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Team BC ACE Athlete Leaders...

  

ACE Athletes:     Nicole Sidor, Marina Groenewegen, Lindsay McElroy

Sport:     Softball

 

Marina Groenewegen Team BC Softball       "Marina's athletic abilities are a great attribute, but her attitude provides much more"                  Lindsay McElroy Team BC Softball    "Lindsay is a gifted and skilled catcher because of her communication skills which elevate the team’s level of play almost instantly"                        Nicole Sidor Team BC Softball   “Nicole pushes herself to be the best she can be & wants to help the girls on Team BC strive for the same goal & claim another gold medal"	A team leader or a team of leaders? Traditionally in sport we are accustomed to seeing a team captain who strides out and leads by example, motivates the team and deals with conflict. Someone that is relied on to pick up the team, put them on their shoulders and carry them to glory. This huge responsibility and pressure often leads to the subsequent failure of so many that couldn’t live up to the expectation. And no wonder, the laundry list of skills, knowledge and experiences needed to be a transformational leader would intimidate the likes of Superman or Wonder Woman.   So what’s the answer? The 2009 Team BC Softball team seem to have found a unique solution of investing in all the athletes in their squad. "At the elite level, it is very important that athletes be leaders both on and off the field.  Leaders often know how to bring out the best in others, be positive role models, communicate effectively and have strong relationships and these are the very attributes that help build a solid team. Players who push themselves to practice their leadership skills in their everyday lives often gain confidence from doing so and they bring that confidence onto the field and become both outstanding players and teammates.  All the players on Team BC Softball were selected in part for their leadership skills away from the diamond."   More and more top teams are utilizing the power of leadership in and out of sport to engage their athletes and take performance to the next level. Many of our home-grown BC Athletes are taking their leadership skills they have honed through sport and are applying them in innovative and exciting ways for the benefit of their communities. Understanding the importance of athlete leadership, Team BC and BC Athlete Voice have teamed up to create the new Team BC ACE Leadership Award in the lead up to the 2009 Canada Summer Games.   With leadership being a priority for the Team BC, it’s no wonder that for the first time three athletes from the same team are being presented an ACE Leadership Award. Nicole Sidor, Lindsay McElroy and Marina Groenewegen have been recognized not only for the leadership role they play on the diamond and in the clubroom, but also for the fantastic contribution that they are making to their communities.   Groenewegen has been actively involved in volunteering and supporting diabetes charities and was part of ‘Cyclebetes’, a 12 hour stationary bike spin-a-thon that raised $37,000. McElroy dedicates much of her time to the community through work with the ‘Invisible Children’ initiative, volunteering at downtown East Side women’s shelters and was involved in the Uganda Rural Fundraiser. Sidor has captained both softball and basketball teams and has given back to sport countless times through refereeing soccer, working at youth camps and by coaching and mentoring younger athletes. It’s hard to imagine there is time for sleep for these high performance athletes, yet they do all this and still maintain their commitment to training and preparing for the 2009 Canada Summer Games.    “Our athletes lead on the field and off it by participating and doing ‘more’ than expected” comments Team BC Softball Manager Kerry Cuthbert, “they push themselves to succeed and they set the bar high and rise above it”. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and this team seems to have the knack for allowing athletes to contribute with different roles. “Nicole is hard working, dedicated and driven. Nothing will prevent her from working full force for the benefit of the team” says teammate Lindsay McElroy. Marina Groenewegen echoes these comments, “Nicole pushes herself to be the best she can be and wants to help the girls on Team BC strive for the same goal and claim another gold medal with that same attitude”. Sidor’s tenacious determination will be a driving force in PEI as the team works through both the travel and time difference associated with competing on the other side of the country.    On the other hand Lindsay McElroy leads in a different way. “On and off the field, Lindsay is an easy person to get along with and is not afraid to try new things. Behind the plate she communicates well with the girls and always has a heads up on the next play” says Marina Groenewegen. “Lindsay is a gifted and skilled catcher because of her communication skills which elevate the team’s level of play almost instantly” adds Nicole Sidor. “Lindsay is always in tune with the game, she gives the team confidence when she is behind the plate”.    Marina Groenewegen brings yet another dimension of leadership to the team. “Marina is so positive and encouraging both on and off the field” comments Lindsay McElroy, “Her athletic abilities are a great attribute, but her attitude provides much more”. Nicole Sidor agrees, “Marina is a great leader on our team because of her passion for the game and the motivation that she displays to the team everyday” says Sidor, “Marina encourages and supports the team both on and off the field, she is often coming up to me at the pitcher's mound between outs and encourages me to continue to be strong, that the team is always behind me making me just a little less stressed in pressured situations”.   Leadership is an ever changing state and these athletes show that working together they can flex and adapt to meet any challenge. Their strength comes from a collective leadership that relies on communication, accountability and responsibility from all team members and not one individual. As Nobel Prize winner Rudyard Kipling so accurately stated, "For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack". By understanding their strengths and utilizing the leadership skills inside their team and as a team, BC will certainly be a contender for a podium finish in softball at Prince Edward Island in August.
Special thanks to the Team BC Softball Coaching Staff for nominating Marina, Lindsay and Nicole for the Team ACE Leadership Award.

