The Neil Krebs award is presented annually to a member of the Middle Years Tier 1 Championship team. It is set up to rotate between a male player one year and a female player the next. Neil Krebs was a student who played on the boys volleyball team at Spring Valley School in SJASD and this memorial award was developed in his honour after he died as a result of an automobile/cycling accident. The award, consisting of a divisional plaque and $100 scholarship, is presented to a player who best exemplifies the characteristics that Neil displayed as an athlete, including excellent skill, sportsmanship and team commitment. For the 2018 volleyball season, Grade 8 Bruce Middle School student Mohammad Z. (far right in photo) was selected to receive this honourable award.

Mohammed has been a part of the Tier 1 Boys Volleyball team at Bruce for three consecutive years. According to Coach Mr. Kostiuk, this ia rare accomplishment to play at the Tier 1 level all three years. 

"Mo is an outstanding leader that steps up in key moments in a big game and is not afraid to be aggressive in pressure situations," said Mr. Kostiuk. "He is a multi-dimensional player that serves tough, passes extremely well, blocks, hits the ball hard and smart in the middle and has great court sense."

The Bearcats Boys volleyball team participated in seven tournaments this fall and also brought home the championship banner for the Tier 1 SJAMYAA Division tournament. Congratulations to the Bearcats and to Mohammad on this prestigious recognition. Way to go, #23!