St. Paul Regional high school capped an impressive year in sports, which included two provincial banners and others in SPAA and zones, by honouring its student athletes at the annual awards banquet last Wednesday evening.
Athletic coach Hank Smid expressed his congratulations to the various teams and individual athletes for their performances throughout the year, but stressed that as good as the school has been in terms of winning banners, there is still room for improvement.
“We’re really proud of what the kids accomplished. To win two provincial banners is awesome, plus the zone and SPAA banners are great as well,” Smid said after the banquet.
“I don’t want us to be complacent,” he continued. “We can achieve more and be better if we want to. Our challenge is for our team sports. I want to see us win a volleyball provincial championship. We can’t just do what we’re doing to get it. We’re going to have to take the next step.” He noted that while it would be difficult to replace graduating athletes, those emerging from younger grades look poised to maintain the school’s athletic reputation.
“We’ve got a culture here at the school where athletics is important and our administration is behind us 100 per cent,” he said.
Three of those graduating athletes, Monique Gervais, Brandyn Delisle and Marc Dubeau, were given the female and male athlete of the year awards.
“Monique makes an impact in everything she does,” the athletic director said. “She’s just an amazing athlete and there’s a bright future for her. Brandyn has a little rough side, but showed true character and performed well in school and with his athletics.”
Smid said that Dubeau, who won three gold medals at this year’s provincial track & field meet, put on an outstanding display and outperformed everyone in the shot put, discus and javelin events. Dubeau’s performance marked the first time a Regional student had ever won three gold medals at provincials.
The remaining athletes who graduated this year included Madi Novakowski, Hailey Mahdiuk, Elizabeth Grant, Eric Laramee, Jonathan Shapka, Jerome Cote, Dale Krankowski, Desmond Papin and Ben Quan.
Rookies of the year for Regional were Chanelle Gagne (track & field, cross country), Chase Delve (cross country), Nicole Kitt (track & field), Cy Romanovich (volleyball), Hayley Smid (volleyball, track & field), Julie Chomlak (volleyball), Jason Jubinville (basketball), Randi Drummond (basketball), Teisha Ouellette (basketball) and Dylan Machura (track & field).
Most improved players for volleyball were Jeff Hatch, Jerome Cote, Darren Tymofichuk and Krista Yacyshyn. Other MIP’s included Jeff Hatch and Katy Wychopen for basketball. Heart Awards were given to Leigha Bishop (basketball) Chelsey Enriquez (basketball), Katy Wychopen (volleyball), Hayley Smid (cross country) and Nicole Kitt (cross country).
The 2012 Most Valuable Players included Elizabeth Grant (basketball), Brett Gagne (golf), Jason Jubenville (football), Todd Shankowski (curling), Ben Quan (basketball), Monique Gervais (basketball, badminton), Karli Hozjan (badminton), Madi Novakowski (basketball), Emma Jackson (volleyball), Jonathan Shapka (basketball), Randi Drummond (golf), Nicole Yakimec (volleyball), Hailey Mahdiuk (basketball), Chelsey Enriquez (badminton) and Marc Dubeau (badminton).
Dubeau also collected the award for Most Outstanding Male performance for track & field while Chanelle Gagne picked up the Most Outstanding Female performance for both track & field and cross country. Brett Gagne was given the other Most Outstanding performance award for cross country.
Other awards handed out during the banquet went to Sheldon Warchola (leadership), Elizabeth Grant (sportsmanship), Samantha Taschuk (sportsmanship) and Eric Laramee for leadership & performance.
“When the year is done you wonder how we can do this again next year, but the kids and the coach will step up and we’ll have another great year next year, I’m sure,” Smid concluded.
