Not only did the Sacred Heart High School (SHHS) spring sports awards banquet celebrate the best and brightest athletes, but also school athletics in general and all those who participated in them. The annual SHHS spring sports awards banquet was held Monday at St. Mary's Cultural Centre, recognizing student athletes with Most Improved, Most Valuable, St Sebastian and Rookie of the Year awards.
Junior badminton was co-coached by Brian Chisholm and Dean DePape. In introducing the junior badminton awards, Chisholm says badminton games are won purely by skill, effort and determination. "Badminton is truly an honorable game, a game where respect for yourself, your opponent and your school is of critical importance," says Chisholm. This year the junior team had 25 students playing the game the way it was meant to be played, with class, integrity, respect and heart, he declares. The junior team participated in tournaments in Yorkton, Melville, and Canora as well as competing in the Yorkton City championships and district playoffs with a good deal of success, Chisholm reports. Medal winners this year included Rita Fetsch, Morgan Shymanski, Kristen Bjornsen and Breanne Skikewich, Justin Guy, Jaedon Pellatt, Justin Poirer, Hannah Hansen and Montana Beliski, he lists.
Junior badminton awards were presented to: Morgan Shymanski, MVP; Aaron Fulawka, Most Improved; Jacob Perepeluk, St Sebastian Award.
The senior badminton team was coached by Jeanne Fetsch and Jim Grela this year.
In her opening remarks, Fetsch thanked all coaches who worked with SHHS students to bring out the best in them, taking time from their own family to work with the Sacred Heart family.
Grela noted that every school the team visited complimented the SHHS students. All improved over the course of a very short season, he suggests.
Senior badminton awards went to: Colin Shewchuk, Rookie of the Year; Skylar German, Most Improved; Nathan Guy, St. Sebastian Award; Travis Inglis and Kylie Chupa, MVPs.
The senior girls' basketball team was coached by Trent Senger and Stephanie Senger. The girls' season started slowly. Despite some skilled athletes the team wasn't quite up to Senger's expectations initially. With time and effort the team came together and by the end of the season they went on a winning streak that led to the playoffs. While the girls didn't quite advance to the regional tournament, they played some of the best basketball they'd played all season, Senger reports.
Awards for senior basketball were claimed by: Skylar German, Most Improved; Hillary Black, Rookie of the Year; Shayla Merriam, St. Sebastian Award; Brooklyn Lechman and Emily Kruger, MVPs.
The junior girls' basketball team coaches were Laura Dean and Lana Haider. Dean thanked the girls for working so hard and learning so much in her opening remarks. The team had a very good season, advancing to district finals which they narrowly lost by two points. Dean also thanked the parents for supporting the players throughout the season.
Junior girls' basketball awards were presented to: Kelsey Woloschuk, Most Improved; Christine Koroluk, St. Sebastian Award; Kristen Jonassen, MVP.
Garrett Karcha and community coach Jerry Kobylka coached the senior boys basketball team. Kobylka reports the senior boys' team had one of their most successful seasons this year, finishing second at Weyburn, claiming third place at the University of Regina tournament, won their division at the York City Classic and placed fifth at Super Hoops. The Senior Saints defeated the Yorkton Regional High School to claim the conference title this year. "The team had many highlights during the season with everyone on the team contributing in some way," Kobylka states.
Senior boys' basketball awards were claimed by: Justin Genaille, Most Improved; Brendon Walkington, Rookie of the Year; Travis Inglis, St. Sebastian Award; Mark Kuemper, MVP.
Karcha and Brent Guenther coached the junior boys team. Junior boys basketball awards went to: David Boroto, Most Improved; Garrett Betker, St. Sebastian Award; Carter Ruff, MVP.
Kathy Brischuk was assisted by Marie Litzenberger and Stephanie Jonassen in working with the SHHS cheer/stunt team. Brischuk says the team got a late start this year. The girls learned to work as a team and did very well at competitions, claiming second and third places at competitions, the best they've done.
Cheer/ stunt team awards went to Courtney Piontek and Erika Kamieniecki, Most Improved; Hannah Nagy, Rookie of the Year; Shelby Schill, St. Sebastian Award.
Laura Dean, Rachel Sterzuk, Scott Hoffert and Karcha worked with the SHHS track team. The team trained hard for a track meet which was cancelled this year. The coaches opted to present the track awards based on commitment and performance at the training and practice sessions, Karcha comments.
Track and field awards winners included: Dalen Brueckner, Most Improved; Rita Fetsch and David Boroto, Rookies of the Year; Nathan Guy, St. Sebastian Award; Preston Liebrecht, MVP.
The SHHS curling team was coached by Chad Holinaty, Linda Seitz and Kerrie Shearer. Holinaty notes the renewed SHHS curling program generated more student interest this year with some good results.
Curling awards were presented to: Kaylee Ford, Most Improved; Amy Prybylski, Rookie of the Year; Leta Perepeluk, St. Sebastian Award; Brendan Griffith, MVP.
Justin Shumay claimed the Intramural Award.
SHHS principal Holinaty explained that in determining award winners students were given points throughout the season for their attitude, attendance at practices and games, team spirit, coach ability, effort, dedication and sportsmanship. This year Sacred Heart recognized the 10 students who best demonstrated these attributes in several school sports programs starting last fall. The 10 recipients of the Greatest Contributions to Sports Awards included: Rita Fetsch, Zachary Todas, Allison Kruger, Jaedon Pellatt, Preston Liebrecht, Anthony Fetsch, Kylie Chupa, Emily Kruger, Morgan Shymanski and Travis Inglis.
In his closing remarks Holinaty thanked each of the student athletes, coaches and parents for their commitment to school athletics. The evening celebrated both individual and team achievements not only in terms of wins and losses but also the habits developed when most of the crowd wasn't watching, including dedication, commitment to improvement, self discipline, and hard work. Developing these habits and skills will help lead to success.
The truly successful athlete will find the will to persevere when things aren't going smoothly nor easily, Holinaty notes. Sometimes that success isn't shown on the scoreboard, but it's always revealed in one's character.
Holinaty quotes a sports cliché, "There's no 'I' in team." Successful teams are those comprised of individuals committed to doing what is necessary for the team to succeed. "Every member of a team has a role and when every individual is accountable to the team and to prepare themselves and to do their job as a member of a team, success usually results," Holinaty quotes New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Belichik reminded students at his son's commencement that no championship team in the NFL, NBA or Major League baseball claimed the most valuable player in the league that year.
Holinaty hopes that Saints athletics has provided students with some wonderful memories and the opportunity to recognize and review their character through athletics.
"I also hope that athletics have provided you with the opportunity to be truly thankful for the gifts that God has provided you," Holinaty adds.
He closed by thanking graduating students for providing leadership during their high school years and said he looks forward to seeing returning students next season.
