Paris District duo sweeps Ed O'Leary Sports Awards

Paris District High School graduates Sydney Kipp and Canaan Sherbino proudly display their 2026 Ed O'Leary Sports Awards. The pair were selected from nominees representing six Brant County high schools, earning the prestigious honour in recognition of their athletic excellence, leadership, sportsmanship and commitment to both school and community. 

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Paris District High School athletes Canaan Sherbino and Sydney Kipp have been named the 2026 recipients of the prestigious Ed O'Leary Sports Award, marking a rare achievement for the school as both of its nominees captured the county-wide honour.

The award, established in 2012, recognizes outstanding high school student-athletes across Brant County and honours longtime sports reporter Ed O'Leary, a passionate supporter of local high school athletics who worked at The Brantford Expositor from 1972 until his death in 2011.

Each of the county's six high schools submits one male and one female nominee. Winners are selected by a committee consisting of high school athletic directors and Expositor staff based on athletic excellence, leadership, sportsmanship and commitment to school and sport.

Sherbino earned the male award after a standout athletic career that saw him compete in volleyball, basketball, football, badminton, tennis, ultimate frisbee and track and field while maintaining honour roll standing throughout high school.

A multi-sport leader, Sherbino captured numerous athletic honours, including junior football's DeGroote Award, junior basketball MVP, senior volleyball MVP and senior basketball MVP. He was also a member of teams that reached the AABHN finals in volleyball and basketball and advanced to the CWOSSA basketball finals.

Beyond competition, Sherbino played a key role in fostering school spirit through his involvement with the school's Athletics Council. He helped organize intramural sports, elementary school activity days, spirit events, athletic banquets and pep rallies.

Teacher and coach Mike Wittchen described Sherbino as a dedicated and coachable athlete who consistently put team success ahead of personal achievement.

"He's committed, dedicated, hardworking and very coachable — always looking to improve as an individual while doing whatever is needed to help the team have success," Wittchen wrote in his nomination.

Sherbino served as captain or assistant captain on several teams throughout his high school career and remained active in community sports, competing for the Dundas Dynamo basketball program and working as a youth hockey referee.

Kipp's selection as the female recipient caps an extraordinary four-year athletic career that included participation in volleyball, basketball, hockey, softball, badminton, track and field, flag football and ultimate frisbee.

The accomplished student-athlete maintained academic honours with distinction throughout high school, posting averages of 95 to 96 per cent while excelling across multiple sports.

Kipp's athletic résumé includes numerous AABHN championships, CWOSSA appearances and OFSAA competitions. She captured league titles in track and field, hockey and softball while setting school records in the 100-metre hurdles and as part of a record-setting 4x100-metre relay team.

She was recognized as PDHS's Top Junior Female Athlete of the Year and earned MVP and coaches' awards in several sports.

Away from competition, Kipp demonstrated leadership through Athletics Council, leadership class and extensive volunteer work with younger athletes. She served as captain of the varsity softball team, co-captain of the senior girls volleyball team and co-captain of the varsity ultimate frisbee team.

In addition to volunteering in youth softball and ringette programs, Kipp was recently named runner-up for the City of Brantford's Phyllis Gretzky Female Leadership Award and received a Brantford Sports Council student-athlete bursary.

Kipp will continue both her academic and athletic career next year at an NCAA Division II school in Ohio, where she will study exercise science and play softball.

In her nomination, teacher Shelley Weaver praised Kipp's ability to balance a demanding schedule while maintaining excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community.

"She is highly coachable, an excellent student, and leads her peers by example," Weaver wrote. "Despite an exceptionally busy schedule, she consistently steps up to volunteer. What stands out most is her ability to manage so many commitments while maintaining an outstanding level of performance in all of them."