THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120384
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Anne Donovan hobbled into the Sheraton Beach Inn, sporting a walking cast on her right foot.
In all her years as a New Jersey high school, Old Dominion University and Olympic basketball player, Donovan had never suffered an injury as severe as her 4-week-old broken ankle.
``I slipped on the ice leaving my office to go to practice,'' said the recipient of this year's Virginia Beach Sports Club Sportsperson of the Year award. ``All those years in New Jersey in snow and ice, all those years playing, and all I ever had before was a ligament or a strain.''
Donovan was the marque award winner at the club's 43rd annual jamboree Monday at the Oceanfront.
``I spent 15 or 16 years in this area and really loved it,'' said Donovan, who just completed her first year as East Carolina University head coach. It's nice to be back. The last time I was back, we really got thumped by ODU.''
Princess Anne football player Mike Majette was named the most outstanding Virginia Beach high school athlete. Majette set a new area career rushing mark of 4,500 yards last fall.
Kempsville girls basketball coach Greg Dunn was named the male coach of the year. The Chiefs will play Thursday in their second-straight Group AAA state semifinal.
Nancy Fowlkes, who last fall coached the Cox field hockey team to a national-record seventh-straight state title, was named the female coach of the year.
Cape Henry Collegiate tennis player Jessica Zaganczyk was named the outstanding female athlete. Cox golfer Troy Cummings was the outstanding male athlete.
Club chaplain Bill Ralph was presented with the Joseph E. Healy Memorial Award for significant service to the organization. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Anne Donovan:
``I spent 15 or 16 years in this area and really loved it.''
by CNB