Category Archives: Loreburn

Hanley high jumper, junior boys relay team take gold at Yorkton

Maddy Vollmer of Loreburn is seen carrying the baton during the senior girls relay race at the provincial track meet in Yorkton.
Maddy Vollmer of Loreburn is seen at left carrying the baton during the senior girls relay race at the provincial track meet in Yorkton.

By Joel van der Veen

YORKTON — Local high school athletes were among the hundreds who competed at the provincial track and field meet at Yorkton’s Century Field on June 5 and 6.

Jade Peters, a former Hanley student who now studies at Rosthern Junior College, took home several medals in the senior girls division, including a gold in high jump with a result of 1.64 metres, and a silver in triple jump with a result of 11.21 metres.

The West Central junior boys relay team — which included Shane Lafontaine of Loreburn Central School — captured the gold medal in the 4 x 100-metre relay race, with a total time of 45.68 seconds in the final.

Lafontaine also earned the bronze medal in the junior boys long jump, completing a jump of 6.03 metres. His teammates on the relay team included Jae Evans and Matthew Jones, both of Dinsmore, and Kevin Stockman of Beechy.

Meanwhile, the West Central senior girls relay team took the bronze medal in their 4 x 100-metre race, with a result of 51.21 seconds in the final.

That team included Cheyanne Sincennes of Kenaston, Maddy Vollmer of Loreburn, Nicole Anhorn of Elrose, and Justine Jorgenson from Outlook’s Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute (LCBI).

Megan Fehr from Hanley Composite School received the bronze medal in the midget girls pole vault with a result of 2.10 metres.

Competing from Davidson were Jacob Schilling, Emily Read, Travis Nelson and Ben Nykiforuk. Craik School was represented by Carson Kearns and Hayley Folk.

Kenaston students competing in the events included Kaitlyn Yelich, Dawson George, Alyssa Evashenko, Jesse Boot and Cheyanne Sincennes.

Loreburn Central School was represented by Brianna Jess, Tori Rendall, Shane Lafontaine and Maddy Vollmer, while Leah Hundeby, a former Loreburn student now studying at Caronport High School, also competed in the events.

Hanley Composite School students competing in the events included Megan Fehr, Kianna Dietz and Carissa Williams.

The West Central district, which includes Davidson, Loreburn and Kenaston, earned the distinction of scoring the most points per thousand students with a total of 741.5 points.

The weekend also saw a record of nearly half a century broken, when Jae Evans of Dinsmore jumped 6.96 metres in the junior boys long jump, beating the record set in 1967 by 23 cm.

Evans was also the junior boys aggregate winner, taking five provincial gold medals in the 100-metre dash, long jump, high jump, triple jump and the 4 x 100-metre relay.

For complete results, please pick up a copy of the June 15 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Sunshine greets athletes as Loreburn hosts meet

Loreburn’s Shane Lafontaine has his eye on the finish line during the junior boys hurdles.
Loreburn’s Shane Lafontaine has his eye on the finish line during the junior boys hurdles. (Leader photo by Leanne Read)

By Joel van der Veen

LOREBURN — Close to 300 students from around the area competed in the east sectional high school track and field meet at Loreburn Central School this past week.

Sunny skies abounded as the school welcomed students from Davidson, Loreburn, Kenaston, Outlook, Elrose, Beechy, Lucky Lake and Outlook’s Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute (LCBI) on Wednesday.

Teacher Lloyd Tulp, the event’s key organizer, said the event was a success thanks to the efforts of students, coaches, teachers and community volunteers who kept things running smoothly.

Tulp, who served as coach for Loreburn, said he was pleased with the athletes’ performances, saying, “All my athletes gave their very best, and that’s all I could ask for.”

He said they had heard compliments on the condition of the school’s track; staff members had worked to resurface it after it was subject to vandalism on Sunday night. Tulp said drivers “tore up the inside track.”

The meet kicked off around 10 a.m. with students meeting in the Loreburn gym, but the day’s events gradually fell behind schedule. The track events finished at 3:30 p.m., 45 minutes late, while field events continued till around 4 p.m.

