Basketball star Greg Sirie has continued what was an outstanding academic/athletic high school career at Bawating into more of the same at Algoma University.
The well-liked Sirie earned considerable recognition at Algoma's athletic awards banquet held at Sandro's Restaurant on Saturday night, taking home three awards.
The second year honours student was named most valuable player on the Thunderbird men's basketball team in addition to being awarded the school's male athlete-of-the-year trophy and being recognized by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association for academic achievement. Sirie was also applauded for being selected to the OCAA West Region first all-star team.
Algoma athletic director Mark Kontulainen made a point of noting that the school's athlete-of-the-year awards are based as much on academic standing as athletic performance.
"It's really a 50-50 thing," Kontulainen related. "It's recognition based on being a student-athlete, not just an athlete."
Other award winners from the men's basketball program were Greg MacLachlan and Jason Trinier. MacLachlan won the coach's award and an OCAA academic award, while Trinier was named the Thunderbirds' best defensive player.
Three players with the Thunderbird women's basketball team were also singled out.
Sarah Miller won female athlete-of-the-year honours as well as an OCAA academic award, while Stella Viotto was named the Thunderbirds' most valuable player and best defensive player. Carly Uhlman, meanwhile, took home the coach's award.
Oliver Bedley of the Algoma cross-country running team also won an OCAA academic award. And the school presented outgoing men's basketball coach Ray Barsanti with a watch.
Barsanti retired from the men's team earlier this month after leading it through the school's first two seasons of OCAA participation.
Algoma is conducting interviews this week with candidates looking to replace Barsanti.