GLENDON – Quitting was not an option for Mady Luciak, and setting a personal best was Dalton Doonanco’s greatest goal. And for both athletes, determination was their fuel to rise above expectations.
Glendon School students Doonanco and Luciak brought home silver medals from the recent Alberta Schools' Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial track and field competition.
Doonanco medaled in pole vault, jumping 3 metres, and despite the achievement, “I can’t say I’m 100 per cent happy,” he said, having been unable to record his personal best. “That’s always the goal... to beat yourself... surpass yourself.”
He believes that “you’ll never become better,” if you don’t set goals and challenge yourself. For Doonanco, “it’s always you versus yourself.”
The athlete also competed in other categories, such as long jump, where he said he fell short by three centimetres to place in the top three. “I feel like if I would have trained even maybe 30 minutes more on that specific event, things could have been different. So, I definitely do regret that.”
The recent accomplishments come as Doonanco marks the end of playing and competing in high school sports. While he wished he could have done better, his achievement was no easy feat, and he “definitely had fun playing sports,” says the class of 2023 graduate.
He also thanked those who have supported and helped him, such as his coach Daryn Galatiuk and his family. “Especially my brother Wyatt... he always coached me,” says Doonanco, noting his brother taught him the basics, like how to dribble and shoot a basketball, and how to overall be a better athlete.
Doonanco aims to study for a Bachelor of Commerce at MacEwan University, and if the opportunity presents itself, he hopes to play sports at the post-secondary level.
Mady Luciak
For Grade 10 student Mady Luciak, who medalled in women’s junior pole vault, she says she was mentally prepared for the competition. “I was prepared to go there, do my best, to do what I could do,” she said.
Physically, however, it was different. Luciak was not supposed to compete after she tore her hamstring. Her physiotherapist advised her that it might not be the best idea to compete and risk further injury.
Luciak shook her head and refused to back out from the competition. She recalled telling herself that it was just one more competition, and she convinced herself to “push through it.”
Sports is a big part of Luciak’s life. It is “my entire life,” she says. So, making it into the provincials as someone from a small town and school was a big accomplishment.
“I just couldn’t pass up that opportunity.”
She recorded a height of 2.55 metres in her event.
Asked how she felt about winning the silver medal, she says it felt “really good,” and that all the hard work and practice she put in paid off.
She thanked those who helped her, including coach Galatiuk, as well as Wyatt Doonanco, for teaching her how to be better in the sport, and “for never giving up on me.” She also thanked her family and best friend, Katana Martin, for always pushing and encouraging her.
As a coach, Galatiuk said he was pleasantly surprised with the school’s performance at this year’s provincial competition, especially the pole-vaulting crew. “It turned out to be a pretty fantastic year, and we were maybe one event away from winning provincials.”
Glendon School placed second in the 1A school category, with Parkland Immanuel Christian School from Edmonton taking first place.
But for a small rural school, playing at the provincial level is a “very tough competition to be in,” Galatiuk said. To walk away with two medals is almost unheard of.
“It just shows the amount of work and time that these kids put in. I’m very, very, very proud of them both.”
Galatiuk applauded Doonanco and Luciak for their well-deserved achievements. He also expressed his pride for the 12 Glendon School students who made it to provincials.
According to Galatiuk, it’s the students at the school who push one another to do well. Even if they compete in individual sports, the team aspect is a big philosophy among the students, he said.
