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Elwood, Lynn, Donaghy, Ledwos named Cody athletes of year

H. J. Cody High School’s top athletes were honoured in front of their schoolmates, parents and friends during an awards ceremony

H. J. Cody High School’s top athletes were honoured in front of their schoolmates, parents and friends during an awards ceremony last Friday afternoon.

Coaches, managers and others were also thanked for their dedication to the 23 different teams and approximately 300 students who participated in athletic endeavours during the past year. Some of those students participated in up to five different sports.

Named athletes of the year were Harper Elwood (Grade 9 female), Jaxon Lynn (Grade 9 male), Alex Donaghy (high school female) and Tyler Ledwos (high school male).

Elwood was involved in volleyball, basketball, soccer and track and field. Lynn participated in golf, basketball and badminton. Donaghy played volleyball, basketball, soccer and participated in track and field. Ledwos was a football and basketball player and would have competed in track and field except for an injury.

Their names will be the first on a pair of banners which were sponsored by H. J. Cody High School Athletic Society and will hang proudly in the school.

This organization fundraises to reduce fees for athletes participating in various sports and buys uniforms and equipment for the teams. Bingos, casinos and raffles have been the means of raising most of the money. The society was started in 2001.

New this year were the Academic Athletic Excellence Awards which Jeremy Braitenback said recognize students who maintain an 80 per cent average while competing in extracurricular activities. They participated in one major sport or two minor sports per term and maintained the high average to be recognized as “Super Lakers”. Twenty Grade 9 students were recognized, 11 Grade 10 students, nine Grade 11 students and five Grade 12 students.

Grade 9: Kenzie Allen, Madison Bennett, Ryan Bredy, Allie Busch, Faith Chmil, Alecia Daniels, Harper Elwood, Brittni Harris, Alex Kirkham, Whitney Lehman, Brookelynn Louma, Jaxon Lynn, Madison McDonald, Morgan Nemish, Marley Ojala, Laura Olive, Korey Prediger, Molly Rumohr, Kayle Trydal and Heather Watson.

Grade 10: Chikako Adachi, Olivia Barnes, Kaylee Campbell, Kendra Campbell, Cara Derbyshire, Dani Dyrland, Kendra Hainsworth, Bryce Marshall, Talissa Munce, Phoenix Schultz and Tayler Vick.

Grade 11: Chais Avery, Alex Donaghy, Morgan Drews, Rhett Dyck, Ryoji Fujibayashi, Koyo Ikeura, Tyler Ledwos and Joey O’Donnell.

Grade 12: Ashley Bourgeois, Cassie Donaghy, Jason Johanson, Kirstynn Joseph, Tachara Larocque and Bryanne Smith.

One special highlight of the ceremony was a video presentation by the four Japanese exchange students who have been studying at the school and participating in sports. They thanked students and staff of H. J. Cody for making them feel welcome and providing them with lots of memories.

Winning awards for specific sports were the following:

Cross Country

Outstanding athlete - Brooke Kentz.

Golf

Top female golfer -Mikala Johnson, top male golfer - Jaxon Lynn.

Volleyball

City girls: MVP -Whitney Lehman, most improved - Allie Busch, coach’s award – Morgan Nemish.

Junior varsity girls: MVP - Kaylee Campbell, heart and hustle – Riley Calder, coach’s award - Talissa Munce.

Senior girls: MVP - Alex Donaghy, heart and hustle – Kendra Hainsworth, coach’s award - Stevie Fiedler.

Football

Outstanding offensive player - Chase Hoffman, MVP - Tyler Ledwos, rookie of the year – Shon Zenert, team leadership - Bud Kriekle, outstanding defensive player – Luke Marshall, outstanding lineman - Max Schofield, most improved – Sebastian Kneitl, Jeff Halvorson Memorial Award – Brad Huhnold.

Curling

Boys MVP – Jason Johanson, girls MVP - Laura Olive, overall most improved - Brody Burk.

Cheerleading

MVP - Kim Taylor, most improved – Alyssa Carson, coach’s award - Joelle Shaw. The cheerleading team was coached by students Alana Maiden and Tatyana Rideout. The pair were given the two cheer sticks won by the team during the season. They were signed by each of the team members.

Basketball

City boys: MVP – Josh Bawtinheimer, most improved – Korey Prediger, coach’s award - Brett Lockyer.

Senior girls: MVP - Alex Donaghy, heart and hustle - Cassie Donaghy, rookie of year – Rachel Edge.

Senior boys: MVP - Tyler Ledwos, heart and hustle - Kolt Bell, most improved - Logan Bittner, rookie of the year – Ryohi Fujibayashi.

Junior varsity boys: MVP - Trent Kondor, heart and hustle – Eric Littman, most improved - Koyo Ikuera.

Junior varsity girls: MVP - Phoenix Schultz, heart and hustle – Cara Derbyshire, most improved – Chikako Adachi.

City girls: MVP – Allie Busch, coach’s award - Harper Elwood, most improved – Alex Kirkham.

Badminton

Grade 9 male top player - Jaxon Lynn, Grade 9 female top player – Molly Rumohr, senior male top player - Bryce Marshall, senior female top player - Talissa Munce.

Track and Field

Grade 9 male outstanding athlete – Josh Bawtinheimer, Grade 9 female outstanding athlete - Morgan Nemish, Senior outstanding athlete – Alex Donaghy.

Rugby

Girls: MVP – Cydnee Plotnikoff, most improved - Bethany Muholland.

Boys: MVP – Brandon Duthie, top forward -Riley Prediger, top back - Dusty Patapoff, most improved – Shae Edwards.

Soccer

Senior boys: Most improved - Robin Carlson, rookie of the year – Aden Smail, players’ choice - Alastair Smith, MVP - Sam Day.

Senior girls: MVP - Georgia England, most improved – Taylor Carrier.

Archery

Top female – Joy Fugler, top male – Nathan Morrison.

The awards ceremony was interspersed with a relay race among several students and a basketball dunk competition.

Following the awards presentation all the coaches were thanked for their time and involvement in school sports.

Lindsay Vandermeer, the school’s athletics director also received thanks for “inspiring students to make their athletic dreams come true”.

She, in turn, thanked the Sylvan Lake News for coverage of school sports.

School teams won several awards during the past year, including the football league championship, senior boys curling zone championship, Grade 9 double badminton championships at both CENAA and CWAJHAA levels and Grade 9 girls volleyball second place finish at CWAJHAA. (CENAA is Chinook’s Edge North Athletics Association and CWAJHAA is Central Western Alberta Junior High Athletics Association.) This was the first time in the school’s history they won a CWAJHHA title for badminton, said Mr. Chatwood.

The athletic society put on a barbecue for athletes, parents and staff following the awards ceremony.