Cowichan Secondary's 43rd and final Annual Athletic Banquet was held recently honouring the school's biggest and brightest athletes of the 2023-24 school year.
"This marks a pivotal moment for Cowichan Secondary Athletics, as the final athletic banquet of the school, as our new school has a new name: Quw'utsun Secondary School," explained athletic director Wendy Charles. "The Thunderbirds legacy will continue though, with pride and tradition that has been created over many decades."
The big winner this year was the T-Birds' Ellie Irvine, the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete. Irvine was an athlete on seven sports teams in her Grade 11 and 12 years at Cow High and finished up her senior year with an 97 per cent academic average to earn the G.D. Corsan Scholar Athlete award and become the school's 2024 valedictorian.
In addition to her academic accolades, she was the Senior Female Athlete of the Year as captain and MVP of the senior girls basketball team, won the Pat Duncan Torch Award while on the senior girls rugby team that earned bronze at provincials, was the captain of the senior girls soccer team and played senior girls field hockey as well. The consummate athlete was also Cow High's Junior Female Athlete of the Year back in 2022.
Jeremy Seymour was Cow High's Senior Male Athlete of the Year after competing on eight sports teams over his Grade 11 and 12 years, including five in Grade 12: volleyball, basketball, soccer, track and field, and rugby.
As the school's Track and Field Most Outstanding Male, Seymour was a provincial athlete for both the 200m and relay teams. He was also integral to the senior boys basketball team, the provincial qualifying rugby team, and was the senior boys volleyball MVP.
Chalaya Lambeth earned Junior Female Athlete of the Year honours this year and odds are we'll continue to see her succeed over her remainder of her high school career.
Lambeth played on the senior girls bronze medal-winning rugby team as well as being named Best Back on the junior girls rugby team. She also played senior girls basketball, took the junior girls basketball Outstanding Sportsmanship Award and won the Most Inspirational Award with the junior girls volleyball team.
The future is also bright for Junior Male Athlete of the Year Declan Anderson. He played junior boys basketball, was junior boys rugby's Best Back, and played with the senior boys rugby team at provincials.
Basketball all-star and team MVP Reid Rowan was named Sportsperson of the Year. In addition to basketball, Rowan played on the senior boys rugby provincial-qualifying team, as well as the senior boys soccer team and was a track and field athlete in his Grade 12 year.
For the second straight year, Nicole Bautista took home the Eric and John Thomas (JT) Memorial Award for Outstanding Participation in Athletic Council, presented by the Thomas Family.
Bautista played senior girls volleyball and badminton, but still made plenty of time for score-keeping and refereeing.
"The award is named after brothers Eric and John Thomas (JT), who were both athletes and pillars in our community, instrumental in promoting sports and community involvement," Charles explained. "They were respected figures, dedicated to making a positive impact through their contributions to sports. Their legacy lives on through the award, recognizing individuals who exemplify their passion and commitment to sport."
Charles said the athletics department is looking forward to continuing the school's success under the Quw'utsun Secondary School banner.
"Tradition begins with pride, and we are so proud of all of our athletes that have made our athletic program a success," Charles said.