final year in September.

Boxer Jayden Trudell beat out former Windsor Spitfires' forward Matthew Maggio, who won the OHL scoring title and league MVP, for male athlete of the year. "I haven't quite yet sat back and really appreciated what I've done." said the 19-year old who has had a whirlwind year and a half.

Trudell rose to the top of his division winning the 67K title. He then moved up to the 71k division to take a shot at making Canada's Olympic team this year. Trudell won provincials but fell short at nationals losing to Kuardeep Manu in the semi-finals.

"This, it helps settle (the accomplishments) in a little," said Trudell who plans to compete as an amateur for one more year before turning pro.

Dale Mitchell won coach of the year after guiding the Leamington Flyers to the Sutherland Cup championship in 2023. "It's awesome," Mitchell said. "If not for the support of my wife who watches our kids when we're away at the games, management, Justin Solcz our GM to allow me the opportunity I wouldn't be here. Thanks to them and the players. It's something special."

The 35-year old led the Flyers to a 4th place finish in their first season at the Junior A level. Leamington won two playoff rounds before bowing out in the OJHL conference final to the Collingwood Blues who went on to win their second straight league title.

"Starts with the ownership group. They give us the ability, Justin and I, to keep the team going and they don't get in the way. Credit to the players too. They battled through that playoff run to put our name on the map."