The following individuals were recognized at the Horizon Central Athletic Association (HCAA) Spring Meeting on April 23 for their outstanding contributions to school athletics programs.
Brent Stewart
Cudworth School
Brent Stewart has quietly and humbly gone about his business of educating student athletes for more than 11 years. He is an active coach, official, and mentor both within the school and within the community of Cudworth. Over the years, Brent has coached volleyball (jr. & sr. boys and girls), both jr. & sr. golf, cross-country, badminton, track and field, and has most recently added basketball. Cudworth’s “Mr. Everything” has a hard time saying no to anybody when it comes to activities that benefit the students.
Mr. Stewart has had success both as an SHSAA coach and as a community club coach. The list of banners that Mr. Stewart has had a hand in hanging in Cudworth School are numerous, and include provincial champions and medalists in sr. girls volleyball, sr. boys volleyball, and track and field. Mr. Stewart is active not only in the school, but also in the community. He has also coached other non-school sports such as atom hockey, club volleyball (various levels) for 10 years, and softball at the peewee/bantam/midget level for 5 years.
Mr. Stewart not only coaches students, but he is also very active in the planning process for student activities at all levels. He is acting principal of Cudworth School, the school’s athletic director, a community rec board member, an active SCC member since inception, and an SRC advisor for the last 8 years. To say that Mr. Stewart is busy would be an understatement. On top of all of this, Mr. Stewart has also single handedly built and operated an after school weight room and work out program.
“Sports has been a part of my life ever since I was a high school student myself and I think it’s important to give back. I was given a lot of opportunities when I was younger.
“I enjoy the personalities of the kids and having them succeed at different things like that … When you’ve coached a team or different athletes and they’ve had success and they come back and tell you they appreciated your effort and that you made a difference in their lives, that’s the most rewarding part.”
Cory Popoff
Humboldt Collegiate Institute
Cory Popoff has been extensively involved in several of the athletic programs since his arrival at Humboldt Collegiate. In his years at HCI, he has been involved at some point in coaching jr. & sr. tackle football, junior girls basketball, and badminton. Cory has also contributed to HCI’s athletics programs as an official in volleyball and basketball.
Cory’s overall patient demeanor, dedication to the fundamentals, and love of the game are the most notable qualities that make him deserving of an award. He has also coached on two provincial medal winning football teams in nine man football and been instrumental in helping revise the HCI athletic philosophy to allow for the maximum participation of all students in athletics at HCI. Cory Popoff has done all of this while supporting HCI as an exemplary principal who has worked long hours to ensure HCI remains a high achieving school within the Horizon School Division.
“I really love coaching and I love to see our students achieve in athletics.
“Between my jobs as a school administrator, teacher, father, husband, and coach, I love what I do, so it’s not hard to find time for it. The challenging aspect is finding ways as a coach to have your athletes achieve as all athletes are at different levels of ability when they arrive on our teams, but I enjoy that challenge and I think being able to overcome that challenge is a sign of a good coach.”
Dave Rowe
Humboldt Collegiate Institute
Dave Rowe has been involved in the sport of tackle football at Humboldt Collegiate since his arrival as an English teacher in the early nineties. Dave has served as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator in his years as a football coach and in that time has been part of three provincial nine man football gold medal teams and two silver medal teams.
Dave was also involved as a track and field coach early in his years at HCI.
Dave’s coaching philosophy revolves around his players working hard day in and day out to achieve the best possible result. He demands a high level of skill and mastery in all drills and skill development. Dave has been able to attend many Football Saskatchewan coaching clinics, local safety clinics, and the Senior Bowl to develop himself further as a football coach.
“I was surprised and almost emotional. You devote yourself to kids and sports and you wonder if anyone’s noticing. I mean, you want to be recognized, but you don’t at the same time. It’s a mix of emotions. It was humbling, gratifying, and surprising.
“I guess a part of (the reason I got the award) has been the success, good players, and coaches that I’ve worked with.”
Amber Guenther
Kelvington High School
Since her start at Kelvington High School in 2010, Amber Guenther has worked with every sport that is or has been offered. Amber’s main focus has been basketball, track and field, and girls flag football. Amber has coached the senior girls basketball team and has advanced to Regionals. She has coached and trained athletes in track and field who have won provincial championships as well as silver and bronze medals. As well, she has coached and trains with the senior girls flag football team.
