Saskatchewan Sport Awards
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Conexus Arts Centre, Regina
There are 3 finalists competing for Athlete of the Year Awards in categories of Master,
Youth-Male, Youth-Female, Male, Female and Team of the Year, and 3 volunteers will be honored with Volunteer Recognition Awards.
Athlete of the Year Awards
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Although Kupchyk, 52, has only competed in speed skating for two and a half years, he broke one North American, six Canadian and 16 provincial Masters speed skating records in 2007. These records included the 1,000 m North American record, and the 500 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m and 3,000 m Canadian records. During the season, Kupchyk earned two gold medals at the North American Age Class LT Outdoor international event, a silver medal at the Alberta Open LT Indoor event, a goal medal at the Western Regional Short Track event, and a silver medal at the Western Regional LT Outdoor event. He also finished in 24th place out of 65 athletes at the Masters International Games Olympic Style event in Calgary. |
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LaFayette-Boyd, 65, set numerous records at several events this past year, including the Saskatchewan and Canadian Masters Outdoor triple jump record, the Saskatchewan and Canadian Masters record in the
100 m, 200 m and long jump events, and the World Record in the 200 m event. Her achievements led to several medals such as four gold medals at the Masters Provincials; five gold medals at the Canadian Masters Championships; two gold and two silver medals at the United States Masters Championships; and three gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the World Masters Championships. The Bob Adams Foundation also named LaFayette-Boyd its Master Athlete of the Year. |
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Vincent, 43, is the current president of Canoe/Kayak Saskatchewan and is heavily involved in all aspects of the sport, including competing in various national and international events. For 15 years, Vincent has competed in Marathon Canoeing events, and this year she was awarded with two first place finishes – one at the Canadian Marathon Canoe Nationals competition and the other at the Na Wahine O Ke Kai international event in Hawaii. At the Canadian Nationals, she set records in the Mixed C-2 and C-2 Women’s events, and she set a Junior Masters record at the Na Wahine competition. Vincent also set records for first Canadian Canoe, first Veterans, first International and first Mixed at the Devizes to Westminster competition, including decimating the current Canadian Canoe record by one and a half hours. |
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Lukenchuk, 17, became the third youngest athlete in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics event at the Pan American Games in 2007 where he finished 28th, 29th, 30th, and 39th in his events, a significant feat for a junior competing at a senior international event. At the Japan International Invitational, Lukenchuk finished 12th. All Around out of 18 athletes in his event. At the 2007 Canada Winter Games, he set a record for a Saskatchewan Artistic Gymnastics Athlete by capturing five medals at the event – two gold, two silver and one bronze. He also set a Saskatchewan record at the Canadian Nationals Championship by earning nine top three finishes at the event. A seven year member of Team Saskatchewan, Lukenchuk was named Gymnastics Saskatchewan’s Male Artistic Athlete of the Year in 2007. |
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Competing in the 76 kilo freestyle category, Malloy, 17, captured gold medals at the SAWA Juvenile Provincials, CAWA Juvenile Nationals, FILA Cadet Trials and the Pan-American Championships, as well as a silver medal at the Canada Cup. Malloy also took home gold from the High School Provincials competition. His success at the High School Provincials and the FILA Cadet Trials earned him a spot on the Canadian National Team. Later in the year, Malloy earned a bronze medal in the folk style 160 lbs category and a fourth place finish in the freestyle 160 lbs category at the USA AAU Grand Nationals competition. |
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Wollf, 16, earned seven gold and four silver medals at the Western Canada Summer Games; three gold and two silver medals at the Lake Placid International Regatta competition; and a gold, silver and bronze medal at the Canadian National Championships in 2007. Wollf is highly committed to the sport as he not only adheres to a strict training schedule, but he also attends spring training camps in the United States, attends cyber-school for his studies so that he can focus more of his attention on his training and competitions, and encourages and teaches upcoming athletes about the sport. |
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Armstrong, 17, was a part of the Baseball Canada Open Women’s Championship team from Alberta that took home a silver medal against teams from across Canada. She was Alberta’s leading pitcher at the event, and her performance earned her a spot on the Canadian National Team where she competed at the Tri-Country International Competition in North Carolina. Competing against Japan and the United States, Team Canada earned gold, and Armstrong helped lead the team to victory by recording two wins and no losses, a 2.35 earned run average and batters hit only .222 against her during the event. Outside of baseball, Armstrong won a gold medal with the Clavet High School Basketball team; a fourth place finish at the Provincial Championships with the Clavet High School Volleyball team; and gold in Javelin at the SHSAA Provincial Championships. |
