Port Alberni wrestler Nolan Badovinac was announced as the recipient of the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence for the 2014 BC Summer Games.
He was one of several local athletes who came back with medals from the Games, held last weekend in Nanaimo.
Badovinac has made an impressive mark in wresting in his young career. He attended the BC Summer Games in both 2012 and 2014 bringing home an individual and team gold medal at each event.
He has also competed at the national level and was the Cadet National Champion in 2012 and 2013 for his weight class.
As part of Team BC at the 2013 Canada Summer Games, he won a bronze medal. Badovinac was the Top Cadet Male Wrestler for BC Wrestling in 2013 and has won the combined top academic/athlete from the Alberni Wrestling Club for the past three years.
Badovinac not only has achieved in sport, he has also demonstrated on a daily basis what it means to be a leader within his sport, school, and community.
Badovinac was also one of 16 athletes presented a Coast Capital Savings Athlete Bursary Award at the 2014 BC Summer Games for his exemplary leadership activities.
Entering Grade 12 in September, Badovinac hopes to lead his high school team to a provincial title.
The W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence recognizes one BC Summer Games athlete for their achievement in sport. Nominees were evaluated on major sport accomplishments, future potential and ambition in sport, and leadership. Badovinac was nominated by Wrestling BC and chosen by a BC Games Society selection panel.
The W.R. Bennett Athlete Excellence Award was named in honour of the former Premier of British Columbia, William Bennett, who was started the BC Summer and BC Winter Games program in 1978. The award includes a $2500 bursary.