D’Aloisio, DiBenedetto win Wismer
The second time’s the charm for the winners of this year’s Wismer Award for high school coaching excellence.
Jobina D’Aloisio, who coaches basketball, volleyball, soccer and badminton at Waterdown District; and John DiBenedetto, who coaches cross country and wrestling at Bishop Ryan, are both twotime nominees and finalists.
Their win also marks the second year in which the award was doled out to two recipients, rather than one, as it was in the past.
Established in memory of longtime coach and educator John Wismer, the award is now presented annually to a pair of talented, inspiring and dedicated high school coaches — one each from Hamilton’s Catholic and public school boards.
In addition to a small monetary prize, the winners receive $1,600 for their team or school, which, in the past, has been used to help pay for everything from football helmets to artificial turf.
“We’re thrilled to have great people in our community who are giving their time to help,” Wismer’s son Jay Wismer said of this year’s recipients. He also called D’Aloisio and DiBenedetto — who have 46 years of coaching experience and four OFSAA team championships between them — “great representations of the award.”
The winners were announced at the foundation’s golf tournament and dinner at Carlisle Golf and Country Club Tuesday. D’Aloisio and DiBenedetto edged out four other finalists for the awards — Cardinal Newman’s Gerry Moretuzzo, Dundas Valley’s Bob Gardiner, St. Jean de Brebeuf’s Kevin Karl and Westdale’s Annette Tonogai.