Director’s Club Banquet Honors Athletes
Nutmeg Director's Club Banquet honors athletes
Thursday, February 27, 2014 10:54 PM EST
By CARL JOSEPHSON
STAFF WRITER
SOUTHINGTON — The Nutmeg State Games and Connecticut Masters’ Games honored three area heros with Athlete of the Year awards at the 20th Annual Director’s Club Banquet Thursday night at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.
In front of over 250 people, Newington’s Marjorie Sasiela, Plainville’s Patrick Creel and Farmington’s Veronica Khokhryakova were all recognized for their athletic ability and selflessness towards other people.
Sasiela, who took up many different activities throughout her life including running, basketball, bowling and track and field events, received the Masters’ Games Athlete of the Year.
It was an emotional night for Sasiela, who has been battling cancer since 1996. It was easy to hear in her voice just how appreciative she was for the award she received.[*]
“I’m overwhelmed by this wonderful honor that you have bestowed upon me,” Sasiela said. “I’m still in awe and I can’t believe that I’m here. You’ll have to bear with me a little bit tonight because I had a chemo treatment on Monday, but I wasn’t going to miss this night for nothing. Eighteen years ago I did have breast cancer, and the little buggers decided to come back and pay me a visit, but it’s not going to stay. I have another race for my life, and I’m going to finish and win that one, too.”
Sasiela has been participating in the Masters’ Games since 1994, back when they were called the CT Senior Olympics.
Creel, who was named the Nutmeg State Games Male Athlete of the Year, has been participating in the Games since 2009 in roller hockey and ice hockey. Not only is Creel an exemplary athlete, but he is also humble young man who helps teach others.
Creel has helped create a new intramural lacrosse program at the Middle School of Plainville and also teaches younger players how to skate and play hockey.
“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of myself and my teammates,” Creel said. “I would like to thank my parents for all of their love and support. It has been a great pleasure participating in the Nutmeg State Games over the years and I look forward to participating in this year’s Games.”
Just one year ago, Khokhryakova moved to the United States from Russia. On Thursday she received the Nutmeg State Games Female Athlete of the Year award for her excellence in figure skating, which she picked up at the age of three when she became very sick and was told by doctors she needed to strengthen her immune system through sports.
In the past year, Khokhryakova has participated in 14 figure skating competitions, all while learning the English language.
“I like figure skating because I like learning about new things and getting them perfect,” Khokhryakova said. “I want to thank my parents for bringing me to competitions and practices and I want to also thank my coach for training me.”
The keynote speaker at Thursday night’s banquet was new University of Connecticut football coach Bob Diaco, who spoke about life and how everyone, especially young children, should be on a mission and strive for their best.
“What an incredible event that we’re getting young people out to compete against each other in a healthy, safe, fun environment,” Diaco said of the Games. “Be on a mission. Just reshape in your mind what you’re doing, and why ... What mission are you on? Are you just participating in your sport, or do you want to change something? Do you want to be the best? In your mind, you can have a new energy for the day tomorrow when you’re on a mission.”
Diaco was just hired as the UConn football coach this season after spending the previous four years as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame.
Not only was Thursday’s Director’s Club Banquet a fundraising event for the Nutmeg State Games and Connecticut Masters’ Games, but it also gave people a look at some of the terrific, young athletes from around the area and around the entire state.
