Napper named Welland’s top coach
Other coaches didn’t have even a fighter’s chance of knocking off Ray Napper as the City of Welland’s 2023 outstanding coach.
The 39-year-old Welland native was the knockout winner of the Gil Beaulieu Memorial Trophy on the strength of a 2023 season that saw him named head boxing coach for Team Ontario and the chair of the coaching and high performance committee.
“I got the opportunity to coach at several elite and nationals championships,” he said. “I had a really good year.”
He coached Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games and saw all seven of the province’s boxers earn medals, the only province to do so.
“We had two golds there which was probably the highlight of my coaching career.”
Two members of Nappers, Simon Romero and Dhumisani Masanzu, were members of Team Ontario. Romero, the 2023 Welland male athlete of the year, recently won the 2024 provincial championships while Masanzu earned silver.
“I think we went on a 15-fight winning streak at one point which included at least five or six bouts against either provincial champions or national champions.”
His 2023 resume also included serving as the head coach and evaluator for Ontario boxers at the Olympic training centre in Montreal.
His passion for coaching is clear.
“I love it. If you have ever been in my boxing club, you would know the feeling in there. The first time you walk in there it is just an awesome feeling and a good nostalgia thing. It is old and it is clearly a boxing gym,” he said. “You walk in and think everyone is going to be the tough person and you find that they are all very humble people. We had 20 people here tonight (Friday at awards ceremony) celebrating with Simon and I.”
Napper was honoured to win the coaching award for the third time. He has previously won in 2011 and 2013.
“It is always nice to be recognized and I told my team that it is our award. It wasn’t me who did everything. I have amazing coaches. My brother (Todd Napper) and Julia (DiMarcantonio) are both national team level coaches and all our boxers are incredible in and out of the ring.”
Napper started boxing when he was 12 and had 22 amateur fights. He won two provincial junior C (under 15) titles and one Canadian junior C crown in his career before turning to coaching.
“Once I was down there (at club), I never left. I ended up taking over the head coach role.”
Napper describes himself as a strict old school coach but one who is young and still learning every day.
“I try to keep up with the times. A coach these days has to be less of an old school coach and more encouraging and very constructive with your criticism,” he said. “You not only have to be a coach but you have to be a mentor to these young guys, let them know that you will always have their back, that you are proud of them and you are encouraging them all the time.”
That style allows Napper to be firm when it is required.
‘When you do have days where it is a more tougher conversation, you tell them you are having it because you believe in them.”
He is a big proponent of boxing.
“You can’t hide behind a team. If you don’t work hard enough, it shows. If you don’t pay attention enough, it shows. You have to work hard, you have to listen and you have to try your best every night,” he said. “And everyone seems to be a really good person in boxing. They are all respectful and good people.”
Napper works hard to bring more females into the sport.
“I like everybody to be included. We have had a lot of success with females in the past and it looks really good for the boxing club. The boxing club was established in 1919 and we didn’t even have females in the gym until the 1990s. I am proud to have elite female athletes in our club.”
His ultimate goal is to become coach of the national team.
“I do but I am really enjoying where I am at right now. If the opportunity is there I will go for it.”
The following are the 50th Annual Sport Awards Night – 2023 Award Winners.
Outstanding Achievement
Chelsea Porga – Bowling
Melissa Borowski – Niagara College Women’s Curling
Alexa Desrochers – Niagara College Women’s Curling
Canal Dragons – Para Dragon Crew
Canal Dragons Special Needs Crew
Welland 88’s – Slo Pitch
Jason Higgins – Track and Field Coach – Centennial
Arianna Romano – Wrestling
Matteo Romano – Wrestling
Ariella Donnelly – Swimming
Chase Owen – Track & Field Pole Vault
Maddie Bodnar – Track & Field Hurdles
Easton Fournier – Track & Field Discus
Jader Davis – Track & Field Discus
Lauren Clarke – Track & Field Discus
Noah Wellard – Track & Field Discus
Nalia Caesar – Track & Field Discus
Special Achievement Presentation
Welland Jackfish for their outstanding performance in 2023 becoming the Dominico Cup Champions.
Team achievement – Senior team
Harpwood Trophies Award Trophy
Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad
Malarie Jones – Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad
Sarah Stacey – Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad
Emma Goedhart – Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad
Juliette Freure – Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad
Avery Coles Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad
John Ruscitti – Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad Coach
Rhiannon Zahorchak Notre Dame Rowing Club – Women’s Coxed Quad Coach
U18 A Welland Tigers – Ice Hockey (1st runner up)
Hope Floats – Breast Cancer Survivor Crew (2nd Runner up)
Gord Sykes Coaching Award
Pat McNally – Rowing
Outstanding Sport Volunteer
Doc Brauweiler Memorial Trophy
Co-Recipients
Chelsea Porga – Bowling, Volleyball & Basketball
Gerald (Gerry) Leger – Special Olympics Floor Hockey
Outstanding Sport Executive
Aurel Gervais Memorial Trophy
Theresa Brooks – Curling
Outstanding Coach
Gil Beaulieu Memorial Trophy
Ray Napper – Boxing
Master’s athlete – Female
M.T. Bellies Trophy
Lynda Lemon – Running
Master’s athlete – Male
Terry Zorgel – Marathon, Triathlon
Female Athlete
Welland Sports Council
Co-Recipients
Zoe Falardeau – Baseball, Hockey, Volleyball & Badminton
Nyla Morabito – Gymnastics
Male athlete
Earl Leonard Memorial Trophy
Simon Romero – Boxing
H.L. Cudney Award
Cal Clutterbuck – Ice Hockey
