Briana Shymanski/Rocky View Publishing

Chestermere High School Sharon Rhodes presents Brad Avery with one of the Principal's Awards at the school's athletic awards night, June 13. Shamus Moore and Alex Jampen were the other winners.

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Chestermere Lakers crown athletic award winners

The Chestermere Lakers capped off the 2011-2012 school year with its annual athletic awards ceremony, June 13.

The event featured a buffet-style social that was provided by the Chestermere High School culinary arts program, and a performance by the Keister Family Fiddlers.

Chestermere High School Athletic Director Brian Utley said the event was as successful as the school’s sport seasons.

“I think (the season) went pretty well,” he said. “We had some highlights. We didn’t have any provincial championships, but we had a lot of teams that went to provincials. The Junior Varsity girls (basketball team) went 34W-1L and were the league champions. Curling did really well. The team had 39 members and that was the biggest group it’s ever had, so overall, it went great.”

Adding to the junior varsity girls’ basketball team’s league champion banner were the senior varsity boys’ volleyball team and the boys’ curling squad, which also won Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) titles in their respective sports.

The Lakers kicked off the award ceremony with the Junior Award of Excellence, which was awarded to 31 students. Thirteen students were given the Senior Award of Excellence, while 20 were awarded the Senior Award of Merit. The Senior Award of Distinction was given to Alex Cook, Keith Davis and Jasdeep Gill.

Gill was also the recipient of the Jody Bell National Recognition Award as a member of the senior varsity of the basketball team, an honour he had won previously.

“He was the only Albertan that received an invitation to the cadet national team tryout,” said Utley. “He didn’t make it, but just to be the only Albertan selected (is a great achievement). He’s also going to the University of Calgary on a basketball scholarship, so he has a pretty bright future ahead of him.”

Blake Smith won the Roy King Track Award and Yasmene Saghir was named the Roy Lester Athlete of the Year. The senior male and female athlete of the year awards went to Keith Davis and Rachel Cooke respectively, while the junior athletes of the year honours were awarded to Hunter Karl and Laura Costello. Makayla Boisjoli and Blake Smith were named the Grade 9 athletes of the year.

Brad Avery, Shamus Moore and Alex Jampen were honoured as the Principal’s Award winners for their athletic scholastic achievements, as well as their dedication to the Lakers’ athletic program. David Barras and Shelby Zawryucha were presented the program’s service awards.

With a number of Grade 12s graduating from the school and the athletic program, Utley said the Lakers will have a number of new, young teams to start the 2012-2013 school year.

“It’s hard to say (how next season will look),” he said. “We did have a lot of good Grade 12s graduate, so we’re going to have some young teams. When you lose people like Jasdeep (Gill) and Alex Cook, it’s tough to replace them.”