Athletes of the year named

William Forsey and Katarina Roxon are the Steph-enville/Kippens male and female athletes of the year.

Matthew Alexander, 2006 Male Athlete of the Year, was invited by the awards committee to make a speech at the dinner, in which he highlighted the importance of community contributions.

"Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in awards, but you should not let it influence the way you feel about yourself or your accomplishments," he said.

"In the long run, just the experiences, lessons learned and overcoming of obstacles that you will remember and cherish, not the medals and trophies."

A long list of each athlete's accolades and awards was read by MC Bob Byrnes during the dinner and awards presentation:

A Stephenville High Grade 10 student, William Forsey has been a member of several provincial and national sports teams, including the provincial cross-country ski team competing in Gatineau, Quebec and the nationals.

Forsey won School Sports Newfoundland and Labra-dor's high school cross-country ski championships and the Newfoundland and Labrador marathon forjunior.

A recent invitee to the Canada Games prep squad for track and field, he is also a three-time silver medalist and bronze medalist at the North American Indigenous Games in B.C. He also won four gold medals at the provincial summer games.

Forsey also plays doubles in badminton in under 16 and has attended championships for that sport as well.

William was the only nominee in the category of male athlete of the year.

Winning the honour of female athlete of the year for 2008 was Katarina Roxon, making her a three-time honouree. She also won in 2005 and 2006.

In 2008, Roxon set a total of six national swimming records and has one unofficial record.

Roxon, who swims with a disability, competed at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games where she won a silver medal at the trials and finished in five other finals.

She finished top 20 in four events and placed as high as 12th at the games. Roxon has won bronze medals at international swim meets in B.C. and in Berlin, Germany.

Roxon also competes in cross-country running and finished in 8th place at the provincials.

Other nominees in the category of Female Athlete of the Year were Jillian Forsey, Krista Hogan, Jennelle Hulan, and Justine White.