St. Thomas Aquinas High School honours its athletes
Athletes from every sport were recognized for their hard work, dedication and skill last night at St. Thomas Aquinas High School's annual Athletic Banquet. The awards banquet saw all of the Saints athletes come together to celebrate a spectacular year of sports at the high school.
This year saw six teams make it to the provincial championships including golf, boys volleyball, girls basketball, girls volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer. The boys volleyball team was the most successful at OFSAA earning the silver medal.
While awards were handed out for individual teams, STA also gave out the prestigious male and female athlete of the year. Jack Scott and Jaymesen Harasemchuk were the winners for the junior division, while Brett Riehl and Chelsea Henderson were awarded the plaque in the senior division.
"It's a great honour, I'm kind of speechless honestly, just being acknowledged by my principals and my peers like that," said Riehl who played hockey, badminton and soccer.
Riehl spoke about his time traveling to OFSAA with the boys soccer team.
"It was a great experience. Second time going for soccer, we went in Grade 9 and then couldn't get back there. Then this year we finally got over the hump, made it back and and it was great. Didn't end the way we wanted, but it was fun being with the guys," he said.
For Henderson it was the second year in a row she was honoured as senior female athlete of the year.
"I didn't think that was going to happen it's awesome," she said. Henderson played soccer, badminton, basketball and hockey and will be going off to University in the fall to study concurrent education with a major in math and a minor in chemistry. Riehl will be returning to STA for one more year before he hopes to go to college or university. He had this advice for younger aspiring athletes.
"Keep working hard and size doesn't matter," he said, and when asked about his height he had this to say.
"I like to say I'm 5'6, 5'7 but I might be giving myself a couple inches."
The school welcomed guest speaker Katie Weatherston, an Olympic gold medalist and former Canadian Women's Hockey Team member. Weatherston spoke to the crowd about her experience trying out for Team Canad as well as the Olympics and World Championships. She encouraged everyone to go after their dreams, but be willing to work hard and expect to have to overcome obstacles.
STAHS ATHLETIC AWARDS |
|
|
Team |
Plaque/Award |
Plaque Names |
Golf |
MVP |
Nodin Carlson |
Golf |
Most Improved |
Jordan Brown |
Golf |
Sportsmanship |
Mason Barclay |
Junior Boys Volleyball |
MVP |
Kendaaz White |
Junior Boys Volleyball |
Most Improved |
Kaden King |
Junior Boys Volleyball |
Sportsmanship |
Keenan Brown |
Junior Boys Volleyball |
Coach's Award |
Jack Scott |
Senior Boys Volleyball |
MVP |
Benjamin Viinikka |
Senior Boys Volleyball |
Most Improved |
Mason Barclay / Benjamin Libitka |
Senior Boys Volleyball |
Sportsmanship |
Bryce Paypompee - Kejick / Dominique Novelli |
Senior Boys Volleyball |
Coach's Award |
Mason Smilski / Jordan Brown |
Junior Girls Basketball |
MVP |
Jian Rondilla |
Junior Girls Basketball |
Most Improved |
Kayleigh Morrison |
Junior Girls Basketball |
Sportsmanship |
Ashley Vogrig |
