Innisfail high school athletes had a good year.
With Chinook's Edge Northern Athletic Association, Central Western Alberta Junior High Athletic Association, Chinook's Edge Athletic Association, and provincial banners flying high in the students' gathering area, more than 200 athletes, families, coaches and teachers came together to celebrate their achievements, both large and small, on June 10 for their annual Senior High Awards banquet.
MC Lorraine Dingman, a school teacher and volleyball coach, introduced the coaches and spoke on the achievements of the school.
“We had a very good year, and around the room are the banners our school took home in 2013-2014,” said Dingman. “Our Grade 9 teams, for instance, made seven championship runs. Each of the school's teams had season highlights, whether a success or near-triumph.”
The evening included the introduction of every sports team from grade 9 to 12 by their coaches, a short speech on their achievements, and the awarding of Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player and the Heart and Hustle awards.
Dingman outlined the procedures for choosing athletes of the year.
“We chose a male and a female athlete from each grade based on both the positive character attributes these athletes bring to the sport, and the diverse range of athletic skills the students possess. Coaches looked at character traits such as leadership, sportsmanship, commitment and coach ability as well as athletic abilities pertaining to the sport,” said Dingman.
Vice-principal Jeff Anderson, who is the school's athletic director, added that while athletic skills were important, the school was quick to recognize that academics are an important aspect of school and that the award nominees and winners were well balanced.
“Any one of the winners exhibited strong aspects of positivity, passion and power in their performances,” said Anderson.
The athletes of the year for Grade 9 were Carmen Maree (female) and Jeremy Klessens (male), with the Grade 10 winners being Elizabeth Maciborsky (female) and Nolan Pochapsky (male). Courtney Dickson and Simon Bigger were named female and male Grade 11 athletes of the year and Grade 12 students Sydney Daines and Donovan Pineau were honoured as Athletes of the Year.
Emily Lucas was awarded honourable mention in Grade 11 for her track performance, setting records in the 1,500- and 3,000-metre races at regionals in Red Deer.
“All of the winning athletes were exceeding or leading their teammates, yet they chose to work as a team,” said Anderson. “That is true leadership that will serve them well as they move on in their careers later in life, whether athletic or academic.”
