Racette School celebrated athletic successes at an awards banquet last Thursday night, as students paid homage to their coaches for their time and dedication, and coaches handed out hardware to students who had played their hearts out for the school, helping Racette win a total of 11 banners.
Teacher and coach Kathleen Gerlinsky handed the 2011-2012 Athlete of the Year award to a student she praised for her commitment and competitive spirit, who was involved in many of the school’s sports through the year. There are “many successful seasons behind her and many successful seasons ahead of her,” Gerlinsky noted, before presenting this year’s top award to Jocelyn Laramee. Laramee also picked up three Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards during the night.
Athletic director Gilles Gervais presented the male athlete of the year award to a student who finished with the top point totals in all but one of the sports in which he took part, and helped take home five banners out of the six sports in which he was involved. The student has an “exceptional attitude” and is a role model to others in the school, said Gervais.
“This athlete hates losing,” Gervais had noted earlier in the evening, when presenting the male MVP award for the RCMP Road Race, adding as a joke, “I’m sure he gets it from his mother.” This year’s male athlete of the year went to Gervais’ son, Matthew Gervais, who collected five MVP awards during the night as well.
“It was a sick year for school sports,” said Matthew Gervais, following the wrap-up of the banquet. He, along with Laramee, will be graduating from Racette this year and both noted that saying goodbye was bittersweet. “Thanks to all Racette.”
“And the coaches for putting up with us for four years,” added Laramee.
Gervais said he would encourage anyone to pick up a school sport. “It’s lifelong talents that you carry on past school – lifelong memories.”
Awards for MVPs, Heart, Rising Stars and Most Improved were handed out for the various school sports in boys and girls categories. Results from the night’s event are as follows:
Badminton heart: Madison Watt, Noah Shankowski
Badminton MVPs: Cassidy Chopek, Matthew Gervais
Basketball Heart: Kayla Yacyshyn, Jeremie Pasitney
Basketball MVPs: Jocelyn Laramee, Matthew Gervais, Noah Shankowski
Basketball Rising Stars: Jordyn St. Arnault, Justin Pasitney, Mackenzie Trottier
Curling Heart: Morgan Wiart
Curling MVP: Jamie Kuzma
Golf Most Improved: Courtney Hebert, Carter Austin
Golf MVPs: Regan Brodziak, Matthew Mailloux
RCMP Heart: Colten McKenzie, Kayla Yacyshyn
RCMP MVP: Marissa Muench, Matthew Gervais
Track Rising Star: Madison Trottier, Jonathan Kotowich
Track MVPs: Jocelyn Laramee, Matthew Gervais
Volleyball Most Improved: Cassidy Chopek, Jeremie Pasitney
Volleyball Heart: Madison Mahdiuk
Volleyball MVPs: Jocelyn Laramee, Dyson Roy
Volleyball Top Prospect: Justin Pasitney, Tanielle Yacey
Cross-Country Heart: Marissa Muench, Cory Suvak
Cross-Country MVP: Madison Trottier, Matthew Gervais
