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Athletes, coaches, volunteers celebrated at 40th Annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards

Supporters from across Saskatchewan and Canada joined together to celebrate the accomplishments of the Excellence and Recognition Award finalists and recipients at the 40th Annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards on Jan. 30 in Saskatoon.

The awards program celebrates the success and dedication of those in the province’s amateur sport community through two categories — Excellence Awards and Recognition Awards. The Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding event performances or a series of performances by a Saskatchewan athlete, coach or team within the 2024 calendar year. The Recognition Awards include the Volunteer and Coach Dedication Awards, as well as the Inspire Through Sport Award, all which honour individuals who have devoted their time and effort to the growth of sport in Saskatchewan.

“On behalf of Sask Sport and its membership, I would like to applaud each of the award recipients and finalists,” said Luke Flegel, Sask Sport Board of Directors Chair. “We are honoured to celebrate numerous outstanding amateur athletes, coaches, teams and volunteers from across Saskatchewan. Each of these individuals are incredible ambassadors for sport and the province, no matter their level of competition or wherever in the world they travel.”

“Their passion and hard work is inspiring and leads by example to show that sport, truly, is more than a game.”

EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Shelby Newkirk – Saskatoon
Nominated by Swim Saskatchewan

In 2024, Para swimmer Shelby Newkirk attended 12 competitions. She claimed her first Paralympic medal in Paris, swimming to a bronze in the S6 100-metre backstroke event, while also racing in two other individual events and three relays. At the Citi Para Swimming World Series, Shelby set a world record in the women’s 50-metre backstroke S6 with a time of 37.40 seconds. This was in addition to the 12 Canadian records Shelby broke in the calendar year, between short and long course events.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Rylan Wiens – Pike Lake
Nominated by Dive Sask

For the second consecutive year, diver Rylan Wiens is named Male Athlete of the Year. Attending his second Olympic Games, Rylan made history as he and his partner claimed the country’s first medal in the men’s 10-metre synchronized platform event. In addition, he dove to seventh place in the individual event. He earned Canada two spots at the Olympics while competing at the Aquatic World Championships. Rylan also attended the World Cup, where he earned silver medals in both the individual and synchronized 10-metre events. 

COACH OF THE YEAR

Mary Carroll – Saskatoon
Nominated by Dive Sask

Diving coach Mary Carroll led two of her athletes to the Olympic Games in Paris, with one making Canadian history in the men’s 10-metre synchronized event by claiming bronze. She was one of two Team Canada coaches at the Games and was recognized for her efforts by the Coaching Association of Canada with a 2024 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award. In addition, Mary has coached numerous athletes to reach success at national and international competitions.   

YOUTH MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Kash Tarasoff – Saskatoon
Nominated by Dive Sask

As an Under-16 athlete, diver Kash Tarasoff set a new Saskatchewan record at the Junior Elite National Championships, while reaching the podium three times and scoring perfect 10s on three dives. He claimed two golds and a silver at the TYR Junior American Cup, adding to his international count. At the Canadian Junior World Trials, Kash was a three-time silver medallist, which qualified him a spot at the Junior World Championships.  

YOUTH FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Etta Love – Saskatoon
Nominated by Saskatchewan Weightlifting Association

Etta Love is the first woman in Canada to hold an Olympic weightlifting world record. At the Junior World Championships, she claimed silver while also setting the youth world record with a clean and jerk lift of 146-kilograms qualifying for the Senior World championship. At that event, Etta was the youngest athlete competing and placed seventh overall. She also claimed gold at the Youth World and National Senior Championships. 

TEAM OF THE YEAR

University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s 4×800-metre Relay Team
Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s 4×800-metre Relay Team took first place at the U SPORTS National Championships, setting a program record with a time of eight minutes, forty-five point six-zero seconds. While attending the Canada West Championships, the 4×800-metre team finished top of the podium and helped the Huskies Women’s Track and Field Team win the overall Canada West Women’s Track and Field title, for the 6th year in a row.   