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In 2007, Neilly, 18, won a silver medal at the National Championships, and she finished fourth and seventh place at the National Team Trials. A total of 27 athletes from eight provinces competed at the National Championships, and 36 athletes from eight provinces were represented at the National Team Trials. Her performance at the National Championships earned her a spot on Canada’s U23 team. At the Junior World Championships, Neilly finished in eight place in the sprint event and 14th place in the marathon event. During these competitions, Neilly competed against 108 athletes from 46 countries in the sprint event, and 25 athletes from 29 countries in the marathon event. |
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Rennebohm, 18, has participated in Competitive Swimming for Swimmers with a Disability (SWAD) for six years. At the Para Pan Am SWAD Trials, Rennebohm won five gold medals to earn her a spot on Team Canada. At the Para PanAm Games she won gold and silver medals and had a fourth place finish. She won six gold medals at the US Paralympic Open Championships. She also won two gold and four silvers at the Canadaian SWAD Open Championships. Her strong performances between September 2006 and August 2007 have enabled her to receive Sport Canada Carding for 2008. She also set five Canadian records. |
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Adamson, 22, won the gold medal in the 82-kg division at the Canada West Wrestling Conference Championships in Saskatoon and he was named the Canada West Male Wrestler of the Year. At the CIS Championships, he won the division without a point scored on him and was named a CIS First Team All-Canadian. At the Senior National Championships, Adamson was sixth and was named to the Under 25 National Team. He finished ninth at the Spanish Grant Prix and he finished sixth at both the Clansmen International and the New York Athletic Club International. Adamson also won gold at the University of Calgary Dino Invitational and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Open, where he was also named Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. |
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Orban, 22, has been a quarterback with the University of Regina Rams football team since 2004. During the last season, Orban led the Rams to their first Canada West final appearance since 2002. He was also the Canada West all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 66 and the Canada West Most Outstanding Player for two consecutive seasons. Over the past season, Orban led the Canadian Interuniversity Sport league in touchdown passes at 22 and in passing yards at 2,273. In recognition of his achievements, Orban was named the Canada West 2007 all-star, the 2007 University of Regina Male Athlete of the Year, and was nominated for the 2007 Canada West Russ Jackson Outstanding Student-Athlete award. |
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Phillips, 33, has trained in Taekwon-Do for 21 years. In 2007, Phillips participated in the Canadian National Taekwon-Do Championships, where he won gold in Men’s Heavyweight Sparring and bronze in 4th Degree patterns. At the World Championships in Quebec, Phillips received silver in Team Sparring, competing against 38 other teams. Later in the year, he won gold in Men’s Heavyweight sparring and gold in 4th Degree patterns at the 2007 All North American and Caribbean Championships. He also won gold in Men’s Heavy weight sparring and bronze in 4th degree patterns at the 2007 Canadian National Selection in Grande Prairie. |
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Byers, 20, competed at the 2007 National Team Trails 1, where she placed first in the K2 500m and ninth in the K1 500m. Her standings resulted in national carding points and also qualified her to participate in the ICF World Cup. Byers later competed at the National Team Trials 2, finishing second in two races and third in another. Her standings qualified Byers to compete at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won gold in the K2 500m and bronze in the K4 500m. At the 2007 World Cup Tour in Hungary and Croatia, Byers placed eighth out of 28 athletes in both the K2 500m and the K2 200m. At the 2007 National Championships in Ottawa, she won five bronze and one gold medal. For her outstanding achievements at the National Championships, Byers received the WRCC Commodore’s Award. |
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Over the past year, Duff, 21, set three new Canadian Athletics records in the 100m, 200m, and the 400m events. She also achieved two International paralympic Committee Beijing qualifying times in the 100m and the 400m. At the 2007 Canadian Track and Field Championships, Duff placed first in the 100m, 200m, and 400m. She placed first in both the 200m and 400m at the 2007 Boiling Point Wheelchair Track Classic in Ontario. At the OCPSA Enhanced Athletics Development Competition, Duff placed first in the 100m. She also competed at the 2007 Knights of Columbus Indoor Track meet in Saskatoon with strong standings and finished the TransCanada 10km National Championships with a time of 36:09.40. |
