- Coach Amicarelli receives OFSAA’s Pete Beach award -
by Garrett Fodor
photos submitted
Essex District High School (EDHS) celebrated the accomplishments of its top athletes during a celebratory event last Friday afternoon.
For the first time in more than two-years, EDHS is concluding its school year honouring the accomplishments of its student athletes. Previously, under the provincial guidelines for COVID, sports were unable to be played. This school year was the first in two-years that most of the sports were able to resume.
“It was different, but it was really exciting, it was good after two-years of not having sports to get back into things,” Andy Hahn said, who is a teacher and coach at EDHS. “I think the kids I witnessed were really excited to be back playing, despite the changes and modifications. I am happy our graduating athletes, for the most part, got to compete as Red Raiders for the last time.”
Hahn noted this year they faced an unfamiliar calendar, with sports like golf being played later in the season. While other sports, such as girls’ basketball and boys’ volleyball, had to abruptly end in December, due to provincial guidelines. Spring sports eventually picked-up, with fans eventually being allowed to attend the games and meets.
“I was happy to be out having competitions,” Hahn said. “Coaching teams, including track, I was extremely proud in the way we returned this year. We had a number of teams and athletes win WECSSAA and SWOSSA and eventually go onto OFSAA.”
Taking home major EDHS awards this year include:
Adrian Harrison, who won “Senior Male Athlete” and “Most Dedicated Senior Male Athlete of the Year” awards. Harrison competed with Red Raiders in volleyball, basketball, and baseball.
Kyra McKibbin earned “Senior Female Athlete of the Year,” along with the “Red Raider Award,” which is given to the athlete who has obtained outstanding achievement in their EDHS career, while displaying leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship. The graduating McKibbin suited up for the Red Raiders in hockey, along with track and field. On the track, she won medals in judges at both WECESAA and OFSAA Regional Championships, before finishing 15th at the OFSAA Championships.
It was not just students getting honoured, but also coaches from the school. Joe Amicarelli was picked as the recipient of the Pete Beach award by OFSAA. The award recognizes effort in the last year, while also an entire career of dedication in school athletics. Amicarelli has helped organize several WECSSAA, SWOSSA, and OFSAA events at EDHS, along with countless grade school events held at the school. On the coaching side, Amicarelli often coaches upwards of three sports per school year.
Hahn noted he is excited in looking ahead to September for, what appears to be, a full season. He credits the athletes for coming back as strong and as ready as they did and would like to extend his best wishes to the graduating athletes and students on their future endeavours.