By Tom Best
June 14, Smithers Secondary School was the site of their annual athletic awards presentation. All sports had coaches awards given to team members who made outstanding contributions to their team.
Athletic director Chris DeYoung explained the significance of some of the special awards. He noted that they, “transcended individual teams and look to honour the athlete as a standout in sport, academics, dedication and citizenship. These athletes receive plaques and their names will be in our trophy case to inspire future student athletes.”
Of the 31 teams that took various fields and courts for the school, cross-country running, senior boys volleyball, senior boys basketball, junior girls basketball, wrestling, boys curling, ski and snowboard, gymnastics, mountain bike, track and field and rugby were among the teams and athletes that represented Smithers at the B.C. high school provincial championships.
Exchange students from Mexico were mentioned numerous times. They participated in a number of sports but their presence was felt most in soccer. Gerardo Jimenez, Armando Garza and Armando Fuentes also participated in all intramural sports.
The emotion that coaches put into their involvement was evident as they gave recaps of their seasons and presented their team members with awards.
None was as obvious as Kyle Pernuiak as he at times struggled to keep his feelings in check while he explained how coaching two members of the mountain bike team had changed him as a person. He told how they had made him a better coach and was sad to see twins David and Robert Charette graduate after outstanding performances and medals at the high school provincials.
Awards
Outstanding Boys Team- Snowboarding, which won the provincial banner.
Outstanding Girls Team- Junior Girls Basketball, which was outstanding in every tournament they played in including knocking off some highly favored teams
Outstanding Senior Boys- Quinn Fraser and Noel Kossman
Outstanding Senior Girl- Chantel Gammie
Outstanding Junior Boy- Konrad Thummerer
Outstanding Junior Girls- Haley Hanchard and Tamiya Ness
Outstanding Grade 8 Boy- Daniel Lecourt
Outstanding Grade 8 Girl- Logan Unruh, who won provincial gold medal in Javelin
Craig Roberts Memorial Award- MacKinley Unruh
Debbie Stacey Award- Amanda Wilson
Junior Glenn Ridennoure– Kendal Zemenchik, Jared Lytle
Senior Glenn Ridennoure- Hannah Pow , Jaydin Haskins
NOTE: Due to the large number of teams and recipients, we were unable to publish the names of all award winners in the June 21 edition. Following is a list of individual sport award winners.
Teams representing Smithers Secondary School at provincials: Cross Country, Senior Boys Volleyball, Senior Boys Basketball, Junior Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Boys Curling, Ski and Snowboarding, Gymnastics, Track and Field.
FALL SPORTS
Senior Cross Country
Joey Gardner Award- Seton Kriese, Jaydin Haskins, Ryan Williams
Senior Boys Soccer
Coach’s Award- Grant Hooper
Exchange Students- Gerardo Jimenez, Armando Garza, Armando Fuentes
Volleyball
Grade 8 boys Coach’s Award- Zach Bouvier
Grade 8 girls Coach’s Award- Jaden Allen
Junior Boys – Coach’s Award- Marco Bucher
Junior B Girls– Coach’s Award- Terra Kerr
Junior A Girls– Coach’s Award- Tamiya Ness
Senior Boys – Coach’s Award- Dylan Kramer, Fraser Lowe
Senior Girls– Coach’s Award- Grace Allen
Sheri Motz Award for Dedication to Volleyball- Amy Fowler
WINTER SPORTS
Basketball
Grade 8 girls Coach’s Award- Brooke Schley
Grade 8 boys Coach’s Award- Michael Orsetti
Junior B Girls– Coach’s Award- Laura Hamelin
Junior A Girls– Coach’s Award- Austin Carroll
Junior Boys – Coach’s Award- Tavish Crawford
Senior Boys – Coach’s Award- Dylan Cramer
Senior Boys Most Dedicated Player- Jericho Julation
Senior Girls Most Dedicated Player- Chantel Gammie
Senior Girls Rookie of the Year- Gessika Assaf
Curling
Coach’s Award- Sean Turney
Wrestling
Coach’s Award- Amanda Howard
SPRING SPORTS
Soccer
Senior Girls Coach’s Award- Aleigh Young Lowry
Senior Boys Coach’s Award- Hugh Slater
Rugby
Senior Girls Coach’s Award- Carwyn Mitchell, Blaise Sakac, Fiona O’Donoghue, Maddy West, Kayley Pereira, Katie Nicols
Cobus Jonker Award- Finn Hobson
Track and Field
Coach’s Awards- Ryan Williams, Eliyah Brawdy
Mountain Bike
Coaches Awards- David and Robert Charette
