Three members of the YRHS senior football team will be taking home four awards this year at the Regina Intercollegiate Football League awards banquet.
The evening, scheduled for next Thursday, will honour the best of the football league's talent and will include three members of the YRHS quad, says YRHS coach Roby Sharpe.Three players will be taking home a total of four awards, with one player getting set to receive two recognitions.
"The odd year we've been shutout at the Regina awards," explains Sharpe, but this year was not one of them, he quickly mentioned.
"We always send someone to the next level."
The YRHS puts forth nominations, however, none of the members of the YRHS coaching staff are permitted to vote for their own players.
Taking home two awards will be wide receiver/cornerback Christoph Zawatsky, according to Sharpe.
The one player who is usually "always on the field", regardless of who has possession of the football at any given time, Zawatsky has been one of Sharpe's 'go-to' guys, and the efforts apparently haven't gone un-noticed.
Zawatsky will be recognized for his offensive achievements, taking passes from several quarterbacks, as well as for his ability to stop the other team's receivers from making big time plays.
Zawatsky will be honoured for his work as a cornerback/defensive back.
He will be one of four members of the Yorkton Regional High School football program's members headed to the Queen City for a Nov. 18 dinner in recognition of the league's talent."He barely comes off the field," notes Sharpe. "He's a little guy. He plays bigger than he is."
Also to be honoured that night will be Dalton Bakke.
Despite being on the sidelines with an injury during his school's biggest win of the season at the University of Regina's campus, he still caught enough attention to take home the RIFL's top middle linebacker award.
Says coach Sharpe, that award is very well deserving.
"I am sure he will play university (football). He hits like a jackhammer."
Sharpe said there is interest coming to him from the University of Regina Rams who are reportedly interesting in signing Bakke.
The Gr. 12 student has just played out his final game wearing the orange and white of the YRHS Raiders. He no doubt left his mark and insisted that his ability to "make plays in games" is likely what caught the attention of the RIFL coaches responsible for deciding the various awards.
Bakke also suggested his leadership quality also helped win him the award.
He also said it was quite a surprise to hear the news of winning the award, as it was announced over the public address system at the Regional Friday.
YRHS offensive tackle Justin Schneider has no doubt done his fair share of work at least this past season.
The fellow Gr. 12 student joins Bakke as having played his final game as a YRHS Raider."He's gotten to be a pretty dominant player," says Sharpe of Schneider.
"He was right up there. He's quite a leader."
The Regional head coach also said his tackle is one of those guys that doesn't say much in the locker room, one of the skills that could take him places later on down the road.
"He does his job well," Sharpe goes on, adding that "he's quick for a big guy."
Schneider will be going to the banquet and will be recognized as one of two offensive tackles to be the best in the RIFL's 2010 campaign.
He will be joined by the Notre Dame Hounds Billy McLeod.
Schneider said he suspects that the honour will be "a big thing that college's and universities look at" when deciding whom to award scholarships and positions on their teams to.
It will also be a key component of his resume, Schneider says.
Following graduation from the YRHS in June, Schneider said he hopes he will be able to manage both a university schedule and a junior football career next fall.
Other award winners are: Spencer Mack, quarterback, Luther College; Myles Ledezma, running back, Luther College; Nick Leont, running back, Miller Comprehensive; Drake Drum, full back, Notre Dame; Zawatsky and William Dubecky, wide receivers, YRHS and FW Johnson, respectively; inside wide receivers Thomas Bresciani (Weyburn) and Derek Johnson (Miller); tackles Schneider and Billy McLeod, YRHS and Notre Dame, respectively; guards Brett Wade and Terry Goivannetti (Miller and Archbishop MC O'Neill); centre Spencer Zwarych, Archbishop MC O'Neill.
Defensive specialist awards include: inside linebackers Bakke and Chris Charuk (YRHS and Luther College); outside linebackers Graydon Benner and Jeremy Atkins (Notre Dame and Archbishop MC O'Neill); defensive tackle Brett Wade, Miller; nose guard Terry Giovannetti, Archbishop MC O'Neill; defensive ends Erik Heuck and Mike Desarlais (Luther College and Miller); cornerbacks Zawatsky and Matt Wilson (YRHS and Notre Dame); safety Thomas Bresciani, Weyburn; halfbacks Will Lerach and Laate Ago (Luther and Archbishop MC O'Neill); punter Thomas Bresciani, Weyburn; place kicker Leiland Kolodzinski, MC O'Neill.
