Three SWAC teams win Sportsmanship Awards

Three Southwest high school soccer teams have been announced as the recipients of the SHSAA/SASK Milk Sportsmanship Award.

The Swift Current Comp. Colts, Swift Current Comp. Ardens, and the Herbert Laurels boy’s soccer team will all receive the Sportsmanship Award recognizing their performance at Provincials.

The Sportsmanship Award represents the ideals of sportsmanship displayed at the provincial championship. A committee of SHSAA representatives, the host committee and game officials observe the players, coaches, team personnel and spectators throughout the championship. These committees recommend teams for this honour.

The banners, along with milk for students and staff, will be presented at the Swift Current Comp. and Herbert School by representatives of the SHSAA and Sask Milk at a later date.

“It was a wonderful piece of news to receive this week to recognize the efforts of athletes, their coaches, their managers,” said Swift Current Comp. Principal Larry Kielo. “Being able to have recognition of our kids playing the right way, our coaches coaching the right way, and having success as well, our kids had very good seasons, but this was kind of the capping of our seasons getting the news about the Sportsmanship Awards.”

The Comp. Gymnasium currently has six Sportsmanship banners hanging on the wall, the most recent coming from the wrestling team in 2017. Ardens Soccer previously won in 2007, while the Colts Soccer will receive their first banner in program history.

“This fall we’ve talked a lot with our coaches around the fact that they are coaching student-athletes, rather than athletes first,” added Kielo. “We’re coaching these young men and women to be contributors to their world once they leave high school and that would mean in their families and the careers that they choose and the life lessons that sports can bring to them. We want excellence in everything that we do, whether that’s performance on the field or in the gym, but excellence above that in terms of being a good person and being a great citizen.”

The Colts placed second in the Moose Jaw High School Soccer League. They won Regionals in Regina and then placed fourth at 3A Boys Provincials in Saskatoon after upsetting Saskatoon Aden Bowman in the opening game. The Colts were coached by Chris Garner, Kielo, and Ruth Weiner.

“This award is a great public acknowledgement of the culture students have created at SCCHS,” said Garner. “What impresses me most is that it’s not just athletics either; students in the drama, band, choir, SLC are often recipients of praise for their respectful attitude and behaviour. I’m so very proud to be part of this school culture.”

The Laurels won Regionals in Swift Current and then won twice at 1A Boys 7v7 Provincials to place fifth. The Laurels were coached by Chad Striker, Ryan Gunstenson, Randy Mcculloch, and Justin Rodger. They finished with a 6-4 record overall during their third season of boys soccer in Herbert.

“As a coach I’ve always believed that the ultimate goal would be to win a championship while being honoured for Fair Play. I’m proud that the Laurels program is half way to that goal,” said Striker.

The Ardens finished with a 9-4-1 record, including their 10th consecutive Moose Jaw Soccer League championship. They finished second at 3A Girls Regionals and then placed sixth at Provincials in Prince Albert. The Ardens were coached by Dale Perry, Steven Mah, and Daunean Dash.

“While we, as coaches, are trying to develop better soccer players, a major component of the Ardens soccer program is to help mold the student-athlete into a positive and contributing member of society,” said Perry. “Good sporstmanship and respect for all opponents and officials is mandatory for all our players.”

“What we want to take out of it is that both groups worked real hard all season,” added Kielo. “They ended up coming a little short in terms of where they wanted to end their season, but at the same time they were almost there at that pinnacle. Knowing that you’re almost there and knowing that you played the right way and you battled, but you battled in a respectful and a sportsmanlike way is something that every kid on each of the two teams should be proud of.”