For four years, Zach Laliberte thought about the Bill Turpin Award and last year, as he watched as his teammate and captain, Kadyn Foster, win the award, he knew that it was within his reach.
And now, the 17-year-old has added his name to the award, which is presented to a graduating rugby player in the Langley school district who not only excels on the field, but also contributes by giving back to the sport, either through refereeing or coaching.
“When I saw Kadyn win the award last year, I thought I had a pretty good chance to win it myself (this year),” admitted Laliberte.
“I am really proud of this award. Some of the past winners have been real students of the game and it means all the hard work has paid off.”
Laliberte plays fly-half for the Walnut Grove Gators and his coach is thrilled he won the award. Another Walnut Grove student, Lauren Klassen, was also a recipient of the award. 
“He just put his nose to the grindstone and overcame injuries — ankle, broken collarbone — and kept coming back stronger and stronger,” said Walnut Grove coach Jon Fast.
“Just hours of relentless practice on his own kicking.”
Fast also knows just how much off-field issues Laliberte has dealt with.
“He has had to overcome a lot of personal tragedy,” Fast said.
“I would be safe to say rugby got him through school.”
He was referring to the sudden passing of one of Laliberte’s close friends, Jordan Gillett, in May 2012. Compounding things was the sudden passing of Laliberte’s father the following month.
“Just pushed through it with good family and friends,” he said.
He also praised Fast.
“He has been there a lot,” Laliberte said.
“He put extra interest in me when things were at their low point.”
Fast called Laliberte a natural leader who takes control on the field.
Laliberte is not the biggest player on the field — he is 5-11 and 165 pounds — but he possesses a strong rugby IQ and work ethic.
It has allowed him to succeed not just at the high school level, but at the club level as well.
Laliberte plays for the men’s side with Delta’s Britannia Lions Rugby Club.
He could have played for the club’s U19 team.
“I always believed that if you played up (a level), you will get better,” he said of his rationale for playing against grown men instead of teenagers.
“I wasn’t intimidated by playing at the men’s level.”
And Laliberte did so well with the Lions, who won the club’s most promising player of the year award and the club is hoping to send him to Australia next year to hone his skills, Fast said.
In the meantime, Laliberte will continue to play for the club.
He also plans on attending BCIT in the fall to study to be an electrician. 
