Quesnel junior school honoured its student athletes and coaches with supper and a handshake as parents smiled and cheered with pride.
School sports, not only foster school spirit, they also foster good students, QJS principle Cyril Tobin said.
“Generally there is a strong correlation between students that participate in community and school sports and doing well in school,” Tobin said.
“Sports require dedication to attend practices and travel for competition.
“Kids that are able to dedicate themselves to sport usually show a similar level of dedication to school.”
Awards were distributed for most valuable player, team spirit, most improved, sportsmanship and dedication to 59 students in 10 sports ranging from basketball to rodeo.
A relatively new sport on the scene for Quesnel junior school is golf and this year three students were recognized for their efforts on the links.
The golf program at QJS just completed its second year, co-coach Tresierra-Durocher noted.
The program at QJS serves primarily as a training ground to develop student golfers for the high school team.
The golf coaches recognized three student golfers, including Riley Dumaine for top score, finishing with an 83 over 18 holes at the zone competition.
Corey Redden and Tristan Baker were also recognized for participation.
Redden, 14, has been playing golf for just two years with family and friends at the Quesnel Golf Club, after his father Steve Redden twisted his arm to try the sport.
At the zone competition, Redden fired a 97 and he admitted his biggest challenge with golf is the challenge faced by most amateur golfers.
“Hitting it straight,” he said matter-of-factly.
When asked about his best shot at the zone competition, Redden was quick with an honest reply.
“They were all pretty bad,” he said with a smirk.
Undaunted by the task at hand, Redden said he had fun at the zone competition, which included a practice day and a competition day, and the event was all the more enjoyable because he was excused from school to play a sport he enjoys.
Baker, 15, took up golf two years ago because he found it calming.
Initially nerves came into play for Baker, especially given it was his first time in a competitive tournament and he was unsure of what to expect.
But after a few holes he said the jitters went away and he enjoyed the experience, particularly his drive on the fifth hole.
“After the first few holes it was pretty good,” he said.
Although he shot 126 at the zone competition, something that most golfers would not find soothing, Baker still came away with a smile and experience.
“I know what it’s going to be like next time and I’ll be able to cope with it [nerves] better,” he said.
The most important aspect of the training is learning to deal with the emotions and circumstances of golf competitions, Tresierra-Durocher explained.
“It’s the most difficult thing for them to get out there and getting over the jitters,” she said.
“If you’ve been there once, the next time you know the ropes.”
Tobin also pointed to the importance of teachers volunteering to coach the various school teams.
“This means the teacher usually has a passion for the sport,” he said.
“That passion comes with a level of expertise that comes from playing the sport through high school and university.”
In addition to the teachers, Tobin pointed to the vital role parents play in supporting QJS student athletes, especially now with declining enrollments and teachers to cover all of the sports.
“We still offer the same sports and the same number of teams, but we have fewer teachers,” he said.
“We have made up the coaching shortage by using parent volunteer coaches.
“They come in with good “kids skills” and help round out our coaching staff.
“We need community coaches to continue offering the wide range of choices that we offer kids.”
Other students recognized:
Basketball – Grade 8 Boys
Coaches: Melissa Boles
MVP – Nick Stavast
Most Sportsmanlike – Sonny Cervienka
Most Improved – Josh Calvert
Basketball – Grade 9 Boys
Coaches: Curtis Christiansen
MVP – Nick Boles
Most Improved Player – Joey Melville
Hustle Award – Bobby Dezubiria
Basketball – Grade 9A Girl
Coaches: Angelina Gauthier, Richard Gauthier
Top Defensive Player – Emmalee Pitcher
Top Defensive Player – Bailey Kupferschmid
Top Offensive Player – Cassia Gauthier
Top Offensive Player – Nicole DeBlois
Team Spirit – Kelsi Brown
Basketball – Grade 8/9B Girls
Coaches: Jaidine Ketter
MVP – Sharn Khila
Defensive Player – Jadie Guan
Most Improved – Kristine Long
Cross Country
Coach: Scott Trueman
Top Male – Liam McIlvenna
Top Female – Shae Tarry
Most Dedicated – Danny Brickell
Rodeo
Kellie McKenzie
Savana Watson
Rikki Hutnyk
McKenzie Wills
Lane Wills
Brett Wills
Rugby
Coach: Ted McCart
Rugby Spirit – Joey Melville
Most Improved – Nick Boles
Rookie of the Year – Dan McDougall
Soccer – Boys
Coach: Kam Dosanjh
Grade 8 – MVP – Liam McIlvenna
Grade 9 – MVP – Braeden Doerkson
Team Spirit – Chad Milsom
Swimming
Coaches: Rob McGauley
Participation Awards
Dewan, Karan
Domreis, Michelle
Fedoruk, Michaela
Gauthier, Cassie
Kaid, isaiha
McGauley, Chris
Miles, Trinity
Milligan, Rebecca
Peddle, leanne
Therrien, Olivia
Thiessen, Emily
Track and Field
Coach: Marissa Knauf
Top Grade 8 Female – Cheyanne Newman
Top Grade 9 Female – Darbie Sutton
Top Grade 9 Male – Braeden McCall
Volleyball – Grade 8 Girls
Coaches: Earl Tourangeau, Corey Lougheed
MVP – Kaitlyn Godsoe
Team Spirit – Shaye Tarry
Most Improved – Grace Johnston
Volleyball – Grade 8 Boys
Coaches: Amarjit Sull
MVP – Sonny Ciervienko
Most Improved – Gabe Swemler
Most Sportsmanlike – Jared Lucas
Volleyball – Grade 9A Girls
Coaches: Travis Hall
MVP – Olivia Erdman
Coach’s Choice – Rebecca Milligan
Most Improved – Jessica Voight
Volleyball – Grade 9B Girls
Coaches: Jayme Brown, Brandon Klingbell
MVP – Shayna Sales
Most Improved – Mikkakyla Matula
Most Sportsmanlike – Kirsten Nichols
Wrestling
Coach: Rob McGregor
Participation award – Lain Slack
