SPRINGDALE, N.L. — Josh Northcotte and Jessica Jacobs are this year’s Indian River High senior athletes of the year.
Both multi-sport athletes, who helped various Springdale school teams reach the provincial level, were excited and honoured to be recognized as the best in their final year of school.
Northcotte says he attended athletic banquets for years with admiration of the top athletes. Thursday, he fulfilled a dream and a goal to walk onto that stage and receive that trophy.
“It is something I looked forward to receiving myself,” he said. “To receive it this year meant the world to me.”
The 17-year-old said the boys teams at Indian River High had a great year. He played outdoor and indoor soccer, softball, table tennis, badminton, volleyball and basketball. Teams he played on in softball, basketball, and outdoor and indoor soccer went to the provincials this year.
“There were a lot of memories made and we went to a lot of provincial tournaments,” he said. “I made my most memories probably in basketball and volleyball. That is where I thrived the most and tried to lead my teams there.”
Northcotte was named the most valuable player and received the team leader award for the boys basketball team — which he calls his favourite sport — most effective in table tennis and team leader recipient in volleyball.
“Sports mean a lot to me,” the young man from South Brook said. “Sports are more of a lifestyle than it is a hobby because it gives me something to look forward to and something that will always be a part of me.”
He says sports have served as a stress reliever from the pressures like school work and also taught him valuable life skills that he will carry with him long after his graduation.
Jacobs is now the back-to-back senior girls athlete of the year for Indian River High. That is something she considers an extremely special, yet shocking feat. She believes her two good friends and teammates on many school sports teams, Mikayla Tuck and Maria Lawlor, were as deserving of the award.
“It was a huge shock to me, I really did not expect it,” she said.
Jacobs played indoor and outdoor soccer, softball, cross-country running, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, ball hockey and basketball. Her teams went to provincials in indoor and outdoor soccer, softball and ball hockey.
“Sports has always been a huge part of my life, especially since Grade 7 with school sports,” the graduating student said. “You get to travel the province playing sports, representing your school — which is very special — and gives you opportunities to make life-long friends across the province.”
Indian River High athletic award winners
Dedication to Participation Nation: Andreas Desrochers (male) and Brooke Clarke (female)
Ron Joy Team of the Year: Girls softball
Boys softball: Joshua Newman, sportsmanship; Aaron Hull, most improved; Tyler Clarke, most valuable and team leader
Boys outdoor soccer: Kyle Tuck, sportsmanship; Lucas Mercer, most improved; Joshua Newman, most valuable; and Riely Lewis, team leader
Boys cross-country: Joey Morgan, most effective junior; and Joey Sparkes, most effective senior
Boys volleyball: Lucas Mercer, sportsmanship; Kyle Tuck, most improved; Joey Sparkes, most valuable; and Tyler Clarke and Joshua Northcotte, team leader
Boys indoor soccer: Riely Lewis, sportsmanship; Aaron Hull, most improved; Kyle Tuck, most valuable and team leader
Boys table tennis: Josh Northcotte, most effective
Boys basketball: Jonah Rowsell, sportsmanship; Kyle Tuck, most improved; Josh Northcotte, most valuable and team leader
Boys ball hockey: Isaiah Shears, sportsmanship; Joey Morgan, most improved; Joey Sparkes, most valuable; and Dylan Thomas, team leader
Boys badminton: Tyler Clarke, most effective
Girls softball: Victoria Morey, sportsmanship; Lily Anne Jacobs, most improved; Mikayla Tuck, most valuable and team leader
Girls soccer: Jessica Jacobs, sportsmanship; Jenna Lilly, most improved; Maria Lawlor, most valuable and team leader
Girls cross-country: Cassie Hewlett, most effective junior; and Mikayla Tuck, most effective senior
Girls volleyball: Abbie Rowsell, sportsmanship; Mikayla Tuck, most improved; Rebecca Northcotte, most valuable; Julie Coombs, team leader
Girls indoor soccer: Maria Lawlor, sportsmanship; Lily-Anne Jacobs, most improved; Jessica Jacobs, most valuable and team leader
Junior girls volleyball: Kylea Keough, sportsmanship; Rebekah Oxford, most improved; Rebecca Northcotte, most valuable and team leader; Emily Coombs, team leader
Girls table tennis: Maria Lawlor, most effective
Girls basketball: Mandy McCarthy, sportsmanship; Maria Lawlor, most improved; Julie Coombs, most valuable and team leader
Girls ball hockey: Mikayla Tuck, sportsmanship; Victoria Hobbs-Regular, most improved; Maria Lawlor, most valuable; Jessica Jacobs, team leader
Girls badminton: Maria Lawlor, most effective
