Sport Council names 2017 award winners

Lethbridge Sport Council announced its 2017 Achievement Award winners Tuesday at a special press conference at Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre. Not all the athletes or community recipients were in attendance, but those who were shone with the pride of their achievements as their names were announced one by one, and their accomplishments lauded, by Lethbridge Sports Council chair Shaun Ward.

Aaron Hernandez, from Coaldale, was one of two co-winners for Senior Male Athlete of the year alongside teammate Peter Millman. Hernandez enjoyed great success last year in the sport of track and field. He was the Team Alberta flagbearer and silver medal winner in triple jump at the 2017 Canada Summer Games. As much pride as Hernandez took in his athletic accomplishments, he was perhaps even more honoured to be recognized for his community efforts.

“It’s always nice to be acknowledged for your athletic achievements,” Hernandez said Tuesday, “but it’s also special to be acknowledged for things outside of athletic accomplishments, including volunteer work, working with people with disabilities and running track events. It’s nice to see the community get behind their athletes.”

For Deborah Williams, who won in the prestigious Master Athlete category for her bronze medal performance in the female over 30 category at the World BMX Championships in South Carolina last year, the Lethbridge Sports Council award was a fantastic acknowledgement of her efforts. She came into BMX biking later in life than most.

“My oldest son was BMXing, and he decided I couldn’t tell him what to do because I couldn’t BMX; so that’s what started me,” she said with a laugh. “It’s super-exciting to win this award, and I am very appreciative of the Lethbridge Sports Council and all their sponsors who allow for everybody here to be recognized for their awards and achievements.”

For Joshua Baerg, who anchored Team Canada in swimming at the Deaflympics in Turkey last year and served as the team’s flagbearer, the Lethbridge Sports Council award for Athlete with a Disability is victory lap for both himself and other deaf athletes in the region.

“It shows deaf people are just as capable as the regular hearing athletes,” he said. “It shows we can achieve greatness as well.”

The awards’ banquet to toast the Lethbridge region athletes will be held April 5 at the Enmax Centre.

Other 2017 winners include: