John Knapp
THE JOHN KNAPP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
This Barrie Royals Award recognizes a male and a female graduating player. The Scholarship was founded in 2023 in memory of Coach John Knapp;
co-founder of the Barrie Royals in 1985.
John Knapp spent his entire life in Barrie Ontario. He was a student athlete
at Barrie North Collegiate and then returned there to work in education and as an
OFSAA teacher/coach. John was not only a community coach with the Royals but
volunteered with Special Olympics; developing a very interactive basketball
program with that organization here in Barrie. There are many other community
groups and organizations which benefitted from Coach Knapp’s involvement.
The recipients of this annual Scholarship will have exemplified the qualities
which John Knapp reflected in his life: “heart”, leadership, compassion, respect,
integrity, fair play and sportsmanship. These “character athletes” must exhibit an
unwavering quest to accomplish the best they can be while supporting their
fellow teammates.
2024 Recipients
Leigh Tizzard
Sean Harrington
2023 Recipients
Casmina Piche- Wray
Ryder Stueck
THE KORT AWARD
The Kort Award was established in honour of the Kort family of Barrie to recognize the participation of the entire family in the Barrie Royals programs.
This award is presented to an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the sport of basketball in the City of Barrie. The recipient may be a coach, official, player or community volunteer that has been involved with basketball in any manner of positive ways.
2024 Recipient
Quentin Tizzard
2023 Recipient
Chester Graham
Jeff Plunkett (1991-2017)
JEFF PLUNKETT MEMORIAL AWARD
The Jeff Plunkett Memorial award recognizes a graduating player who demonstrates the club's values.
The 2018-19 award is kindly funded by the support of fundraising efforts through the sale of May’s Café coffees and teas at Royals tournaments throughout the season, BDABO and Thunderhoops.
This scholarship award was founded in the 2017 season in memory of Jeff Plunkett. He was sadly taken from his family, friends and community in a tragic motorcycle accident in June 2017. Jeff was a Barrie Royals player and his coaches and teammates fondly remember him for his positive attitude, coachability and determination to always bring his A game on and off the court.