The accomplishments of two outstanding young athletes and a dedicated coach were recognized during the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins Celebrity Dinner on May 3.
Golfer Jayden Dudas was presented with the Boston Pizza Estevan and District Male Athlete of the Year Award, basketball player Kourtney Kobitz was recognized with the Boston Pizza Estevan and District Female Athlete of the Year Award, and Blake Jamieson of the Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins was presented with the Estevan Kinsmen Club Volunteer Coach of the Year Award.
Dudas, who is a Grade 9 student at the Estevan Comprehensive School, competed on the provincial Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in the bantam division, and finished with one first place finish and four second place finishes. Among the highlights were a tournament win at the Willows Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon, and a second place finish at his home tournament at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.
He finished first in the provincial Order of Merit standings, and fifth overall in the country. Dudas then won the national championship at the Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix, and was named the tour’s national player of the year.
Dudas wrapped up his season by helping the ECS male golf team win gold at provincials, and he took the individual bronze medal.
Kobitz, who is in Grade 12 at ECS, has excelled on the basketball court for the Elecs senior girls team. She has been a starter since Grade 10, and has helped the Elecs win the McLeod Series against the Weyburn Comprehensive School the past three season.
She also helped them reach provincials this year for the first time since 2005.
Kobitz was presented with the MVP award at the Michael A. Riffle tournament in Regina in December, and was selected to play in the Daytona Homes all-star game, featuring the best players from northern and southern Saskatchewan.
She has received interest from collegiate and university basketball teams.
Kobitz has also excelled in volleyball and track and field, winning awards in volleyball and competing in provincials in track and field.
Jamieson has dedicated many hours to the midget AA Bruins program for the last few seasons, serving first as an assistant coach and then as the head coach.
He has made the team his top priority, and has fostered a great working relationship with the players. He is as much of a friend as a coach, and has earned the players’ respect and attention while teaching and coaching.
He holds the players accountable, but always keeps practices and games fun.
This past season saw the midget AA Bruins enjoy their success during his tenure with the team, as they won the A final of the Kelly Dmyterko Memorial Tournament in Price Albert, had the best record in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League’s midget division during the regular season, and reached the league final, which they dropped to the Yorkton Terriers.
Blake Blondeau, who was this year’s recipient of the Kim Anderson Award for the Top Junior Official, was also recognized during the evening. He was presented with the award during last month’s annual general meeting for the Estevan Minor Hockey Association.