Amber has taken the track and field program at KHS to a new level. She has advanced it from a participatory event to a competitive event where athletes need to train and focus. Since Amber’s involvement in 2010, KHS track and field athletes have won 4 provincial championships and 9 silver or bronze medals.
As well, whenever KHS has been in need of a coach for an additional team for the season or a coach to travel with a team to a game or tournament, Amber is one of the first to make herself available.
Besides the above teacher and coach skills, Amber also demonstrates a positive example for a healthy lifestyle. She trains on a daily basis (sometimes twice a day), participates in noon intramurals, takes students on educational trips, and maintains a sense of professionalism in the school and community.
Amber is a diligent and organized person. The students are very fortunate to experience such a dedicated and committed person who is willing to give to the youth of Kelvington High School.
“I was a little shocked and surprised, I had absolutely no idea. I guess (I was given the award) because ever since I started working here, I’ve been a major part of the athletics program here. I put in a lot of time and effort coaching a lot of different sports and traveling with teams all over the province.
“I particularly love track and field. I enjoy being able to help someone else to that next level. I had some really exceptional athletes in the last couple years and I want them to get ahead of time in their athletic career.”
Wendi Collins
Lanigan Central High School
Wendi Collins is the dedicated head coach of the Lanigan Central High School senior girls volleyball team who won gold this year at 3A provincials. She leaves her three children every morning during the season and drives from Watrous to Lanigan to be at practice for 7:00 a.m. She dedicates all of her weekends from September until November to the team. Her focus is not only on skill development in her players, but also on individual and team growth by facilitating many team bonding activities. Wendi is a great asset to the school and the sports program at LCHS.
Ryan Wilson
Lanigan Central High School
Ryan Wilson is an integral part of the athletics program at Lanigan Central High School. He continues to give his time and effort to ensure students have positive experiences in competitive environments. Five years ago, LCHS started up a football program and Ryan jumped on board with very little experience in the game but a desire to learn and be part of something special at the school. He has continued to coach for the entire life of the program with no real end in sight, becoming very knowledgeable along the way.
Ryan coaches track and field every year and helped LCHS win a silver medal in the team competition a couple years ago when it was first introduced. He also generously volunteers to coach many other sports when no other coach has stepped forward. In the past he has coached basketball, soccer, curling, and this year even took on the cross country running team when the school was struggling to find a coach.
His hardworking attitude and attention to detail help his athletes perform at their best and as a result he has success coaching any team at any level. The time he gives to help the student athletes is invaluable.
“I was actually surprised, to tell you the truth. I didn’t see it coming … Once it sank in, it was appreciated. It’s nice to be recognized for things you’ve done.
“I coach because I appreciated those kinds of opportunities to be involved in those activities when I was a kid and when I became a teacher, I thought it was important for kids to have those opportunities and team enterprises.
“As a teacher, it helps you build relationships with students that you can’t always build in a classroom. You get to see their strengths even if they may not be academic. It gives you some insight into who your students are.”
Bonnie Flahr
Raymore School
Bonnie Flahr is the sr. girls volleyball coach for Raymore School and has done an amazing job building the volleyball program for Raymore School. In a few short months Bonnie logged over 200 unpaid hours to help the volleyball program.
Bonnie has committed hundreds of volunteer hours to coach, manage, fundraise, and assist students on all levels to become better athletes. She managed to get the school new jerseys through intensive fundraising efforts on a local level that required a great deal of time and effort.
Bonnie also committed countless weekends driving to tournaments that were hours away in order to improve her team. Her positive attitude and intense work ethic has greatly enhanced the volleyball program in Raymore and led to the creation of a strong team of committed athletes.
Bonnie also has four children aged ten and under and has sacrificed a large amount of family time in order for her team to succeed. She should be commended for her efforts and attitude to making Raymore senior girls volleyball a strengthened program with talented athletes.
“I just thought it was kind of nice to be acknowledged for my volunteer work because a lot of people don’t get recognized. It’s most likely because I put a lot of hours in with the volleyball team and I have a young family. I’m dedicated to making the program work considering I have little people at home (to take care of).
“I love the game. I love the kids and I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy the sport so much.”
