2014 Modern Athlete Nominees For Chatham Sports Hall of Fame
The Chatham Sports Hall of Fame recently announced their 2014 nominees for the Induction Ceremony which will take place this coming September. Below are the nominees for the Athlete-Modern category. The winning selection will be announced before July 11.
The nominees are:
Courtney Babcock – Babcock is a long distance runner who attended CCI in Chatham from 1986-89. Following high school, Babcock attended the University of Michigan on a track scholarship, becoming an 8 time All-American at U of M – one time in cross country and 7 times in track. In 2004, Babcock was inducted into the University of Michigan Woman’s Track and Field Hall of Fame. Internationally, Babcock participated in 7 Canadian Championships, placing first 4 times, and also participated in 2 Commonwealth Games, 2 World Championships, and thr 2004 Olympic Games. Currently loving in Missoula, Montana with her husband and children, Babcock still hold the Canadian 5000m record.
Juli Elders A track and field athlete in the throwing events, Elders attended John McGregor Secondary School where she won more OFSAA medals, 8, in track and basketball, than any other McGregor student in history. Twice the Canadian Legion National Championships winner for her age group in shot put, Elders attended the University of Manitoba on a track scholarship, where she was named an All-Canadian in shot put in 1989-90 and Academic All-Canadian in 1992-93. Elders won 16 Manitoba Provincial medals by throwing the shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer, represented Canada three times internationally, and also medalled multiple times in weightlifting at the National level. Juli now resides in Chatham.
Derek Krete – A former football player, Krete attended Chatham Collegiate from 1986-92 before moving on to the University of Western Ontario. There he was a 3 time Ontario University All-Star team selection and a 3 time Canadian University All-Canadian Team selection. Krete was also won the President’s Trophy as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in Canadian University Football in 1996, and the following year was chosen UWO’s Male Athlete of the year. Drafted by the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes, Krete had a tryout with the Denver Broncos, and played 2 years with the Toronto Argonaughts and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Dr. Derek Krete is currently a physician, living in Peterborough with his wife Amanda and their two children
Marcia Thiesen – An accomplished volleyball player, Thiesen attended John McGregor Secondary School where she was an outstanding athlete starring in basketball, volleyball, and track and field, and was chosen JMSS’s female athlete of the year two years running in 1995-96 and 1996-97. A member of the Region 3 and Ontario Provincial Volleyball Team through the mid-1990’s, Thiesen was the first Chatham volleyball player to make the Ontario Provincial Team. Following high school, Thiesen attended the University of Pittsburgh on full athletic scholarship becoming the first local girl to play at a Division 1 school, and was a starter each year. In her junior year, Thiesen led the team in virtually all statistical categories – was named to numerous all-tournament teams and to the Big East All-Conference team, while also being named as the University of Pittsburgh Female Athlete of the Fall season. After graduation she went on to play professional volleyball in Europe for three years, again the first Chatham native to play pro volleyball. Marcia Thiesen currently lives in London where she works in child care.