Growing up in New Waterford as the youngest of seven children, Donna made a name for herself at an early age as a stand out all-around athlete. Donna attended Mount Carmel and Miner's Memorial Elementary Schools where she developed her love of soccer, basketball and competitive running. She took this love of sports to Breton Education Centre and her talents did not go unnoticed as she was named Female Athlete of the Year in both junior and senior high school. In the summer of 1984 Donna hit the pitch playing for Cape Breton's Under 18 Girls Soccer Team and took home a silver medal at the Nova Scotia Soccer championships.

After graduating from BEC in 1985 Donna went on to attend the University College of Cape Breton where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Community Studies Degree. She maintained her status as a multi-sport athlete suiting up for UCCB in varsity basketball, soccer and cross country running. In the 1985-86 season Donna helped both her soccer and cross-country teams win Nova Scotia College Conference titles and she was recognized for her outstanding athletic abilities by being named UCCB's Female Athlete of the Year in 1988.

Upon graduation at UCCB Donna went on to obtain a Diploma in Sports Injury Management and Athletic Therapy from Sheridan College in 1990. While studying at Sheridan College she played both soccer and basketball and had the opportunity to complete her final student placement with the Toronto Maple Leafs Head Athletic Therapist.

Her playing career did not come to a close with the end of her formal education though, as she laced up with Cape Breton Kixx Senior Women's Soccer Team who in 1993 won the Nova Scotia Championship, the Atlantic Canada Championship, and went on to play at the Senior Women's National Soccer Tournament. In 2008 Donna returned to school and received her Masters in Adult Education from Saint Francis Xavier University where she completed her research in coaching education.

Aside from being involved in sports as a player, Donna has had a long and illustrious career as a coach and facilitator. In 2009 she was the Mission Liaison for Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Games and she was a member of the Volunteer Planning Committee for the 2011 Halifax Canada Games. She was in charge of medical services in both 2009 and 2011 when Cape Breton played host to the National Under-18 Soccer Championships. Donna is a board member for the Connor Timmons Memorial Soccer Tournament, a learning facilitator and program administrator for the National Coaching Certification Program, a trainer for the High Five Program, a part of a national review and pilot project committee for the High Five Principles of Healthy Child Development and Healthy Minds for Healthy Kids and over the years she has worked many national, provincial and municipal level sporting events and camps assisting players with sports related injuries including the Junior National Women's Basketball Camp and the Toronto Marathon.

Donna has been involved in sports for the majority of her life having been a player and then a coach in basketball, soccer and tennis for over 30 years. She has had the privilige on a number of occasions to co-coach various teams with her husband Greg and to coach her children. She continues to do as much as possible to promote coaching education nd is currently a member of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's Sports Summit Planning Committee in hopes of promoting sport development in Cape Breton.

Currently, Donna is employed by the Nova Scotia Community College's Marconi Campus where she is part of the Human Services Faculty. She and her husband Greg, who was honoured as a Coal Bowl Chairperson in 2011, have instilled their love of sport in their 2 children Dillon and Heidi. Dillon is part of the Breton Bears Alumni who played in 2 Coal Bowls and is currently attending Cape Breton University. In his free time Dillon serves as the assistant coach for the BEC Bears Boys Grade 7 basketball team. Heidi is a grade 9 student-athlete at BEC playing both basketball and soccer where she had the pleasure of being coached by her mother this past season.

Donna has been a sports leader in our community for many years and it is for that reason that the Coal Bowl Board of Directors take great pride in naming her as a 2013 Tournament Division Chairperson.

Gerald "Taits" Springall was an all-around athlete growing up in New Waterford as one of five siblings. During his time at Mount Carmel High School, he played hockey, basketball and soccer. After graduating from Mount Carmel in 1957, Gerald's sports career shifted gears and turned its focus onto baseball. He was a member of both the 1958 and1 960 Nova Scotia Juvenile/Junior Baseball Championship Teams. The slick fielding first baseman was an integral part of the teams that are being honoured at the 2013 Coal Bowl Classic

Gerald also played softball and fastball with the New Waterford Hawks. In 1975 he changed over from a player to a coach and took the reins of the Hawkls Fastball Team. Gerald had a very successful coaching career as he saw his teams win 3 Intermediate "D" Cape Breton Championships. The Hawks also claimed back to back Nova Scotia Titles in 1976 and 1977. During that time, New Waterford was a hotbed for fastball activity. Geralds dedication to his Hawks combined with his great organizational skills and competitive nature kept the Hawks at the forefront of the local fastball scene.

Gerald worked with the new Waterford Police Department for 19 years until he had to retire due to health concerns. He and his wife Barbara have been happily married for 53 years and have two daughters Monica and Geraldine.

It is with delight that the 2013 Coal Bowl Classic names Gerald "Taits" Springall as a Division Chairperson.