On Jan. 12 during the first intermission of the Humboldt Broncos home game against the Notre Dame Hounds, members of the community were recognized at centre ice for winning provincial championships.
Those being recognized included, the Humboldt Bantam AA Dodgers baseball team, the Humboldt Hammerheads swim team, the Lights Out Basketball program, Calico Gymnastics Club and pianist Brett Muyres.
The City of Humboldt has been hosting this ceremony for many years as an opportunity to recognize individuals, teams and organizations who have achieved success on either the provincial or national level.
Mayor Malcolm Eaton was on the ice during the ceremony to introduce them and said it was important for the city to recognize them for their accomplishments.
“These young people but also adults are very often our ambassadors for our community at these events and when they are successful and they achieve success in their sports or their activities then it reflects on the whole community and I think it helps us celebrate Humboldt as a community that has a lot to offer,” he said.
Mayor Eaton also said that although the teams recognized were based out of Humboldt, they also contain players and coaches from throughout the area.
“I think that’s important to note as well, that many of the participants in these programs, although the teams are out of Humboldt, the participants come from the region,” he said.
In the fall of each year, the city puts out a call to the community looking for provincial or national champions. Any champions then register themselves with the city, and then the city receives information and pictures. From there you are eligible and then invited to the events.
Humboldt Bantam AA Dodgers
The Dodgers enjoyed a great deal of success last season winning the 2015 Sask. Baseball Bantam AA Provincial Championship in Yorkton with a perfect 5-0 record. Their reward, was a trip to St. Albert, Alberta and a berth in the 2015 Western Canada Baseball Association Bantam AA Championship. The Dodgers finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, falling in extra innings to Team Manitoba. Despite the loss the boys still managed to finish in third place at the tournament.
Dodgers head coach Mike Suchan said that he and his team received a great deal of support from the community this season, something they are very grateful for.
“A big thank you to the Broncos and to the city of Humboldt and anybody else that was involved in allowing us to be honoured.”
Suchan also thanked the many businesses that helped out the team, which allowed them to go to Provincials.
“We can’t say how much we appreciate the support from the community,” he said.
Humboldt Hammerheads
The Humboldt Hammerheads enjoy a very short season with only three months together. With such a short season the swimmers are asked to work very hard with practices daily during the season. As a result, the team was very successful this season with nine swimmers winning provincial gold medals in various disciplines and age categories.
The gold medalists were, Charlize Parish, Madison Mueller, Sabrina Maclean, Jay Eichorst, Maya Berscheid, Cuyler Brooks, Justin Berscheid, Ryan Hinz and Michael Carnago.
Hammerheads head coach Leisl Lefebvre said that she was proud of the teams hard work, provincial champion or not.
“Even though not every single one of my swimmers is a provincial champion they all work really hard and they’re a very dedicated bunch so I am proud of each and every one of them. I look forward to seeing them back in the water in May,” she said.
Lights Out Basketball
The Lights Out Basketball program is a new program for Humboldt as it is only in its second year of existence, making their feat all the more impressive. The team features players from all over Saskatchewan and is home to two teams, a boys under-15 and a boys under-17 team.
The under-15 team enjoyed a great provincial championship finishing a perfect 3-0 en route to the gold medal.
The under-17 also enjoyed a great tournament finishing 2-1 taking home the bronze medal as a result.
Since the club is so new co-coach Luke Kuypers said that he appreciated being recognized because he didn’t think many people knew about their club.
“It was awesome. I didn’t think there was a whole lot of awareness for what we were doing so it’s nice to hear that word is getting out there and hopefully that gets more people showing up to stuff,” he said.
Calico Gymnastics Club
Like their fellow Humboldt teams, the Calico Gymnastics Club enjoyed a great deal of success last year with six gymnasts taking home either gold or silver medals.
The gold medalists were, Donnell Smith, Amber Niekamp, Kelsey Berscheid, Taylor Possberg and Maya Berscheid. The silver medalist was Marie Millette. As a result of their success with the Calico club three gymnasts also represented Team Saskatchewan at the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Okotoks, Alberta.
Co-coach with the Calico Gymnastics Club, Millie Hart, said that it was nice to get recognized because it showcases another sport to the kids of Humboldt and the area.
“Saskatchewan and Humboldt are well known for hockey and stuff, dance is very big here too so gymnastics is something different that Humboldt and Saskatchewan is not really well known for, so it is just something fun and different for kids to try,” she said.
Brett Muyres
Brett Muyres is a 16-year old high school student who started taking piano lessons at the age of five.
Over the years Muyres has continued to grow as a pianist. Muyres was awarded the June Barber Intermediate Bach award and the Lazecki Memorial Intermediate Piano award as the runner-up to the most outstanding Intermediate pianist at the 2015 Saskatchewan Music Festival.
Muyres said that while he appreciates the recognition, he continues to play the piano as a challenge for himself.
“I’m just representing (Humboldt) and just trying to make myself better everytime and competing with myself.”
