BIBLE HILL - Cumberland County student athletes received top honours here this week as they were named the Nova Scotia Agricultural College male and female athletes of the year.
Warren resident Kaili vanVulpen and Oxfords Billy McNutt were chosen the schools top athletes for the 2006-07 season at the 43rd annual Athletic Awards Banquet.
It feels really good, I was really surprised, vanVulpen said. Its really special because there are a lot of great athletes here. I wasnt something I was expecting.
A two-sport athlete, vanVulpen excelled on the basketball court in addition to the soccer pitch, playing integral roles in the success of each team. Included in her accolades this year was her selection as an all-conference player this season
The Amherst Regional High School grad helped pilot the womens basketball program into a contender. The Lady Rams have undergone a huge transformation under coach Fred Works and vanVulpen has been a key element in the quick turnaround. Her athleticism and desire to win are infectious and makes all the players around her better. She uses those same abilities that made her the most valuable player on the basketball squad to make her a tremendous soccer player.
McNutt, a member of the mens basketball team proved to the entire country why his team deserved to host the CCAA nationals recently when he was easily one of the top three players if not the best player in the tournament.
I was really surprised because I never thought I would get it, McNutt said. At the first of the year its something I wanted because its my last year here, but when I got hurt I thought that was the end of it. I couldnt believe it at the awards banquet when they awarded it to me.
Included in those performances was a mammoth effort on the opening night of play against the top seed.
The senior forward, a grad of Oxford Regional High School, was selected as the most valuable player on the basketball squad.
When healthy, McNutt was a force that couldnt be stopped. Often subjected to double and triple team defenses, he found a way to contribute by scoring or dishing out to a teammate. He is a relentless rebounder averaging more than 10 a game and more often than not, blocks in excess of 10 shots per game.
The awards did not stop there for Cumberland County student/athletes as Patti Gilroy of Springhill and Andrew Canfield of Wallace were chosen as the respective rookies of the year for the basketball programs.
In addition, Jon Kennedy, also of Wallace was chosen as the most improved player on the mens basketball squad.
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