 

“When you have that many athletes, usually it goes that way,” said Tulp, noting that lots of students competed in multiple events, and adding that organizers may consider starting 15 or 20 minutes earlier next time around.

One student from Outlook High School sprained his ankle during the afternoon, and Tulp said other students had the usual soreness associated with such events.

“Other than that, we have been injury-free,” he said. “Dehydration hasn’t been too bad, we’ve been trying to get everybody to drink lots of water.”

Tulp expressed particular appreciation to staff from Outlook, including Cindy Tulp, Shannon Stephenson and Eli Dingle, and to Sun West School Division athletic commissioner Miles Bennett, who served in the starter’s position all day.

He also expressed his gratitude to the teachers, EAs and students from Loreburn, including Shea Boyle, who volunteered as a timer alongside the track throughout the day.

Many students from Davidson, Loreburn and Kenaston made an impressive showing; all but two of Davidson’s athletes are eligible to compete in the district track meet in Outlook on May 29 and 30.

For the full story, including results from all top winners and local competitors, please pick up a copy of the May 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Minor team off and running as football grows in district

Blake Allan, at left, runs the ball in an exercise during junior football practice at Davidson School on April 29.
Blake Allan, at left, runs the ball in an exercise during junior football practice at Davidson School on April 29.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A community minor football team based in Davidson, also featuring players from Loreburn, Kenaston and Imperial, began its second season last week.

Coach Blair Frederickson said the aim of the team is to provide local players with lots of experience on the field, in the hopes that it will pay off when they hit the field with Davidson School’s junior football team this fall.

“There’s no substitute for game experience,” he said. “The kids are excited to go play against guys from the city.”

The Davidson Huskies play in Saskatoon Minor Football’s six-a-side league, competing at the Saskatoon Minor Football Field at Gordon Howe Park against teams from Saskatoon, Hanley, Hague, Outlook, Clavet and Martensville.

The team consists of 19 players in grades 7 and 8. This is their second year playing in the city league; they will play every Thursday for eight weeks and end their season with a jamboree at the end of June.

Coaching the team along with Frederickson are Garrett Bailey, who teaches at Davidson School, and Kenaston teachers John Jamieson and Evan Pasternak.

The team practises twice a week at Davidson School but is operated as a community team, explained Frederickson, who also teaches in Davidson and plans to retire at the end of the year.

Last year, the team won its first three games before being moved into a different skill bracket, after which they finished the season with a 2-2 record.

“It gave the kids an extra eight weeks of football,” said Frederickson, adding that the added experience was beneficial and helped make a big improvement with the junior team last fall. “They’re able to see more potential here with getting themselves on the field more.”

He also said the added field time would eventually pay off with the senior team, which struggled last year and failed to acheive a single win. Another factor that season was the lack of Grade 12 players, as Davidson’s senior class for 2014-15 consists entirely of girls.

Senior players Andrew Read and Morgan Manz are assisting the coaches with the community team. They, along with Kieran Boehm and Addison Ouellette, made up the group of four local players that attended a skill and ID camp at Outlook High School on May 2, organized by Football Saskatchewan, with coaches and reps from the Saskatoon Hilltops and university teams in attendance.

Football has grown rapidly in Davidson after beginning from a clean slate in 2011. Last year, Davidson School’s junior team attracted 15 players from here and Kenaston, while the senior team attracted about 20 players.

Frederickson said the teams would have their annual training camp in mid-August, although organizers are looking at holding a spring camp in early June.

“I’m trying to turn this town into a football town,” Frederickson said with a smile. “I’m hoping that these young guys . . . will step in and keep the program going here.”

Playing with the Huskies from Davidson this year are Blake Allan, Jacob Heinrich, Clay Murfitt, Derek Schmiedge, Joshua Warkentin, Riley Berry, Gabriel Charette, Nathan Chomyshen, Keegan Shaw and Addison Wightman.

