Some will stay and some will go.

It is a scene that will play itself out, to some extent or another, in a somewhat similar fashion at each and every year-end banquet that the Cambrian Shield (and countless other post-secondary institutions) will host.

Having garnered West Division first team all-star and CCAA Academic All-Canadian status this past season, North Bay native Carlie Pappano is anxious to make her way out to British Columbia this summer, looking for a change of scenery.

Pappano will now do so as the reining Cambrian College Female Athlete of the Year, beating out women’s volleyball teammate Allison Nordquist and women’s soccer team MVP Olivia Skinkle for the honours.

Yet for as much as the welcoming of friends out on the west coast awaits, the 23 year-old who finished fourth overall in kills in the OCAA this past year knows that closing the book on the chapter she will leave behind will not be easy.

“The community here of Cambrian Athletics is really nice; everyone kind of looks after each other,” noted the hard-hitting left-side power who first graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice from Canadore College, suiting up with the Panthers' volleyball squad and earning an OCAA all-star nod before coming to Sudbury, studying Business Fundamentals.

“I’ve met some of my best friends on this team,” Pappano added. “Being able to play with my best friends is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Leading her team to a 12-4 record this year and a third place finish in the dogfight that is the OCAA West, Pappano is steadfast in her belief that she leaves Cambrian a far more advanced volleyball athlete than the one who came aboard two years ago.

“My defense improved more this year than in any other year I have been playing in the OCAA,” she said. “We trained that so hard, worked on it so much. Being coached by somebody like Dale (head coach Dale Beausoleil) is just an incredible opportunity. I trust everything that he says.”

Unsure of what the landscape of her life will look like once she reaches the far western end of the country, Pappano has contemplated perhaps coaching volleyball down the road – and stepping on the court, at least from time to time.

“I would like to stay around the sport,” she said. “It’s what has shaped me as a person.”

In the case of Cambrian Shield Male Athlete of the Year Sam George, there is arguably still some shaping to be done. Just a year removed from being named OCAA Men’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year, the Lockerby Composite graduate has taken his game to another level, adding West Division first all-star team and CCAA Academic All-Canadian status to the in-house honour he was presented with last week.

Having transferred over to the Civil Engineering Technology program this year, the 19 year-old setter is more than a little thankful for the developmental path he has enjoyed during his time with the Shield.

“My first year was awesome because I got to experience a lot of playing time, really getting to know on the court what the OCAA is all about,” said George. “And everyone, all of my teammates, developed too – which made me look good".

Returning with almost the entire core of talent that accounted for a silver medal performance at provincials in 2024-2025, the young man who shared Team MVP accolades this year with both Liam Hansen and Cale Bast could see areas where the Cambrian gents embracement the concept of daily betterment, both in practices and in games.

“We did a super good job this year of when we lose a point, focusing immediately on the next point,” said George. “We never got stuck in a rotation for long. Our mentality was a lot stronger this year.”

Somewhat soft-spoken by nature, the gifted table-setter who led the entire league in assists per set credited a slightly more vocal approach in helping to strengthen the bond with the Cambrian friends that he relies upon to put the ball down.

“Communication is huge,” said George. “I was talking a lot to Cale and Kyle and the guys during the season – and I like it when they talk to e, telling me what I can do better to help them out.”

The presentations to Carlie Pappano and Sam George wrapped up an evening which featured Ethan Lalonde being awarded the Peter Guy Memorial Bursary, Owen Perron, Reyne Hoare and Dominik Royer-Brunette each receiving gifts from the Vern Dow Memorial Bursary and Abby Laporte standing out as the recipient of the Dynamic Therapy Perseverance Award.

Other special award winners included Keith Escabusa, Jasmine Mills, Raya McCarthy and Hedson Joshy (SWSE scholarships) and Shaun McKim, Yuvraj Singh, Raya McCarthy, Alyssa Atchison, Jamie Hopkins, Ann Phuong and Caleb Bridge (Sudbury Masters Running Club bursaries).

Individual team award winners were:

Cross-Country Running
MVP – Shaun McKim
Rookie of the Year – Yuvraj Singh
Coaches Award – Alyssa Atchison
Most Improved – Ann Phuong

Women’s Soccer
MVP – Olivia Skinkle
Rookie of the Year – Olivia Skinkle
Coaches Award – Molly Watson
Most Imrpoved – Ainslee Buchan

Men’s Soccer
MVP – Siah Stone
Rookies of the Year – Arvin Alcid & Elie Yoma
Coaches Award – Rushawn Bascoe
Most Improved – Miguel Samonte

Badminton
MVP – Dominik Royer-Brunette
Rookie of the Year – Grayson Hebner
Coaches Award – Daniel Collins & Alexa Clark
Most Improved – Jamie Hopkins

Women’s Volleyball
MVP – Carlie Pappano & Allison Nordquist
Rookie of the Year – Camille Barr
Coaches Award – Maisie Craig & Mackenzie Selk
Most Improved – Jersey Masson

Men’s Volleyball
MVP – Sam George, Liam Hansen & Cale Bast
Rookie of the Year – Ethan Wheatley
Coaches Award – Kyle Perreault & Jason Diotte