McDonald's Belleville High School Athlete of the Year Program
Through the generosity of Robert Doyle, owner of the Belleville McDonald’s Restaurants, the Hall of Fame Committee conducts the annual High School Athlete of the Year Program. This program recognizes the Senior Female and Male Athletes of the Year from eight local High Schools – Albert College, Bayside Secondary School, Centennial Secondary Schoool, Eastside Secondary School (formerly Moira Secondary School, Quinte Secondary School), Nicholson Catholic College, Quinte Christian High School, Sir James Whitney, St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School – and selects the overall Senior Female and Male Athlete of the Year for Belleville.
It is estimated that over 25% of students at a high school will participate in one or more interschool sport activities. At the eight schools involved in this program, over 2000 student athletes participate in athletic programs supported by volunteer teacher coaches and volunteers from the community.
Our 2023/2024 Belleville McDonald’s High School Athletes of the Year are:
Brooke Gallagher from Centennial Secondary School and Greg Papakiriazis from Nicholson Catholic College.
BROOKE GALLAGHER
2023-2024 McDonald’s
High School Athlete of the Year
Brooke Gallagher, honoured as Centennial Secondary’s 2024 Athlete of the Year, is an exceptional multi-sport athlete and leader. Throughout her four years at Centennial Secondary School, Brooke has competed in basketball, rugby, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and golf. She has particularly excelled in basketball and rugby. Brooke played a key role on Centennial’s basketball squad, helping the team achieve Bay of Quinte Gold and COSSA Gold, as well as a silver medal in the OFSAA Basketball Championship.
Beyond school sports, Brooke has been a standout player for the Belleville Bulldogs RFC and has represented the Ontario Blues provincial rugby program. Known for her incredible coachability and outstanding character, Brooke’s presence shines both on and off the field or court. After the remarkable achievement of being recruited by Wilfrid Laurier University for both rugby and basketball, Brooke will be attending WLU on a rugby scholarship in the fall.
GREGORY PAPAKIRIAZIS
2023-2024 McDonald’s
High School Athlete of the Year
Recognized as repeat recipient of Nicholson College’s Athlete of the Year Award, Gregory Papakiriazis is an extraordinary multi-sport talent. Throughout his high school career at Nicholson College, Greg has excelled in rugby, cross country, soccer, basketball, hockey, ultimate frisbee, and tennis. His outstanding performance in basketball contributed to Nicholson College’s success in numerous Bay of Quinte and COSSA tournaments, culminating in NCC securing a gold medal in the 2024 OFSAA Basketball Championship.
Greg’s versatility and dedication across multiple sports are complemented by his remarkable coachability and strong character, solidifying his reputation as a remarkable athlete. Gregory is looking forward to attending Queen’s University for Commerce in the fall and aspires to join the Gaels Basketball team.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! We do not have a complete list of winners. Do you know who is missing? Please let us know!
Past winners of the overall Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year are listed below.
Past Winners (2009-10 to 2022-23)
| YEAR | FEMALE | SCHOOL | MALE | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Katie McFaul | Centennial Secondary School | Jay Solomon | Eastside Secondary School |
| 2021-22 | Talia Vreugdenhil | Quinte Christian High School | Mason Duvall | Centennial Secondary School |
| 2020-21 | Covid -19 | No Sports | ||
| 2019-20 | Kari Read | Centennial Secondary School | Mathew Berry | Eastside Secondary School |
| 2018-19 | Natasha Luffman | Centennial Secondary School | Braden Tebworth | Eastside Secondary School |
| 2017-18 | Amy Viera | Nicholson Catholic College | Carson Waite | Centennial Secondary School |
| 2016-17 | Piper McKinney | Nicholson Catholic College | Shayne Simpson | St. Theresa Catholic secondary School |
| 2015-16 | ||||
| 2014-15 | ||||
| 2013-14 | Emma McGarvey | Nicholson Catholic College | Aiden Bailey-McDade | Moira secondary School |
| 2012-13 | Katie Svoboda | Centennial Secondary School | Matt McDougall | Moira Secondary School |
| 2011-12 | Heidi Henderson | Quinte Secondary School | Chase Maracle | Moira Secondary School |
| 2010-11 | Jenni Thompson | Nicholson Catholic College | Chad Bain | Quinte secondary School |
| 2009-10 | Cindy Nelles | St.Theresa Catholic Secondary School | Chris Laidley | Bayside Secondary School |
Past Winners (1987-88 to 2008-09)
| YEAR | FEMALE | SCHOOL | MALE | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/2009 | Taylor Whitney | Quinte Christian High School | Mike Cathcart | Nicholson Catholic College |
| 2007/2008 | Erika Portt | Centennial Secondary School | Derek McConnell | Centennial Secondary School |
| 2006/2007 | ||||
| 2005/2006 | Andrea Critch | Quinte Secondary School | Evan Briden | Quinte secondary School |
| 2004/2005 | Jordan MacConnell | Centennial Secondary School | ||
| 2003/2004 | Sara Maybee | Nicholson Catholic College | Peter Quinney / Jimmy Allin | Centennial / Quinte |
| 2002/2003 | Elyse Cole | Quinte Secondary School | Mike McIntyre | Moira Secondary School |
| 2001/2002 | Lana Nisbet | Centennial Secondary School | Alex Vanags | Quinte secondary School |
| 2000/2001 | Terri Smith | Moira Secondary School | Ryan Pyear | Centennial Secondary School |
| 1999/2000 | Lindsay Butcher | Centennial Secondary School | Kevin Allison | Centennial Secondary School |
| 1998/1999 | Tabitha Pope | Quinte Secondary School | Nick Martin | Moira Secondary School |
| 1997/1998 | ||||
| 1996/1997 | Melissa Musclow | Centennial Secondary School | Tyson Beach | Centennial Secondary School |
| 1995/1996 | ||||
| 1994/1995 | Kristen McClaren | Centennial Secondary School | Ryan Watson | Moira Secondary School |
| 1993/1994 | Jennifer Mills | Centennial Secondary School | Rob Juricevic | Centennial Secondary School |
| 1992/1993 | Lisa Hewson | Bayside Secondary School | Jason Clapp | Centennial Secondary School |
| 1991/1992 | Tamara Von Semler | Quinte Secondary School | Tim Farrell | Nicholson Catholic College |
| 1990/1991 | Khrista Tylecki | Quinte Secondary School | Marc Sontrop | Nicholson Catholic College |
| 1989/1990 | Laura Empey | Nicholson Catholic College | Michael Faulds | Centennial Secondary School |
| 1988/1989 | Lisa Wannan | Moira Secondary School | Scott Duggan | Nicholson Catholic College |
| 1987/1988 | Tammy Staple | Centennial Secondary School | Jamie McCabe | Nicholson Catholic College |
