SPRINGDALE, N.L. — Indian River High athletes, and very good friends, Mikayla Tuck and Jessica Jacobs are being recognized by Schools Sports Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL) for their athletic accomplishments this past year.
Tuck will be named this year’s recipient of the Brother G.I. Moore Athlete of the Year at the annual awards event in St. John’s June 8. Jacobs is this year’s runner up.
The Springdale girls have been playing sports together since junior high. If there was a team or a competition of just about any sport, these two were leading the charge.
This year, they were members of four teams that participated in provincial tournaments — softball, cross-country running, indoor soccer and ball hockey — and were on the silver medal table tennis team at regionals when they also claimed a silver together in individual doubles. Over the years, they have also competed together in outdoor soccer, basketball, volleyball and track and field.
Through their love of sports, they also developed an unbreakable bond outside the competition. When they are not playing sports, they are still enjoying each other’s company as friends. Where there is one, you will usually find the other — making their recognition by SSNL as special as it is unique.
The Nor’wester provided the Grade 12 students an opportunity to say why the other was so deserving of the honour.
“Since basically we were old enough to play sports, she has always been so dedicated and committed to it,” Jacobs said of Tuck. “Through that, she has been able to progress so far through the ranks and accomplish so much, therefore she deserve the best from it. She deserves to be recognized for all the hard work and commitment she has put into school sports for so many years.”
Jacobs recognizes the value a teammate like Tuck has well beyond the athletic prowess she brings to each sport.
“As we became older, she has definitely become a leader on the teams — not only for the little ones, but I look up to her as well,” she said. “It’s been great to always have her there, and is one of the reasons we became such great friends.”
As expected with two athletes of such similar abilities and experience, Tuck shared the same sentiments of Jacobs.
“She puts her heart and soul into every single sport she plays, and that is something to look up to and admire a lot — how much effort she puts in and focus she has when she is playing sports,” Tuck said of Jacobs. “It is definitely something to be proud of for sure.”
Sportsmanship is something both girls have displayed and been recognized for over the years. They were teammates on the Indian River High girls ball hockey team that received the team sportsmanship award at provincials this year. Tuck was the individual sportsmanship recipient for the team at that tournament, but she is the one in admiration of Jacobs’ sportsmanship.
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“One thing she has above anybody else is her sportsmanship is very high,” Tuck said. “She is always a friend and very kind to everybody. That is very important when it comes to playing sports … I have always looked up to her for her athletic ability and all the aspects of how she plays sports.”
Indian River High’s athletic director, Andrew Bursey, also said the girls were very much deserving of the recognition by SSNL. He said it is difficult to put a value these two athletes have had on the school and the athletic program during their tenures.
Even as junior high students, their athletic abilities were among the top in the school, he said, but their greatest impact came through the leadership they provided as senior students.
“Both have been excellent role models for younger athletes, by exhibiting strong work ethic and fantastic sportsmanship,” Bursey said. “…Both are as focused in the classroom as they are on the field/court, and work just as hard perfecting their academic craft as they do their athletic craft. Both excel as much academically as they do athletically, and therefore, embody what a student-athlete is.”
Tuck and Jacobs said it was an honour to wear the Wildcats uniforms over the years to represent the school and the town they are from.
In true sportsmanship form, both said they never expected such prestigious recognition considering all the great athletes there are across the province. Sharing it together, made it that much more special.
