Paralymics champion Earle Connor received the World Laurens Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award this week. Forty two world renowned athletes recognized Connor with the most prestigious international sporting award for breaking four sprint world records in Germany and Milan in 2003.

Born in Castlegar, British Columbia without a left fibula, the 27-year-old Connor is training with his prosthetic leg at the University of Calgary for the 2004 outdoor season, his sights set on the 2004 Paralymic Games in Athens. He hopes to beat his current records of 12.14s in the 100m, 26.40s in the 200m and 67.32s in the 400m.

Off to the CFL

For the third year in a row, the Calgary Stampeders drafted a Dino. Fourth-year defensive lineman Tyler Lynem joins the Stamps as their second-round pick (11th overall). The 23-year-old first joined the Dinos in 1998, coming directly from Calgary's Sir Winston Churchill High School. Lynem played for the Calgary Colts in the 1999 and 2000 seasons before returning to the Dinos in 2001. At 66 and 270 lbs., Lynem was a 2002 Canada West All-Star and recorded 18 solo tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles this season.

Also selected from the Dinos was linebacker and special teams player Ryan Folk, taken by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round (43rd overall). At 25 years old, the 510, 198 lbs. Medicine Hat native had 63 tackles, two sacks, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles last season.

The 2003 CFL Draft saw Dinos linebacker Agustin Barrenecha join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats while U of C slotback Blake Machan joined the Stamps.

New recruits incoming

With Dinos varsity teams into the off-season, coaches will be taking short breaks to reflect on their seasons before looking to the future. Summertime is recruitment time for many campus programs, a time when the merits of Dinos Athletics are extolled to countless high school stars in the hopes of getting them to commit to the U of C. Hopes are high after successful seasons for many teams, but only time will tell if that success is enough to woo the next generation of Dinos.