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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 14, 2008 - 45 McGregor distinguishes herself as student of golf By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF TOP VOLUNTEERS: Ken Meinert was named the Oakville Soccer Club's Sportsperson of the Year at the club's annual Volunteer Appreciation Night last week, while Brenda O'Connor took home the Joe Hinnen Award as volunteer of the year. Soccer club recognizes its volunteers The Oakville Soccer Club held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Night last week at Town Hall, also recognizing its top rep and house league coaches, most sportsmanlike players and most dedicated players. Brenda O'Connor and Ken Meinert each received one of the most prestigious awards, as O'Connor was presented with the Joe Hinnen Award (volunteer of the year) and Meinert received the Sportsperson of the Year Award (President's Award). Berkin Cetin (male) and Brianna Cuzzolino (female) took home an Outstanding Youth Player Award, rewarding performance, dedication to the sport of soccer and attitudes that drive improvement, achievement and success. Umbro Canada presented both players with a certificate for a new pair of soccer boots. The Young Volunteer Award, established in 2006, went to Jessica Yee. Yee is one of hundreds of young adults to have volunteered their time to the club this past year. John Leveridge and Peter Uremovich were recognized as the club's top rep coaches for the 2008 season. Leveridge oversaw the boys' under-14 Predators club that won the South Region Soccer League Elite Division title and earned a promotion to the Ontario Youth Soccer League (OYSL) for 2009. Uremovich's girls' under-17 Phantoms club captured the OYSL, Ontario Cup and Quebec/Ontario championships this past season. Eighteen players were presented with BMO Bank of Montreal intuition RESPs as a reward for their passion, dedication, leadership, sportmanship and desire to succeed. Jai Kandola, Caroline Szustak, Emma McEwen, Kristen Abraham, Adam Perruzza and Rebecca Fifield received $500 awards in the 6-9-yearold division; Juliana Zografou, Robbie Fifield, Amanda Abraham, Keegan McEwen and Victoria Glista received $700 awards in the 10-13-year-old group; and Hilary Renata Fonseca, Taylor Amos and Antony Discenza received $1,000 awards in the 1416-year-old division. House League Coach of the Year Awards went to Scott Sullivan, Giuseppe Peritore, Blair Ceolin, Jason Brock, Steve Fletcher, Daphne Bryan, Gavin Flood, Sunny Sun, Dan Janovjak, Eugene D'Annibale, Loris Dumanian, Chuck Teilinger, Nick Marchioli, Paul Whitney, George Que, David White, Rob Gauntlett, Caroline Borcsok, Peter Gruner, Ray Weston, Dusan Almer, Lance White, Rob De Luca and Bob Moffat. Dumanian, White, Almer and Moffat are multipletime recipients of the award, with White taking the honour in the past three years. The event was officially sponsored by DK Sports. Her first time on the golf course, at the age of 47, Helen McGregor shot the rather unimpressive score of 225. "I counted every shot and every whiff," McGregor said. "And then I went right in and joined the club." After cutting herself no slack in her first round, it's not surprising that the Oakville resident went on to become a rules official. Between playing and officiating tournaments, she dedicated more than 27 years to the sport. For that, the Golf Association of Ontario recognized her with the Distinguished Service Award. "I was shocked," she said of hearing she had won the award. "I didn't think it was that important. You don't realize the time you've put into it until you look back and realize it's been 27 years." It was her son-in-law who recommended the game to her, knowing she enjoyed sports such as swimming and badminton. She golfed alone a lot in her first two years, resisting the urging of other members of the Richview Golf and Country Club to join them. In the meantime, she was a frequent visitor to the library, finding any book she could on the sport, taking notes as she taught herself the game. McGregor proved to be a quick study and, within five years, she was the runner-up at the club championship. She held the runner-up position for seven years, until 1991, when she started her own nine-year run as champion. When the club closed, she moved to the Oakville Golf Club. Though she missed most of her first season there with a wrist injury, she would take the club championship the following season. She also went on to represent the district and province in what were then known as team trials. McGregor said it's the analytical element of the game she enjoys. "It's not just hitting a ball. It takes a lot of brain power, more than you would think. That's what really got me interested," she said. McGregor was eventually See Simple page 50 YOUNG STANDOUTS: Brianna Cuzzolino (left) and Berkin Cetin (right) were named the Oakville Soccer Club's most outstanding youth players this past season, while Jessica Yee was recognized as the top youth volunteer.