The team also includes Jackson Firby, Brennon Haffner, Cole Sanderson, Trystan Stacowich and Carson George, all from Kenaston; Weston Davidson, Travis Griffin and Carter Lemcke, all from Loreburn; and McGuire Scheidt, the sole player from Imperial.

Senior teams take top honours at badminton districts

Loreburn Central School’s senior badminton teams are pictured with their district gold medals: from left, Austin Daniluk, John Dodds, coach Grant Abbott, Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall.
Loreburn Central School’s senior badminton teams are pictured with their district gold medals: from left, Austin Daniluk, John Dodds, coach Grant Abbott, Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall.

By Joel van der Veen

ROSETOWN — Two senior badminton teams from Loreburn Central School were among the champions crowned at the West Central districts on Saturday, April 25.

John Dodds and Austin Daniluk were victorious in the boys doubles category, while Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall took top honours in mixed doubles.

Other competitors from Kenaston and Loreburn took part in both junior districts, held at Kindersley Composite School, and senior districts, held at Rosetown Central High School.

Also competing from Loreburn were Grade 7 student Alyssa Glubis and Grade 9 student Dodge Long, who competed in the girls and boys singles categories.

“They won everything except for their final matches,” said Grant Abbott, who coaches badminton at Loreburn. “I’m quite proud of their accomplishments.”

Abbott noted that Glubis will have two more years to compete as a junior, observing, “The future looks pretty bright for her.”

The two senior teams went undefeated in districts, each winning their medals.

Abbott said another senior Loreburn team — Brianna Jess and Tori Rendall — had qualified to compete in girls doubles. Both players are also on the DLK Attack 15U girls club volleyball team, which took part in provincials on Saturday, and so did not compete in Rosetown that day.

“It was a tough decision,” said Abbott, adding that he had been given advance notice. “I knew that ahead of time.”

Evan Pasternak, one of Kenaston School’s badminton coaches, reported that the school sent one junior team to districts, while others were unable to attend due to a leadership conference being held in Marengo.

Brody Yelich and Nolan Haugen competed in the boys doubles category, winning one game and losing two.

Pasternak said it was “a fun year” despite the drawback of such a short season, adding, “I think a lot of the students definitely started to improve their skills.”

Players competed in pre-sectionals and sectionals the previous week, determining their eligibility for the district championships.

Davidson School had planned to send a junior boys doubles team, Clay Murfitt and Derek Schmiedge, to Kindersley, but ultimately they were unable to attend due to a lack of transportation.

Senior champions were eligible to compete in regional championships, scheduled to take place in Regina, Melville, Carrot River and Meadow Lake on Saturday, May 2.

The provincial championships will follow on May 9 at Moose Jaw’s A. E. Peacock Collegiate.

Junior badminton players prepare to wrap up season

Davidson’s Clay Murfitt (left) and Derek Schmiedge compete in a doubles match against Kenaston’s Cole Sanderson and Jackson Firby on Thursday.
Davidson’s Clay Murfitt (left) and Derek Schmiedge compete in a doubles match against Kenaston’s Cole Sanderson and Jackson Firby on Thursday.

By Joel van der Veen

KENASTON — It’s down to the wire for junior badminton players in the district, but regular play between local schools has given them a solid foundation leading up to the end of the season.

Juniors from Davidson, Loreburn and Outlook met at Kenaston School on Thursday afternoon to face off in the last exhibition match of the regular season.

The four schools will compete in pre-sectionals this Tuesday, followed by sectionals on Thursday.

The junior district championships will be held at Kindersley Composite School on Saturday, April 25, while Rosetown Central High School will host the senior districts the same day.

Over the past month and a half, the four schools have hosted each other’s junior players in exhibition matches, allowing them to make the most of the short season.

The schools in Kenaston, Davidson, Loreburn and Outlook take turns serving as host, allowing students time on the court to take part in boys and girls singles, and boys, girls and mixed doubles competition.

Grant Abbott, a retired teacher who coaches the six junior badminton players from Loreburn School, said the program has been beneficial for them.

