Sport Nova Scotia – HALIFAX, NS (January 2016) – Eighteen-year-old Luke Ruitenberg of St. Margaret’s Bay was named Male Individual Athlete of the Month for his results at the 2015 Orange Bowl International Regatta that was held in Miami, Florida on December 27th to 30th. Ruitenberg placed third in the event, the first time in recent history that a Canadian reached the podium at this regatta.

 

Eighteen-year-old Stephie Walmsley was named Female Individual Athlete of the Month for her success at the 2016 Skate Canada Challenge in Edmonton, Alberta. With her performance, the Dartmouth skater has qualified to be one of the eighteen Senior Women to compete at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships being held in Halifax from January 18th to 24th.

 

Another Dartmouth figure skater, Brad Keeping Myra, 17, received the honour of having been named Sport Chek Male Team Athlete of the Month for the month of December. Keeping Myra, alongside his partner, Gina Cipriano, had personal bests at the 2016 Skate Canada Challenge. Like Walmsley, their performance qualified them to compete at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

 

Team Fay is named Sport Chek Team of the Month for their accomplishments at Mackies Moving Systems U21 Provincial Jr. Curling Championship. Coached by Andrew Atherton, Team Fay, consisting of Mary Fay, Kristin Clark, Karlee Burgess, and Janique LeBlanc, finished with a 7-1 record in the event, earning them top place. Team Fay will represent Nova Scotia at the 2016 Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Stratford, Ontario, with competition starting on January 23rd.

 

The Athlete of the Month program is administered by Sport Nova Scotia, whose members are eligible to nominate athletes for the awards. A membership committee selects the award recipients for five possible categories: Male Individual Athlete, Female Individual Athlete, Male Team Athlete, Female Team Athlete, and Team. For more information about the awards, please visit www.sportnovascotia.ca

 

Sport Nova Scotia is a voice for amateur sport that promotes the benefits of health, personal development and achievement of all participants. Sport Nova Scotia is a non-profit, non-government organization representing approximately 60 provincial sport organizations and more than 160,000 member Nova Scotians.

 

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For more information and/or athlete photos, please contact:

Ryan Francis Tel: (902) 425-5450, ext. 362 Email: rfrancis@sportnovascotia.ca