Junior Girls Basketball |
Coach's Award |
Elizabeth Spivey-Gittins |
Senior Girls Basketball |
MVP |
Chelsea Henderson |
Senior Girls Basketball |
Most Improved |
Jaymesen Harasemchuk |
Senior Girls Basketball |
Sportsmanship |
Stephanie Pedersen |
Senior Girls Basketball |
Coach's Award |
Sarah From |
Junior Girls Volleyball |
MVP |
Katlyn Derouard |
Junior Girls Volleyball |
Most Improved |
Kennedy St. Germain / Ashley Vogrig |
Junior Girls Volleyball |
Sportsmanship |
Elizabeth Spivey - Gittins / Gabriella Novelli |
Junior Girls Volleyball |
Coach's Award |
Emma Manzie |
Senior Girls Volleyball |
MVP |
Avery Kasprick / Leia Dufresne |
Senior Girls Volleyball |
Most Improved |
Jaymesen Harasemchuk |
Senior Girls Volleyball |
Sportsmanship |
Alyson Stoliker |
Senior Girls Volleyball |
Coach's Award |
Jordan Bourgeois / Brienna McCardle |
Junior Boys Basketball |
MVP |
Jack Scott |
Junior Boys Basketball |
Most Improved |
Keenan Brown / Troy Ngaya |
Junior Boys Basketball |
Sportsmanship |
Logan McDonald |
Junior Boys Basketball |
Coach's Award |
Rayden Slusarcyk |
Senior Boys Basketball |
MVP |
Parker Stevenson |
Senior Boys Basketball |
Most Improved |
Joey Andrews |
Senior Boys Basketball |
Sportsmanship |
Benjamin Woodbeck |
Senior Boys Basketball |
Coach's Award |
John Parnell |
Curling |
MVP |
Lena Ellice |
Curling |
Most Improved |
Laura Polischuk |
Curling |
Sportsmanship |
Reagan Bennett |
Girls Hockey |
MVP |
Chloe Skead |
Girls Hockey |
Most Improved |
Montana Neil |
Girls Hockey |
Sportsmanship |
Katelyne Stenlund |
Girls Hockey |
Coach's Award |
Chelsea Henderson |
Girls Hockey |
Rookie of the Year |
Shai VanWalleghem |
Boys Hockey |
MVP |
Kael Spencer |
Boys Hockey |
Most Improved |
Isaac Fegnilli |
Boys Hockey |
Sportsmanship |
Cedar Copenace-Redsky |
Boys Hockey |
Coach's Award |
Brett Riehl |
Boys Hockey |
Rookie of the Year |
Dylan Hughes |
Nordic Skiing |
MVP |
Abigail Dent |
Nordic Skiing |
Most Improved |
Caelyn Taylor |
Nordic Skiing |
Sportsmanship/ Spirit |
Hannah Read |
Cheer |
MVP |
Paige Stevenson |
Cheer |
Most Improved |
Maddalena Borrelli |
Cheer |
Sportsmanship |
Chantal Bechard |
Cheer |
Coach's Award |
Gabriella Novelli |
Junior Badminton |
MVP |
Kaden King/Isaiah Kakekapetum |
Junior Badminton |
Most Improved |
Keenan Brown |
Junior Badminton |
Sportsmanship |
Sydney Stoddart |
Senior Badminton |
MVP |
Jordan Brown |
Senior Badminton |
Most Improved |
Benjamin Viinikka / Dominique Novelli |
Senior Badminton |
Sportsmanship |
Chelsea Henderson |
Boys Soccer |
MVP |
Jacob Frankom / Michel Pellerin / Kael Spencer |
Boys Soccer |
Most Improved |
Cooper Thompson |
Boys Soccer |
Sportsmanship |
Kendazz White |
Boys Soccer |
Coach's Award |
Brett Riehl |
Boys Soccer |
Rookie of the Year |
Kaden King |
Girls Soccer |
MVP |
Elise Hummelbrunner |
Girls Soccer |
Most Improved |
Rebecca Machura |
Girls Soccer |
Sportsmanship |
Chantal Bechard |
Girls Soccer |
Coach's Award |
Jaymesen Harasemchuk / August Hummelbrunner |
Girls Soccer |
Rookie of the Year |
Katelyne Stenlund |
ATHLETICS |
Junior Male Athlete of the Year |
Jack Scott |
ATHLETICS |
Junior Female Athlete of the Year |
Jaymesen Harasemchuk |
ATHLETICS |
Senior Male Athlete of the Year |
Brett Riehl |
ATHLETICS |
Senior Female Athlete of the Year |
Chelsea Henderson |