Barry Wright
Sarnia Imperials head coach Jake Cherski has won the Sid Forster Memorial Trophy as coach of the year in the Northern Football Conference.
It's the first time a Sarnia coach has won the honour in the modern era of the NFC.
Under Cherski's leadership, the Imperials captured the West Division crown this season with a 5-3 record. They also handled Sault Ste. Marie easily in the first round of the playoffs before coming out on the wrong end of a 20-19 score to Ottawa in overtime in the divisional final.
Cherski downplayed the award, saying football is a team sport and not about individual accomplishments.
“If it wasn't for my staff - Michael Fioroni, Pat Wright and Kevin Allaer - and all the boys putting in their time and effort, I never would have been noticed,” said Cherski. “For that I thank them.”
He said teams collectively appreciate when good things happen and learn together from bad experiences.
Sarnia wide receivers Ryan Lounsbury and Brad Churchill were named league all-stars for the first time, with Lounsbury being named to the first team and Churchill to the second team.
Allaer was named both the top punter and kicker in the league.
He had previously been named top punter on three occasions between 2010 and 2012, but up until this season had never been honoured as the top kicker.