Honour: Canada Games wrestling champion among 22 athletes up for Pitney Bowes awards

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Telegraph-Journal

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FREDERICTON - St. Stephen's Alyssa Cleaves, who won the province's only gold medal at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in August, is a finalist in two categories for the 16th annual Sport New Brunswick Pitney Bowes Sports Awards slated for later this month in Fredericton.

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Jeff Ducharme/Telegraph-Journal

Wrestler Allyssa Cleaves jumps into the arms of coach Pat Zwicker moments after winning New Brunswick’s lone gold medal at the Canada Summer Games in August. Cleaves is a nominee for the 16th annual Sport New Brunswick Pitney Bowes Sports Awards slated for later this month in Fredericton. Zwicker is to receive the male coach of the year award.

Cleaves, who captured gold in the women's wrestling 49-kilo division at the Games competition in Montague, P.E.I., is one of three finalists in the spirit award category and is also one of three nominees for the President Award for female athletes.

In addition, her coach Pat Zwicker of St. Stephen will be awarded the male coach of the year award at the annual celebration of the province's elite amateur sport community.

Joining Cleaves in the spirit award category is Genevieve Lalonde of Moncton for athletics and Luke Donovan of Dalhousie for para-alpine skiing.

The other nominees in the female President Award category are Lalonde and Monica Rioux of Kedgwick for judo.

Cleaves leads a large delegation of athletes, coaches and officials from southwestern New Brunswick who were recognized with nominations or awards.

Javelin star Caleb Jones of Saint John is a finalist in two categories. He is one of three finalists for the male President Award with Miguel Raymond of Kedgwick (judo) and Lincoln Esau of Fredericton (alpine skiing) and is also a finalist for the male athlete of the year with Donovan.

The New Brunswick men's eight with coxswain rowing team, which won a bronze medal at the Canada Games, is a finalist in the team of the year category with the Western Valley AA Pee Wee Red Sox baseball team from Woodstock.

The rowing team members are Keegan Drummond of Quispamsis, Greg Theriault of Rothesay, Mike Craig of Saint John, Robin Overing of Rothesay, Taylor Overing of Rothesay, Cameron Reid of Rothesay, Rob Alexander of Saint John, Simon Gagnon of Quispamsis and Nicole Sancartier of Rothesay.

Their coach, Delores Young of Darling's Island, is one of two finalists for female coach of the year. The other is Fredericton swimming coach Matra Belsh.

Volleyball star Jill Blanchard of Saint John is a finalist in the female athlete of the year category along with wrestler Krista Betts of Bass River.

The finalists for official of the year are Suzanne Watters of Miramichi in figure skating, Rick Stocker of Fredericton in Athletics and Chris Folconer of Riverview in wrestling.

Kevin Barrett of the Telegraph-Journal was nominated in the outstanding media coverage category for his work on the 2009 Canada Games. Dave Ritchie of the Daily Gleaner in Fredericton is the other media finalist. He was nominated for his work in swimming coverage this year.

In addition, three other awards will be presented.

Cynthia Benson of Quispamsis will take home the volunteer sport administrator award for figure skating, Jack Campbell of Fredericton will be presented the lifetime volunteer achievement award for volleyball and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation will be presented the corporate award.

The awards dinner, which also serves as an opportunity to raise funds for the Kidsport, is slated for Nov. 28 at the Crown Plaza Fredericton.