Cheerleading does not normally get a whole lot of attention from the press but it did last Monday night, along with five other sports as the Sacred Heart High School (SHHS) marked the end of the high school sports season.
In a well-organized banquet held June 13 at St. Mary's. players and athletes were recognized in categories including: team MVP, Most Improved, top rookie and the St. Sebastian Award.
Cathy Brischuk has pretty much been the backbone of SHHS cheerleading even though she said she is technically retired.
"We started off slowly," she said of the way the year went. "And we missed football, because I was retired," she said that night at the podium before getting into the award presentations; they included: the Most Improved, split between two students, Erika Kamieniecki and Courtney Piontek.
Hannah Nagy was named top rookie and Shelby Schill won the St. Sebastian Award.
Coach Brischuk said cheerleading isn't going to be easy for her to leave in any way, shape or form.
"I love it. I will miss it. I can't get away from it."
Her cheer/stunt team performed at two competitions this year and she said was quite surprised at how well the girls did this season.
"We had two competitions," she said. "And we actually came in third. The girls did well."
Among the other presentations made, the senior boys basketball team made some headlines this past season, noted coaches Garrett Karcha and community coach Jerry Kobylka.
The team had one of its finest in school history, said Karcha.
Among the many highlights was a close game at this year's Conferences where they beat the Yorkton Regional High School.
"The boys were also able to beat the Regional for the Conference championship," Karcha told the audience. "It was one of the best seasons in SHHS boys basketball history.
Brendon Walkington was voted top rookie, Justin Genaille was named Most Improved, Travis Inglis won the St. Sebastian winner and Mark Kuemper topped off his high school career with the MVP honour.
On the girls' side of the court, coach Laura Dean made the following winner announcements for her junior girls basketball team. Christine Koroluk was the St. Sebastian winner, Kelsey Woloschuk was named the Most Improved player and Kristen Jonassen took home the MVP award.
On the senior side, Hilary Black was named the top rookie, Shayla Merriman won the St. Sebastian Award, Skylar German won the Most Improved award, and the team MVP was split between Brooklynn Lechman and Emily Kruger.
Coach Trent Senger said his team struggled a bit starting out of the gates but as the season went on, his team started to improve bit by bit.
It resulted in some impressive results near the end of the season, he said.
"It really came together," he said with a smile. "And we went on a winning streak at the end of the year. Thank you girls and I wish you luck next season."
Curling awards presented included: Amy Prybylski, top rookie, Leta Perepeluk, St. Sebastian Award, Kaylee Ford, Most Improved, Brendan Griffith, Most Valuable Player.
The track and field coach team of Karcha, Dean, Rachel Sterzuk and Scott Hoffort made four presentations to five players.
Preston Liebrecht was named MVP, the top rookie was awarded to one male and one female, David Boroto and Rita Fetsch were the recipients, Dalen Brueckner took home the Most Improved Player award and Nathan Guy won the St. Sebastian Award.
Boroto was one of two double award winners that night. His other recognition came from his work with the junior boys basketball program. He won the Most Improved award. Other awards went to Garrett Betker won the St. Sebastian award and Carter Ruf was named team MVP.
The badminton teams at SHHS had a strong showing in terms of players who came out, including the junior squad, led by coaches Brian Chisholm and Dean DePape.
"Badminton is a much tougher sport then its given credit for," coach Chisholm said at the microphone. "It's truly an honourable game."
It is safe to say that the students listed below would tend to agree with that.
Jake Perepeluk was the St. Sebastian winner, Aaron Fulawka won the Most Improved award and Morgan Shymanski added to her badminton trophy case which already includes four gold medals, with the MVP award.
Chisholm said the team had 25 players on it this year.
On the senior side, Mr. Grela and Mrs. Fetsch awarded Colin Shewchuk the top rookie award, Anthony Fetsch won the Most Improved award, the team's MVP was split between Kylie Chupa and Travis Inglis and Nathan Guy collected his second award on the night when he was named the St. Sebastian winner.
The last set of awards to be presented was the Greatest Contribution to Sports. Winners were: Rita Fetsch, Zach Todas, Allison Kruger, Jaedon Pellatt, Preston Liebrecht, Anthony Fetsch, Kylie Chupa, Emily Kruger, Morgan Shymanski, Travis Inglis.
