Once a Raider, always a Raider.
On Wednesday night Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School recognized and celebrated hundreds of athletes that wore a Raiders jersey this year at the annual athletics banquet.
Among the major award winners were Grade 9 Female Athletes of the Year Aislyn Cole and Hannah Weldon followed by Grade 9 Male Athlete of the Year Tyson Dezutter.
Andrea Reed took home the Curtis McKee Memorial Award given to a student who shows great pride in being a Raider among other attributes.
This year the High School Female Athlete of the Year Award was presented to two athletes, Madelyn DeZutter and Tricia Madourie. Furthermore, the Male Athlete of the Year was awarded to Sam Bender.
DeZutter, who also won it in her Grade 11 year in 2022, said getting it a second time feels amazing.
“This year was a really hard group of girls to compete against so it was a big honour for me to get it twice in a row,” she said.
“It’s a lot more special winning it alongside Tricia.”
She was a multi-sport athlete throughout her high school career playing volleyball, basketball, and track and field.
DeZutter will graduate this summer and explained she’ll look back at her time at Lindsay Thurber with plenty of joy and happiness.
“It was the best high school experience I could have ever asked for.”
Next year she’ll stay close to home and play on the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens volleyball team while pursuing a degree in education. Volleyball runs in the DeZutter family as her brother Tyson plays and her mother Kirsten coaches the senior girl’s team at Lindsay Thurber.
“It made sense for me and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Madourie, who moved to Canada seven years ago from Jamaica, said being a Raider has meant everything to her.
“It feels amazing and I’ve worked really hard for this award. I’m very proud of myself for actually achieving this,” she said.
“I will forever remember this moment… Being on the basketball and volleyball team has been a memorable experience for me.”
Next year she’ll play for the RDP Queens basketball team while taking open studies. She’ll play there for a year and will consider transferring to the University of Alberta to compete in track and field.
“Growing up my first sport was soccer but coming here to Canada basketball became a sport that I love,” she added.
She hopes to live out her dream of making a career in basketball but is also considering a job as a flight attendant or a police officer.
Male Athlete of the Year Sam Bender said winning the award has been a goal of his for a long time. He remembers seeing the award winners as a boy and has been working towards the achievement ever since.
“To have it finally be here it’s really surreal. It’s a huge honour and I really appreciate it,” he said.
“What I’ll remember most is my teammates and coaches. It’s such a tight-knit community for all the sports that I’ve played. The friendships I’ve built will be the thing that will really stick with me.
“The impact they’ve had on my life and hopefully the impact I’ve had on theirs that’s what I play for.”
Bender will head to Briercrest College in Caronport, Sask. to play for the Clippers men’s volleyball team. He will also begin his journey of becoming a nurse.
“It’s a school I’ve had on my radar for a long time. I had contact with their coach and they asked me if I wanted to come out and play for their team. I was more than happy to accept,” he said.
