The Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) wrapped up its current volleyball season with the annual awards banquet hosted by Melrose Place Restaurant.
Coaches introduced their players and expressed their appreciation to players, parents, schools boards, school administration, and in several cases to their families for putting up with their hectic schedules and frequent absences during the volleyball season. In presenting the awards, coaches also briefly sketched their teams' season.
Dee Dee Walker, coach of the Grade 9 girls' team reported the Grade 9 girls played in five tournaments this year. They won their opening tourney at Foam Lake and went on top compete at Sacred Heart High School (SHHS), their home tournament, Melville and at the district championships.
She expressed her appreciation of the work of assistant coaches Robin Somogyi and Alexis Holowatuk.
Grade 9 girls team awards winners were: Most Improved Player - Rachel Machnee, Most Sportsmanlike Player - Shelley Stratechuk, MVP Tamara Herschmiller.
Darren Wandy, coach of the Grade 9 boys, says the team had an up and down season. The team had relatively few players and all managed to get a lot of court time. While the wins weren't numerous, the boys held their own forcing older, stronger teams to work for every point they scored.
Wandy thanked his assistant coach Doug Ingham for his work with the team.
Grade 9 boys awards went to: Most Improved Player (trophy donated by the junior team) - Colby Cross, Most Dedicated Player - Braden Oystreck, Coach's Award (donated by Fuzztone Music) - Graham Campbell, MVP - Matthew Alcorn.
Junior girls' coach, Sarah Ruff presented the junior girls' team awards and thanked Rusty Tamblyn for working as assistant coach.
Junior Girls awards were presented to: Most Improved Player - Kristen Hollinger, Most Dedicated Player - Rebecca McLaren.
Senior boys' awards were presented by coach Dion Pfeifer and assistant coach Darran Teneycke. Before making the presentation, Pfeifer introduced both the team and the graduating players, including Brent Spilak, Jaydon Dozorec and John Machnee.
Senior boys' award recipients were: Rookie of the Year Daniel Mandziuk, Most Improved Player Ben Redl, Coach's Award - John Machnee, MVP - Tyler Boychuk.
A special award, the Raider Award, presented in memory of former YRHS Raider player Alex Robichaud was presented by his mother to team captain, Brent Spilak.
Senior girls' coach Lee Poncelet presented the senior girls' team awards. In his opening remarks, Poncelet thanked all who helped with the team during the season as did all other coaches. Addition-ally, he thanked his father-in-law for driving the team bus for all road games this year as well senior boys' team, captain Brent Spilak for helping with team practices.
Senior girls' award recipients included: Rookie of the Year - Jodi Onda-Inglis, Spirit and Coach's Award - Brandi Neibrandt and Emma Lockhart, team MVPs - Tara Dubnyk and Kienna Sharp.
