The Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards honoured the best in local sports from 2024 at a ceremony at the Coast Bastion Hotel on Feb. 21. (Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards)

By Dan Marshall

Outstanding Athletic Achievement

Best in Nanaimo sports honoured at 20th Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards

Feb 26, 2025 | 10:18 AM

NANAIMO — It was a milestone year for the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards.

The 20th annual event featured strong performances and commitment to Nanaimo area sports in 2024 with 20 awards handed out at the Coast Bastion Hotel on Friday, Feb. 21.

Headlining the 2025 award winners was Ethan Katzberg’s gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games men’s hammer throw. Katzberg’s achievement was named Sports Story of the Year.

Organizer Marilyn Sullivan said all the nominees should take away a sense of pride from their accomplishments.

“All of the athletes in the room were winners. Finalists well represented their sport, whether it be an athlete, coach, or sports administrator.”

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Sullivan said the event continues to receive excellent support from the community.

“The money raised from the silent auction goes into our Athletes Financial Assistance Program to help up and coming athletes. Ethan Katzberg has been the recipient in past as well as Olivia Lundman. Both attended the Paris Olympics representing Nanaimo and made us proud.”

Lundman won a 2025 award as well for Partners of the Year.

She and Evan Dunfee were recognized for their performance in the debut of the Olympic race walk marathon in Paris.

Local teams from the Nanaimo NightOwls to Dover Bay Basketball and the many VIU Mariners university squads were represented with several awards.

Coaches, administrators and officials were celebrated as well.

Two special awards for community involved were handed out with Greg Scott taking the Michael Rhode Award and Thomas Mayrhofer earning the Hero In You.

The Steve Smith Award for excellence in extreme sports was shared by Chantel and Michael Jeromkin.

A complete list of award winners is shown below:

MASTERS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Christina Pendergast – Swimming

SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Brande Terris – Lacrosse

PARTNERS OF THE YEAR
Olivia Lundman and Evan Dunfee – Race Walk Marathon

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Jacoby Krassman – Lacrosse

GRASSROOTS COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Lennox – Golf/Basketball

HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Abe Avender – VIU Mens Volleyball

JUNIOR FEMALE INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Blake Fudge – Gymnastics

JUNIOR MALE INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Rhys Beaudoin – Track and Field

JUNIOR FEMALE TEAM ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Maddie Palmer – Lacrosse

JUNIOR MALE TEAM ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Frank Linder – Dover Bay Basketball

FEMALE INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Emily Bugoy – Running/Triathalon

MALE INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Tyler Ollech – Weightlifting

FEMALE TEAM ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jade Dillabough – VIU Mariners Soccer

MALE TEAM ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Wylie Waters – Nanaimo NightOwls

JUNIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Dover Bay Dolphins Senior Boys Basketball

TEAM OF THE YEAR
VIU Mariners Hockey Team

SPORTS STORY OF THE YEAR
Ethan Katzberg – Olympics

HERO IN YOU
Thomas Mayrhofer

MICHAEL RHODE AWARD
Greg Scott – Fletcher’s Challenge

STEVE SMITH MEMORIAL AWARD
Chantel and Michael Jeromkin

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