Star athletes Eric Smith (left) and Katie Watts (right) show off their Athlete of the Year awards. They were two of many athletes honoured at the March 26 ceremony.

Durham College’s varsity athletic program celebrated its own on March 26 at the 40^th annual athletic banquet. More than 200 attendees were present at Oshawa’s Trillium Trails to honour Durham’s finest athletes from the 2009-2010 season.

Top accolades went to men’s basketball player Eric Smith as Male Athlete of the Year, while women’s soccer and basketball player Katie Watts won Female Athlete of the Year. The women’s soccer squad took home the Team of the Year award.

Other award winners included Freshman Athletes of the Year Sebastian Dignoti (men’s soccer) and Kayleigh Kraemer (golf). Men’s basketball player Courtney Small won the Bonnie Ginter-Brown Leadership Award alongside women’s volleyball player Mandi Doris.

The night also hit a bittersweet note as athletes bade farewell to Gord Williamson, Durham’s long-standing men’s volleyball coach. Williamson retired after this year’s Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) tournament, leaving with a record of 223 wins and 102 losses over his 23 years of coaching collegiate volleyball, 13 of which were spent leading the Lords.

Ken Babcock, Durham College’s athletic director, had nothing but praise for the evening and his athletes.

“It’s one of those inspirational moments for any athletic director,” said Babcock. “I’m so proud of our students and our coaches in all they do. It’s remarkable the amount we achieve for the size of our school.”

Babcock is also optimistic about Durham’s athletic future after 40 years of excellence.

“I’m looking forward to number 41,” he said. “The coaches are hard at it recruiting already and we’re all excited about what’s in store for our students and programs. And we’re hosting the 2011 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association men’s basketball championships next year, so the spotlight will be on our college nationally.”