The Ontario Volleyball Association is pleased to announce Carter Sedgewick and Victoria Potvin as the winners of the Association’s most prestigious award for youth volleyball players in Ontario - the Ken Davies and Evelyn Holick Memorial awards. These awards are presented annually to a nominated male and female athlete from the 18 and under division who encompass the characteristics of their award namesakes. These traits include on-court talent and accomplishments, as well as their injection of spirit and compassion within their community away from the court. These awards recognize the complete player and person. This year, the awards were sponsored by MyDoh, which builds smart money habits for youth via an app. MyDoh is an arm of the Royal Bank of Canada.

Sedgewick, 17, is a student of the game; the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. As such, he is a natural leader for his Kingston Rock team and is someone who makes the time and effort to lift his peers up to a better version of themselves and to a standard that is mutual and reciprocated.

The first member of his club to be selected to Team Ontario Black and most recently Team Ontario Elite, Sedgewick has been a pivotal in the recent success of his club team which has gone to record highs in the 2022-23 season. At the top of his club’s stats board in nearly every category, Sedgewick and the Kingston Rock 18U Boys team broke the barrier and competed in the Premier division for the first time in club history.

“I have also never seen someone so focused on doing whatever he can to help the team succeed and not worry about who gets the glory in the end,” said Kingston Rock coach, Tom Ellinson. “Carter is someone that consistently wants the most of both himself and those around him, and effectively finds ways to bring the best out of everyone that is a part of his life.”

His investment in sport, academics and good will trickles down to helping at the elementary school level with coaching as well as mentoring junior golfers and tutoring in his high school. In addition to being a highly talented volleyball player, Sedgewick is captain of his high school’s hockey and ultimate frisbee teams.

Sedgewick will be attending Queen's University and will be representing the Gaels on the men's volleyball team.

Potvin, 17, is a silent leader of the Maverick Broncos whose actions on the court speak louder than words possibly could. When she is vocal though, the message is clear and respected and heard by her teammates, garnered through a fulfilling tenure with the Ottawa volleyball club. A smaller outside hitter, Potvin has trained extensively on her all-around game to ensure all the gaps are filled and the result of her dedication speaks for itself – a Team Ontario selection to the 2022 Canada Summer Games, making the 2022-23 Team Ontario Elite roster and an invite to the Volleyball Canada U19 selection camp in the libero position. For the cherry on top, her goals of playing post-secondary will be realized when she steps on the court for the McMaster Marauders in the Fall of 2023. 

“There is a special bond between the players, an unwavering support of each other, a resiliency to never give up, and most of all a sense of having fun,” says Maverick Volleyball coach John Nguyen. “Victoria has been a key player in creating this environment and leading the others to support each other through her own humbleness, encouragement, and smile.”

Sport has been essential in Potvin’s life. Prior to a sole focus on volleyball she was a talented ringette athlete and downhill skier – the multisport background proving to be a valuable asset in her versatility on the court. Even when she is not competing, she still manages to be immersed in the sport through her volunteering efforts within Maverick Volleyball with the younger teams, helping to foster the next generation of volleyball athletes. The generosity comes from a knack of building strong relationships, keeping that community and by participating in funding projects such as the Create Change Foundation – a charity on a mission to transform girls living in poverty into leaders of change. Her work in this fundraising event helped support girls in Africa.

A three-time OVA Award of Excellence recipient from her club, Potvin balances an outstanding academic record while constantly on a path to keep improving and to absorb all she can in her volleyball career to not only help her, but those on the court with her; a mark of a great leader.

The Ken Davies and Evelyn Holick Memorial awards, as well as the 18U Grand Prix all-stars, will be formally presented on Thursday, April 20 at 3:00 p.m. on the award stage (Heritage Court) during the Ontario Championship’s first day at Enercare Centre. 

Thank you to MyDoh and RBC for their sponsorship of this athlete awards.