Saskatoon and Area Home to Majority of Sask Sport Award Finalists

There’s a chance that someone or some team from Saskatoon and area will clean up when the annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards are handed out on March 26th.

From the seven categories to be voted on, 12 of the 20 finalists call Saskatoon, or very nearby, home. Included in that list are Courtney Hufsmith from Athletics and Para Cycling’s Keely Shaw for Female Athlete-of-the-Year. The Male Athlete-of-the-Year finalists kayaker Jarret Kenke and Payne Wylie of Elstow from Athletics. In addition, the Western Women’s Canadian Football League-champion Saskatoon Valkyries are one of two finalists for Team-of-the-Year. The full list of awards finalists…as well as recipients of other awards can be found in the following news release from Sask Sport…

MEDIA RELEASE

Athlete of the Year Finalists announced for upcoming Saskatchewan Sport Awards

Awards will also honour long-time coaches, officials and volunteers

Feb. 26, 2020 – An all-star lineup of athletes, teams and coaches are among the finalists for the Athlete of the Year awards at the upcoming Saskatchewan Sport Awards.

The annual program celebrates the success and dedication of those in the province’s amateur sport community. Nominees for the Athlete of the Year awards were submitted by Provincial Sport Organizations based on the accomplishments of athletes, teams and coaches in 2019. Recipients will be selected by a Sask Sport awards committee. They will be announced at a gala event in Saskatoon on March 26 that will also honour six long-time coaches, officials and volunteers with dedication awards.

“Saskatchewan is home to some incredibly talented and hardworking athletes, teams, coaches, officials and volunteers and we are excited to shine a spotlight on their accomplishments at the upcoming Saskatchewan Sport Awards,” said Kenric Exner, Volunteer Board Chair for Sask Sport, which serves as the provincial federation for amateur sport.

“All of these finalists and recipients are making meaningful contributions to sport. They are tremendous ambassadors for the province and serve as an inspiration for others to get active, participate in sport and pursue their dreams.”

Finalists for the seven Athlete of the Year awards are listed below. Select results and highlights from their 2019 competitions are available in the attached document.

MORE: 2019 Saskatchewan Sport Awards Finalist Highlights (PDF)

Athlete of the Year Finalists

Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Courtney Hufsmith

Saskatoon Athletics

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Keely Shaw

Saskatoon Para Cycling

Nominated by Saskatchewan Cycling Association

Krystal Shaw

Regina Para Swimming

Nominated by Swim Saskatchewan

Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

Graeme Fish

Moose Jaw Speed skating

Nominated by Saskatchewan Speed Skating Association

Jarret Kenke

Saskatoon Kayak

Nominated by Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan

Payne Wylie

Elstow Athletics

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Team of the Year Finalists

Team Sask. U19 Men

Water polo

Nominated by Water Polo Saskatchewan

Saskatoon Valkyries

Saskatoon Football

Nominated by Football Saskatchewan

Coach of the Year Finalists

Eric Kramer

Saskatoon Para Swimming

Nominated by Swim Saskatchewan

Jason Reindl

Saskatoon Athletics

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Jeff Stusek

Regina Football

Nominated by Football Saskatchewan

Youth Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Aida Lissel-DeCorby

Saskatoon Rowing

Nominated by Saskatchewan Rowing Association

Lila Stewart

Regina Diving

Nominated by Dive Sask

Savannah Sutherland

Borden Athletics

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Youth Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

Colby Kosteniuk

Regina Special Olympics Swim

Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan

Carson Lee

Saskatoon Wrestling

Nominated by Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association

Rylan Wiens

Saskatoon Diving

Nominated by Dive Sask

Master Athlete of the Year Finalists

Laurie Meschishnick

Saskatoon Weightlifting

Nominated by Saskatchewan Weightlifting Association

Team Syrota

Wadena Curling

Nominated by CURLSASK

M. Vincent/I. English

Regina Canoeing

Nominated by Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan

Coach, Official and Volunteer Dedication Awards

Coach Dedication Award Recipients

Russell Martin

Grand Coulee Softball

Nominated by Softball Saskatchewan

Sherry Pasloski

Yorkton Special Olympics

Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan

Official Award Recipients

Dennis Rennie

Saskatoon Tennis

Nominated by Tennis Saskatchewan

Deanna Rindal

Prince Albert Curling

Nominated by CURLSASK

Volunteer Recognition Award Recipients

Margaret Auringer

Maidstone Figure Skating

Nominated by Skate Canada Saskatchewan

Ken Trofimuk

Prince Albert Weightlifting

Nominated by Saskatchewan Weightlifting Association

For more on the contributions of these coaches, officials and volunteers, see the document below.

MORE: 2019 Saskatchewan Sport Awards Dedication Award Recipient Bios

Additional details about the Saskatchewan Sport Awards are available at sasksport.ca. Sask Sport would like to thank Global TV, its production and promotion partner for the Saskatchewan Sport Awards, and acknowledge Saskatchewan Lotteries, the main fundraiser for amateur sport in the province.

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