VOLUNTEER DEDICATION AWARD

Bob Kary – Regina – Canoe/Kayak

Nominated by Wascana Racing Canoe Club and supported by Canoe/Kayak Saskatchewan

  • Bob Kary has been a dedicated volunteer with Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan since 2010, serving in multiple roles. Annually, for the last 15 years, Bob has officiated numerous provincial regattas, dedicating time to the sport he loves. In his role as High-Performance Director, Bob introduced a sprint council to support athletes and clubs throughout the province. More recently, he assisted in introducing the Paddle-All unified events at the 2024 Prairie Divisional Regatta, providing athletes with a pathway to compete at the national level and supporting the sport’s development within Special Olympics.
Blair Seifert – Saskatoon – Figure Skating

Nominated by Skate Saskatchewan 

  • As an event technician and announcer for figure skating, Blair Seifert ensures that skaters have the opportunity to experience their best performance with him at the controls. Blair will arrive early before events to test all equipment, which contributes to a positive experience on the ice. From small regional to national qualifying events, Blair is willing to help officials and new event technicians who may benefit from his vast knowledge. Blair has become instrumental in the improvement of Skate Saskatchewan’s event technician team, guiding them through various competition requirements and technology innovation.

INSPIRE THROUGH SPORT AWARD

Tony Fineblanket – Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation – Volleyball

Nominated by Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation and supported by Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association

  • Often regarded as a father figure to his athletes, Tony Fineblanket began volunteering his time as a volleyball coach in 2022. In that time, he has seamlessly stepped into the role of mentor to youth athletes. He often commits early mornings to travel for weekend tournaments and is willing to dedicate the time required to allow his athletes to compete at out of province events. Tony’s efforts are to ensure that his players have the opportunity to explore their passion in sport.
Sheila Leach – Weyburn – Rowing

Nominated by Saskatchewan Rowing Association

  • For more than 30 years, Sheila Leach has been involved in the world of sport through various capacities. In 2008, she founded the Estevan Minor Football club and took to coaching water polo and baseball on separate occasions. Since 2013, Sheila has stepped into the role of officiating rowing, overseeing various provincial and national events and working to grow the sport as a whole. Outside of her regular officiating duties, Shelia has worked to grow the number of active umpires in Saskatchewan and acts as a mentor for umpires at regattas throughout the year.
Lindsay Markwart – Regina – Special Olympics

Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan 

  • Since joining the Special Olympics program 20 years ago, Lindsay Markwart has become an ambassador for the community. She leads with kindness and encourages individuals from athletes to spectators to join in the celebration of major and minor accomplishments. Lindsay has competed at the provincial and national level, in various sporting events and was the first ever recipient of the Special Olympics Canada Athlete Community Excellence Award, last November

COACH DEDICATION AWARD

David Calam – Regina – Lawn Bowling

Nominated by Bowls Saskatchewan 

  • Over his 31 years of dedication to coaching lawn bowling, David Calam has guided multiple athletes from their time as youth participants through to claiming national titles in adulthood. His ability to connect with and lead individuals has inspired athletes to explore coaching certification themselves, taking his patient demeanor as inspiration. David contributed to the accessibility of training opportunities by co-developing a clinic that was offered out of season to athletes, which has since become the Annual Development Clinic, in Saskatoon and Regina. In 2019, David received the Bowls Saskatchewan’s Award of Merit for his contributions to the sport of lawn bowling.
Denise Fernandez – Regina- Tennis

Nominated by Tennis Saskatchewan

  • Denise Fernandez has guided numerous players to achieve success on the international stage. Following work stints in the United States and Central America, Denise took the knowledge gained and applied it to her career in Saskatchewan. In 2010, one of Denise’s primary responsibilities was focusing on provincial developmental and high-performance junior development. Since, she has coached athletes to receive National Collegiate Athletics Association.  Apart from her time coaching, Denise prioritizes her own growth by attending workshops, such as the Women’s Tennis Association Coach Inclusion Program.
Carla Nicholls – Regina – Athletics

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

  • Carla Nicholls has made various contributions to the provincial and national athletics community during her 30 years involved in the sport. In 2004, Carla expanded the University of Regina’s track & field club into a permanent team and in the process, grew the program’s number of participants. She aided in the integration of Para athletics into Athletics Canada programming and continues to facilitate opportunities to bring Para athletics coaches together. In addition, Carla has attended the Olympic Games three times — Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 — as well as two Paralympic Games as Para Athletics Lead — Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Carla also lends her guidance as a mentor to other female coaches.