     

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ACE Athlete:     Elliot Hoyt

Sport:     Kayaking

Community:     Fort Langley

 

* Photo Courtesy of MJ Abbott           “Leadership is important as it helps inspire others to perform better, be better athletes and better people in general"      Elliot Hoyt, Team BC Kayaker	Everyone needs a helping hand, from beginner athletes to seasoned pros. No one does it alone and every athletes relies on a community of mentors, coaches, family and friends to help out. Yet every so often a special kind of athlete comes along who leads through their actions and manages to give a little more to help out those around them. Fort Langley and Team BC Kayaker Elliot Hoyt is one of these athletes and his commitment to not only being a high performance athlete, but performing great acts of leadership has been recognized with a Team BC ACE Award.   “Elliot models leadership behaviour for both his peers and for the younger members of our canoe club by tirelessly helping every day” comments Hoyt’s coach Sara Hopkins “through his volunteer work he shares his knowledge, passion and energy with the youth of our community”. Many of our home-grown BC Athletes are taking their leadership skills they have honed through sport and are applying them in innovative and exciting ways for the benefit of their communities. Understanding the importance of athlete leadership, Team BC and BC Athlete Voice have teamed up to create the new Team BC ACE Leadership Award.   Hoyt has a laundry list of achievements including being the Double Marathon National Champion in 2008, making the 2009 Senior High Performance Development Squad and is currently preparing for the upcoming Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island. It is amazing that Hoyt achieves so much on the water and yet still finds time to contribute to his sport and give back to his club and community. “He is always the first to volunteer to do a job, whether it is to set up the motor boat or to help another athlete with their equipment” says Hopkins, “by volunteering at our club, Elliot shows his teammates and the community his generosity of spirit, his commitment and his dedication to community development”. Not content with simply achieving great things on the water, Hoyt is passionate about helping others though his work organizing and running youth programs for the Fort Langley Canoe Club and volunteering at numerous community events such as the Burnaby Canoe and Kayak Club's School Dragon Boat Challenge.
“It is important in all sport that role models such as Elliot are seen by the younger athletes and parents to give back to their sport and their communities” adds CanoeKayak BC Executive Director MaryJane Abbott, “by providing such a positive image we build stronger clubs and community relationships”. Hoyt is definitely seen as a role model in the community, but maintains that his best leadership qualities are simple. “Leadership to me is setting a good example through dedication and pride in my sport, my club and myself”. Hoyt adds “leadership is important as it helps inspire others to perform better, be better athletes and better people in general”. Hopkins agrees “Elliot performs his role as an athlete mentor graciously and is a phenomenal ambassador for our club and our sport”.   When Hoyt paddles out into the waters of Prince Edward Island he will be representing not only his community, but his province. “As an athlete who has had to work very hard, in fact, fight tooth and nail for every one of his successes, Elliot models the rewards of perseverance and determination” comments Hopkins. There is no doubt that his community and the entire province will be behind Hoyt, helping him as he aims to convert guts into gold in PEI
Special thanks to CanoeKayak BC for nominating Elliot for the Team ACE Leadership Award. Check out other CanoeKayak Athletes by clicking here

     

