A celebration of athletes, teams, and having pride in your school were among what École Secondaire Notre Dame High School spotlighted during their 2022 Cougars Athletics Banquet.
Among the over 60 awards handed out throughout the evening, they ended the evening with the athletes of the year.
The Cougars Grade 12 Male Athlete of the Year went to Dylan Vickery and Grade 12 Female Athlete of the Year went to Lauren Junck.
Junck was a multi-sport athlete throughout her time in high school playing volleyball, basketball, badminton, tennis, and soccer.
She told the Advocate she was really excited all the extra work she had put in over the years had finally paid off.
Despite getting to play her Grade 12 year, her Grade 10 and 11 years were impacted by COVID-19 only getting to play a few, if any at all at some points.
“It was really hard not getting in the gym all the time and being away from my teammates and coaches because sports have really been my whole life. Those years off were really hard mentally and physically,” she added.
Next year she will be playing volleyball for the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens, which was a goal she always had in the back of her mind. She will also be studying psychology.
“There were some other schools I looked at but I just think playing for my hometown with the hometown crowd in that facility is really nice,” Junck said.
Junck also won the senior girls basketball and volleyball MVP awards.
Vickery said he was at a loss for words and was shocked to receive the honour.
“In Grade 10 we went undefeated in basketball and then after that it kind of got cut short with COVID. Grade 11 we didn’t have a season because again due to COVID but I’m just glad we got a final season of Grade 12,” Vickery said.
Throughout his time with the Cougars, he played basketball, volleyball, badminton, handball, and football.
After high school, he hopes to get a basketball scholarship to play in college. He will also soon be trying out for the U18 team Canada handball team who will be going to Denmark to compete.
Vickery also won the senior boys handball MVP award.
This year due to COVID-19 the school decided to add a Grade 10 male and female athlete of the year award as well as the same for the Grade 11’s.
The winners of the Grade 10 Male Athlete of the Year was Ty Fleming and the Grade 10 Female Athlete of the Year, Olivia McAuley.
The Grade 11 Male Athlete of the Year was Carson Mazurkewich and the Grade 11 Female Athlete of the Year was Ella Black.
The Greg Hall Spirit Award, which is named after a former principal who showed enthusiasm for school sports was Riley Martinez.
Cross country running
Coaches Male: Simon Marchinko
Outstanding Performance Female - Macie Marchinko
Coaches Award Female - Riley Dand
JV boys volleyball
MVP - Sean Finnigan
Coaches’ Award - Christian Vibas
JV girls Volleyball
MVP - Avynn Litwinski Coaches Award - Grace Monaghan
Senior girls volleyball
MVP - Lauren Junck
MIP - Haley Zinger
Coaches - Ella Black
Senior boys volleyball
MVP - Tate Howell
MIP - Gage Weinrauch
Brett Bell Coaches Award - Devon Sterling
Golf
Most Outstanding Female: Tanika Samuel
Most Outstanding Male: Joseph Kelly
JV boys basketball
MVP: Shea Bouchard
Coaches: AJ Ward
JV girls basketball
MVP - Autumn Gerber
Coaches award - Mikayla Armeneau
Senior girls basketball
MVP - Lauren Junck
Coaches award - Frances Hansen
MIP - Olivia McAuley
Senior boys basketball
MVP - Sebit Gatluak
Coaches award - Wani Wande
MIP - Liddell Austin
Football
Most Improved - Ryan Raymont
MVP - Grayson Chabot
Coaches award - Etienne Gallant
Boys Rugby
MVP: Nolen Burton
Coaches award: Vik Maree
MIP: Owen Dixon
Girls Rugby
MVP - Aeva Lott
Coaches award- Denisha Maerz
MIP - Emersyn Tonery
Boys Soccer
MVP - Sebastian Arcila Nunez
Coaches award - Carson Mazurkewich
MIP - Sebit Gatluak
Girls Soccer
MVP - Cara Lord
Coachess: Lyvia Watson
MIP: Ngozi Nwaribe
Tennis
MVP - Ty Flemming and Reid Adams
MVP - Sun Ho
Coaches award - Haley Zinger and Sydney Zinger
Coaches award: Devon Sterling
Track
Coaches female: Brooklyn Melnyk
Coaches male : Simon Marchinko
Most Outstanding Female: Hannah Ly
Most Outstanding Male: Josh Gillard
Badminton
Coaches Female: Ella Black
Coaches Male : Blake Hyshka
Most Outstanding Female: Vicky Deng
Senior boys handball
MVP - Dylan Vickery
Coaches - Lucas Nelson
MIP - Etienne Gallant
Senior girls handball
MVP - Ella Black
Coaches award - Lyvia Watson
MIP - Karla Hernandez