Kristen Swiotoschik and Michael DiPietro named Athletes of the Year
Hockey and track and field athletes took in quite a bit of hardware at this year's WESPY Awards.
The 14th annual celebration of local sports achievement saw Paul Boots take home Coach of the Year honours for leading the St. Clair College Cross Country team to a national title.
The first medal in the team's 16-year history earned his athelets a WESPY of their own for Team of the Year.
"A couple days ago I won Coach of the Year at St. Clair College, so I'm getting flooded here with stuff which is nice but it is quite humbling though," he says.
Boots says he would be nothing without his runners and support staff.
"There's an assistant coach, there's people that fix the athletes when they're injured, a lot of people, but it's great for the kids. I'm really happy for the kids for winning the national championship, that's more special to me than anything to be honest with you."
Kristen Swiatoschik (right) of the Southwest Wildcats women's hockey team pictured at the 2019 Wespy Awards (Photo courtesy of @WESPYs via Twitter)
Villanova student Kristen Swiatoschik took in the Female Athlete and Hockey Player of the Year honours on Monday night.
The multi-sport athlete stars with Southwest Wildcats Hockey club.
She tells AM800 News winning was just a bonus to a great night.
"The athletes here are incredible, so just to be nominated alongside them is a real honour but to win is just something more special," she says.
Former Spitfire goaltender Michael DiPietro also took home multiple honours - winning Male Athlete and Hockey Player of the Year.
The Amherstburg native was dealt to the Ottawa 67's this season.
He's currently still in the hunt for an OHL championship.