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At the end of the indoor season, Hendry, 25, was ranked as the third Senior Women’s pole vaulter in Canada. She placed first at the Sun Angel Track Classic in Arizona and at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational in San Diego and second at the 2007 Hamilton Spectator Games, jumping 4.30m at all three events. She also won the Victoria International Track Classic, the Canada vs. China Challenge, the 2007 Senior Women’s Pole Vault Provincial Championship, and placed fourth at the 2007 Summer Universiade in Thailand. Hendry qualified for the World Student Games after winning the 2007 Nationals Senior Championships. She also received the 2007 Saskatchewan Athletics Outstanding Senior Female Award and the 2007 Mary Ethel Cartwright trophy as the University of Saskatchewan Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year. |
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| The Bruno Axemen finished an exceptional season by winning the Senior National Championships, their third gold medal in four years at the national level. Earlier in the season, the team of twenty players placed first at the Senior Provincial Championships for the fifth time in six years. The Axemen also placed first at the Saskatoon Gold Broom Tournament and the Odessa Senior Tournament and was second at the Bruno Senior Tournament. |
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| The Prince Albert Mintos finished a strong 2006-2007 season with a 35-7-1-1 record. At the 2007 Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs, placing first of twelve teams, the team won each of the four games they played to capture the provincial title for the second consecutive season. At the 2007 Western Regionals, the Mintos again placed first, winning each of the four games they played. At the 2007 Telus Cup in Red Deer, the Mintos won each of the seven games they played to become the only ‘AAA’ team in Canada to win the national championship in consecutive seasons. Several Mintos players were recognized at the Telus Cup for their outstanding efforts: Tyler Fiddler was named Top Forward; Lewis Laczko Top Defence; and Carsen Chubak Top Goalie. |
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| During regular season play, the Saskatoon Hilltops won five of their eight games, losing only one and ending with a tie in the remaining two. The team went on to win the Semi-Final League Play and the Final League Play. At the 2007 Canadian Bowl, the Hilltops captured the national title - the thirteenth national championship in the 61 year history of the club. |
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Volunteer Recognition
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In 2007, Dice officiated at Track and Field meets throughout the province as a Level V Track Referee, a Level V Umpire, and a Level IV Horizontal Jumps official. He also managed results and entries for the 2007 SHSAA Provincial Cross Country Championship. Dice mentored several officials in Athletics Canada’s officiating program throughout the last year and also served as a jury member for the Western Canada Summer Games. In addition to officiating, Dice was the 2007 coach of the CC Track Club in Prince Albert and the head track coach of Carlton Comprehensive High School. During 2007, he assisted Saskatchewan schools with the use of Hy-Tek Meet Management software. Since 2005, Dice has served as Chair of Saskatchewan Athletics Official’s committee. He is also Chair of a committee pursuing to rebuild the Harry Jerome track in Prince Albert. |
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During 2007, Fry was the Chief Official at the Season Opener Regatta, the Saskatchewan Provincial Championships, the Western Canada Summer Games, the Regina Dragon Boat Festival, and the Saskatchewan Long Distance Regatta. He was the Chief Finish Line Judge for the Learn To Regatta, the Starter and Referee for the Canada Day Regatta, and the Referee at the Prairie Division Championships. As the CanoeKayak Canada Officials Coordinator for the Prairie Division, Fry mentors and trains officials within the prairie division and throughout Canada. Fry was recently involved in the Regina bid for the 2009 Junior Worlds Canoe and Kayak Championships. He was nominated for the 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Public Service Commission and is currently obtaining his International Certification. |
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Smith has volunteered with Synchro Saskatchewan since 1994 and she has served as a judge at provincial competitions since 2004. During 2007, Smith was Chair of the High Performance Committee for Synchro Saskatchewan. Her leadership in the position helped to improve the performance of Team Saskatchewan at the 2007 Canada Winter Games, where the team won the first medal in the history of Synchro Saskatchewan. Smith also served as the Saskatchewan representative to the Provincial Advisory Council of Synchro Canada. |
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