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It can be said that leadership is a lot like sailing. You need to combine your instincts, skills and experience to tackle stormy seas and when the skies are clear you still need to take care of the little things to ensure smooth sailing. As a captain you need to work with your crew to ensure you’re heading in the right direction without a mutiny. Team BC Sailor Kevin Grierson has taken the leadership lessons learnt on the water and is applying them in his community.   “As a high level athlete, I have been afforded many privileges through sport. I feel that giving back to the community and promoting sport is a way that I can return the favours that the community has given me” comments Grierson who has been recognized with a Team BC ACE (Athlete Community Excellence) Award in the lead up to the 2009 Canada Summer Games. “If athletes can give back to the community it can have a lasting positive impact”. Understanding the importance of athlete leadership, Team BC and BC Athlete Voice have teamed up to create the ACE Award to recognize the contribution of great athlete leaders.   As an enthusiastic supporter of his community, Grierson has been involved in coaching sailing for the past five years. This work and additional volunteering has extended to the four corners of BC and even into the Yukon where Grierson has worked with BC Sailing to teach water safety and sailing to children. “Kevin is a role model among his peers” says BC Sailing’s Executive Director, Tine Moberg Parker. “He works very hard. He is a team player and is a terrific leader in our sport”.     Life for Grierson is a juggling act. Between his classes at UBC and training for major competitions including an upcoming World Championship Race in Italy Grierson still finds time to build his leadership skills. “I feel that leadership is important because it is a skill that is acquired over time through experience and hard work” comments Grierson. In the past year his commitment to community work includes being a member of the Vancouver Athlete Leadership Council and volunteering at the ‘Imagine Day’ which introduces UBC to new students.	“I feel that giving back to the community & promoting sport is a way that I can return the favours that the community has given me”.      Kevin Grierson, Team BC Sailor
“A good leader must be mentally tough, willing to take on responsibility and be ready to face challenges head on” says Grierson, who will be hoping to repeat his golden effort at the 2007 Western Canada Games when he takes to the water in Prince Edward Island. With the toughness built through hours of training on the coasts of BC, Grierson will have a great shot at meeting this challenge in August.
Special thanks to BC Sailing for nominating Kevin for the Team ACE Leadership Award. Check out other BC Sailing Athletes by clicking here

ACE Athlete:     Owen Harrison

Sport:     Cycling

Community:     Okanagan

“Leadership is important in order for a team or group of any kind to succeed, It’s essential”.      Owen Harrison, Team BC Cyclist	Leadership comes in many forms, but for Team BC Cyclist Owen Harrison, it comes down to one simple fact. “Leadership is important in order for a team or group of any kind to succeed. It’s essential”, says Harrison, who not only appreciates the importance of leadership, but also practices it in his sport and community.    Harrison has been recognized with a Team BC ACE (Athlete Community Excellence) Leadership Award in the lead up to the 2009 Canada Summer Games. Many of our home-grown BC Athletes are taking the leadership skills they have honed through sport and are applying them in innovative and exciting ways for the benefit of their communities. Understanding the importance of athlete leadership, Team BC and BC Athlete Voice have teamed up to create this new award.    “Owen is a great leader and has the ability to provide a calm environment for everyone around him. He has shown great determination and this has enabled him to succeed many times against the odds,” comments Cycling BC’s High Performance Director, Richard Wooles.     Off the bike Harrison is active in the Okanagan community and enjoys being a positive role model. “Leadership rallies individuals for a common cause, while allowing for individual talents to show” says Harrison who has been working with younger athletes as a BC Games coach, junior mountain bike club leader and as a regular community volunteer. “Being on a representative team, others in the local cycling community, especially juniors, look up to me” he says. “I willingly support and give advice to the developing cyclists around me”. It is this sense of giving back that sets Harrison apart. “Owen is always the first to recognize those around him. Winning gold at the 2007 Western Canada Games for Team BC is a good example. Owen appreciates the people around him that you don’t see on the podium, but who helped him get there. He is always the first to acknowledge his teammates and supporters” says Wooles who was watched Harrison progressively unlock both his riding and leadership talent.
“Owen is great with encouragement for other riders both on and off the bike. He is one of the team members who always rides in a way that is best for the team” agrees Cory Forrest, Total Restoration Cycling Team Manager and mentor to Harrison. “Owen is a key ambassador, leader and mentor for Okanagan cyclists and Okanagan cycling. Leadership is very important because it is not an individual’s effort that gets results. It is the team effort”.    Harrison will be looking to take his leadership skills to the next level at the Canada Summer Games in August. “I seek to make the best of every opportunity that is presented to me” says Harrison. There is no doubt that his community will be behind him as he strives to make the trip to Prince Edward Island a golden opportunity.
Special thanks to Cycling BC for nominating Owen for the Team ACE Leadership Award. For more info on Owen, check out www.cyclingbc.net or www.totalrestorationcycling.com Check out other Cycling BC Athletes by clicking here

Make sure you check back as more Team BC ACE Athletes will be profiled in the count down to the 2009 Canada Summer Games at Prince Edward Island.

To nominate a Team BC Athlete for an ACE Leadership Award click here