“The juniors are getting lots of games because of the exhibition program,” he said. “The whole process is to develop their skills . . . then they can put those skills into practice.”

Dodge Long, a Grade 9 student who plays in the singles division, had to miss the exhibition games last week as he got ready to compete with the Zone 5 bantam hockey team at the Sask First Bantam Tournament in Regina.

Abbott highlighted him and Grade 7 student Alyssa Glubis, also a singles player, as two of his most promising competitors.

As the coach of the Prairie Central district badminton team that took home gold from the 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games in Prince Albert, Abbott said he’s also keeping an eye out for young players who could develop their skills and possibly join the team in 2018.

Evan Pasternak and Brian Johnston coach the junior badminton players from Kenaston School, with a total of 18 students taking part, an impressive number given the school’s smaller size.

Pasternak said that group represents a significant portion of the school’s students in grades 7 through 9, but added that the program didn’t get underway until mid-March.

“It’s been a bit of a learning process due to us starting a little bit later,” he said, adding, “We haven’t reached our potential . . . (but) the kids are improving and they’re having a lot of fun.”

Despite the group’s struggles, Pasternak said he can envision some of their players reaching the district level if they can maintain a high standard of play this coming week.

Ian Osmond coaches the Davidson junior badminton players, a group of 11 students. In addition to the weekly exhibition matches, they have also competed against players from Craik.

“For those who have shown up consistently, there’s definitely been progress,” said Osmond, adding that he has worked to build consistent teams but also switches up the partners sometimes.

Three area boys competing with Zone 5 bantam team in Regina

REGINA — Three local boys will represent the region this weekend as part of the Zone 5 team competing in the 2015 Sask First Bantam Tournament in Regina.

The roster includes Dean McNabb and Reegan Taylor of Davidson, as well as Dodge Long of Loreburn.

The Zone 5 team is one of eight competing in the provincial tournament, running from Thursday, April 16 to Sunday, April 19 at the Cooperators Centre in Regina.

The team, which has never played together as one unit before, will have two opportunities to practise on Thursday and Friday before the tournament begins on Friday afternoon.

Reegan Taylor, who turns 15 during the tournament, is the son of Linda Haas and Gord Taylor, and played with the Davidson Huskies last season.

He has been playing hockey for six years. Asked to describe his reaction to being named to the zone team, he said, “I was pretty pumped about it.”

Taylor said he hasn’t been on skates since the regular season ended in late March, but added he has been preparing for the tournament with weight training.

He said the short time allotted for practice will make it challenging to develop the team together, but added, “I think (it’s) more of a personal skill-based tournament . . . I guess it’s whatever you put out there.”

Dodge Long, 14, who joins Taylor on the team’s offensive roster, is the son of Rick and Jill Long of Loreburn. Last season he played for the Saskatchewan Valley Vipers, based in Martensville and Warman.

He said he has been playing hockey since the age of three but now plays on the city team, due to the lack of a local team in his age bracket.

His father, Rick, said that entails a “horrendous” volume of driving, but noted that the results have been good, adding, “It’s a great opportunity for the boys to make that zone team.”

Dodge Long also competed on the zone bantam team in the Saskatchewan Winter Games in Prince Albert in 2014. He said he has kept active since the end of the regular season, taking part in midget AAA and junior A training camps.

Also representing the local district is Dean McNabb, 15, who played for the Notre Dame Hounds last season. The son of Kim and Jeannine McNabb of Davidson, he will serve as one of the team’s two goalies.

His older brother, 24-year-old Brayden McNabb, is currently on a two-year contract with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Of the 20 players on the Zone 5 bantam roster, a total of nine played with the Saskatchewan Valley Vipers this past season, giving them a degree of familiarity with each other’s playing patterns.

Zone tryouts were held in the beginning of February with the rosters announced shortly afterward. The teams are restricted in the amount of time they can spend practising together, in an effort to provide a more even playing field for all teams.

The tournament finals will be held beginning Sunday morning.