Salmon Arm will be well represented in post-secondary sports with eight local students committing to play for colleges and universities in Canada and the U.S.
Eight Salmon Arm Secondary students have committed to universities for swimming, cross country and basketball.
Some of the universities include Indiana State, Concordia University of Edmonton, University of Alberta, Laval University in Quebec and UBC Okanagan.
Read more: Salmon Arm Jewels win zone basketball championships
Read more: All Native Basketball Tournament Day One Recap
Rob Neid, the athletic director for Salmon Arm Secondary, is thrilled to have such a large group of students pursuing post-secondary athletics.
“We’re really proud to have so many; it’s a lot of excellence in one group,” Neid said.
To honour that excellence, an athletic gala was held Wednesday, June 5, in the SAS Jackson campus gymnasium.
The gala featured guest speaker Julia Anderson, a 2016 grad who played soccer, volleyball and basketball while a student at Salmon Arm Secondary.
At the gala, students were recognized with Athlete of the Year awards happened to be issued to students going to play for college or university teams next year: Four Grade 12 students, Kate Milne (UBC Okanagan, U Sports cross-country), Alton Neid (Laval University, U Sports basketball), Gavin Limber (University of Alberta Augustana Campus, ACAC basketball) and Taylen Hryniw (Concordia University, ACAC basketball);and two Grade 11 students, Chase Henning and Maggie Beckner.
Read more: New Canada Elite Basketball League partners with Canada Basketball
Read more: Salmon Arm Secondary Golds take fifth in Vernon basketball tournament
The four other students going to play in post-secondary teams are Molly Fogarty (Indiana State, NCAA Div 1 swimming), Noah Jansen (Dordt University, NAIA basketball), Evan Smith (University of Alberta, Augustana Campus ACAC basketball) and Ben Van Burgeyk (UBC Okanagan, U Sports cross-country)
On the same day as the gala, Alton Neid also learned he was awarded one of the 14 BC School Sports Zone Scholarships for outstanding achievement in high school sports.
Neid also received a full athletic scholarship to Laval University in Quebec City for basketball.
Molly Fogarty, a three time participant and two time medalist at Nationals in open water swimming is heading to Indiana State University covered mostly by athletic and academic scholarships ($18,000 US of the $33,000 US total cost).
@CameronJHT
Cameron.thomson@saobserver.net
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.