LSHOF enshrines 2024 inductees
The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame enshrined the class of 2024 during an induction ceremony at the Enmax Centre’s Western Canadian Bank Lounge on Friday night.
One of the inductees was boxer Carmen Rinke.
“It’s thrilling,” said Rinke,
The Lundbreck product boxed competitively from 1966 to 1972, earning six Canadian championships.
“I beat everybody that was in my way to win,” Rinke.
“I didn’t lose too many to too many Canadians.”
Rinke went to international competitions and felt he underperformed at those matches.
“A lot of times it wasn’t my fault that I lost, but overall I did as good as I could and enjoyed the [Pan American, Olympic and British Commonwealth] Games and things were great,” said Rinke.
Fighting and defeating Japan’s Yoshioki Seki and then losing to the eventual gold medallist, Jochen Bachfield, on points at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal was a career highlight.
Rinke boxed in a 125 fights and lost 20 of them in his career.
Rinke travelled to Lethbridge from Lundbreck, which was hour-and-a-half each way, twice a week for four years to train with Tony Bugusky and Oscar Odney.
“It was great because Tony and Oscar were two of the greatest guys associated with boxing,” said Rinke.
Brad Wall was inducted in the LSHOF after a career in kick boxing that span from 1999 to 2010.
“It feels amazing,” said Wall, on his induction.
Wall won two world Muay Thai titles, and a North American and Canadian kickboxing title.
“Looking back, it was an absolutely amazing experience and blessed that I was able to,” said Wall, on winning the world titles.
Wall’s answer was simple on his focus every time he stepped into competition.
“I just wanted to be the best kick boxer I could be,” said Wall.
Wall, Rinke,Randy Bardock ( U of L/ Canada soccer builder) and the Cooney family (speed skating were on hand for the induction ceremony.
There was no representation for inductees’ Judge John. A Jackson (Special Multi-Sport),Michael Tamura (Judo Club builder),Lacrosse player Conner Cook, who was named the Kinsmen’s Male Sportspersons of the Year and for the female recipients of the award Kacie Bosch and Paige Crozon in 3x3 basketball.