February 16, 2011 - Niagara College Knights women's basketball coach Ron Lemon is the winner of the 2010 H.L. Cudney Memorial Award for sportsman of the year.

  Past winners include Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Beeston, NHL player Dan Paille, women's tennis executive Stacey Allaster, and inaugural winner Ed Learn, former CFL All-Star.

"It means a lot. It's pretty good company in there. It's really quite an honour," said Lemon. "I wasn't even expecting anything like this at all. I didn't have a clue. I'm really happy. I just enjoy doing what I'm doing."

Lemon has coached the Knights for the past 10 years. He's also heavily involved in the annual Welland triathlon and with the Welland Sports Promotion Committee. The coaching veteran will have a chance to capture a national championship as he leads his Knights into the 2011 CCAA women's national basketball championships, a tournament Niagara is hosting March 17 - 19.

"Ron has been such a pillar in basketball in this community," said Garret Smits, member of the Cudney Award selection committee. "He's really given to the community. We didn't want to miss an opportunity to recognize Ron."

A national crown would be icing in the cake for Lemon. He coached the 1976 Welland High senior boys' basketball team to the all-Ontario title. It remains the highlight of Lemon's coaching career.
 
"There is an atmosphere of basketball around here. That's why I came," said Lemon, a native of Moose Jaw, Sask. "This is a hotbed for basketball."

CONTACT
Shawn McCart
Niagara College
t: (905) 735-2211 x7652
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http://www.ccaa.ca/
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