ORTON EARNS FAMILY BRAGGING RIGHTS
Red Raiders senior multi-sport athlete repeats as female Royal Arcanum winner
If she didn’t already have bragging rights in the family, Essex Red Raiders senior Kim Orton certainly does now.
For a second straight year, the 17-year-old Orton was named the Royal Arcanum winner for best female athlete in A/AA schools.
“I had some thought in my mind, but I didn’t constantly think about it because I knew that I won it last year and so I didn’t put bets on it that I would win it this year,” Orton said.
Two older brothers, Justin Orton in 2013 and Jeremy Orton in 2015, both won the male athlete version of the award.
“They were both in Grade 12,” Orton said. “Winning it was a big accomplishment in Grade 11 and it means a lot more to win it back-to-back.”
Orton was presented her trophy on Friday at the Windsor Sportsman’s Club along with Essex schoolmate Spencer Campeau, who was the male athlete winner for A/AA schools; Sandwich Sabres senior Alessandra Pontoni, who won the female athlete award in the AAA schools, and Kennedy Clippers senior Akot Aken, who took the male athlete award in the AAA schools.
All four Royal Arcanum winners receive $1,500 for their post-secondary education.
“I see them a lot throughout sports and knowing they all worked hard means a lot,” the 18-year-old Aken said of his fellow winners.
Orton competed in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She helped Essex reach OFSAA in volleyball, and was a second-team all-star in basketball. She is headed to St. Clair College in the fall to study cardiovascular technology and play basketball
“I feel like if I didn’t do it, I would instantly regret it,” Orton said of playing multiple sports. “I love sports and I love being physically active.”
Like Orton, the 17-year-old Campeau took his first award while in Grade 11 and is already hoping he’ll get the chance to repeat the accomplishment next year.
“Hopefully,” Campeau said. “It makes you want to work harder. Now, I’ve got to take it to the next level and see if I can be noticed by any (post-secondary) schools.”
Campeau competed in volleyball, basketball and track and field. He helped the Red Raiders reach the quarter-finals at OFSAA volleyball while earning all-star recognition, and won a bronze medal in long jump at OFSAA track and field.
“It’s kind of a big award, being male athlete of the year, so I just didn’t think I would be good enough to get it,” Campeau said. “Volleyball, track and field and basketball, they’re all sports that I’ve kind of played growing up. I’ve taken a lot of them quite competitively and it’s just nice to be noticed.”
Pontoni was also surprised after picking up the female award for larger schools.
“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it,” the 18-year-old Pontoni said. “Athletically, this year has been a really good year for me and I’ve made two all-star teams, which I’m really proud of, but I just wasn’t expecting it. I’m still not fully absorbing it yet.”
She was part of Sandwich’s WECSSAA champion senior girls’ cross-country team and helped the Sabres reach the league final in volleyball. Pontoni also helped Sandwich win its 10th straight WECSSAA title in track and field while earning first all-star team recognition in soccer and second-team status in basketball.
“It’s a nice acknowledgment that you’re doing good,” said Pontoni, who is headed to the University of Detroit to play soccer and study mechanical engineering.
“It means a lot,” Pontoni said. “I’ve sacrificed a lot of time not hanging out with friends, and time management has been really big, and it’s nice knowing all the hard work and sacrifices I’ve made have paid off.”
While many athletes enjoy playing multiple sports in high school, they often have to focus on a single sport in college or university.
That’s not the case for Aken, who will compete in basketball and track and field at the University of Windsor.
“Not a lot of people get to do it and it’s going to be a lot of work,” Aken said.
He competed in football, basketball and track and field for the Clippers.
He earned MVP honours and first-team all-star status in basketball while helping Kennedy win OFSAA gold and reached OFSAA in track and field in the triple jump.
“They were telling me I had a chance, but when I found out I won I was just glad,” Aken said. “It means a lot because it’s another award I’ve worked hard to get.”
I feel like if I didn’t (play multiple sports), I would ... regret it. I love sports and I love being physically active.