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Great Yates the year’s top valley youth athlete
By Don Bodger – Cowichan News Leader Pictorial
Published: January 04, 2012 8:00 AM
Updated: January 08, 2012 9:53 AM

The top 20 Cowichan Valley Youth Athletes of the Year for 2011 will be a hard act to follow.

A multi-talented group involved in sports ranging from water skiing and triathlon to downhill mountain bike racing and judo was honoured during the Cowichan News Leader Pictorial’s annual awards luncheon Monday at the Duncan Meadows Golf Course.

Shawnigan Lake School’s Lizzie Yates, who enjoyed a phenomenal season as captain of the school’s senior girls’ field hockey team that won the provincial AA championship for the first time, was the Athlete of the Year winner.

“It’s incredible, it’s absolutely amazing,’’ she said after receiving her awards certificate and plaques from the News Leader Pictorial’s Don Bodger, who emceed the event, and Laird Carruthers.

The provincial title has been the carrot dangling at the end of the stick for Yates throughout much of her time at Shawnigan Lake School.

“It’s been a personal goal since I’ve been a part of Shawnigan. My dad teaches at Shawnigan, my sister went to Shawnigan so it’s been my own goal for a very long time.

“It became almost tangible once I hit Grade 9 and we had a core group of girls that knew we could do it. It was amazing.

“It’s been a fight, some good years and some bad years. But this season was definitely the season to win it and so winning it was the most amazing finish to a long, long goal.’’

Yates knew Shawnigan might be a team of destiny during its appearance at the UBC tournament after a 2-1 loss to Handsworth.

“We knew we made mistakes,’’ she said. “We came back the next game and we won. You know that feeling you’ve broken a barrier.’’

Shawnigan won that tournament and also the Friendship Cup that opened the season and the island AA title on its home turf en route to the provincial crown.

Yates exhibited a commitment to the team that went far beyond the call of duty. She factored prominently in the team’s attack on short corners, but always managed to be back in the Shawnigan end of the field to play relentless defence.

“I love playing the game,’’ said Yates. “The practices aren’t the best. It’s all worth it in the end.

“For field hockey, I’m doing some indoor field hockey currently. Next year, I’m hoping to do some university stuff. It’s not going away anytime soon.’’

Yates also had a long tenure in Metro soccer and will play one more season of school soccer for Shawnigan. She also still enjoys squash.

Yates received a hoodie from Island Runner as one of her prizes. All the top 20 athletes received gift bags, with items donated by numerous community sponsors.

The runner-up for Youth Athlete of the Year honours was Grade 11 Cowichan Secondary School student Maegan Kuruvita, whose national championship in her age and weight class highlighted an incredible wrestling season. She’s a tremendous role model for young girls coming up in the sport.

“It’s been really good,’’ said Kuruvita. “I got to train with a lot of really good wrestlers.’’

“I’m really proud of her to finish second in the valley,’’ said Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club coach Nick Zuback, who started Kuruvita on her path to greatness at Queen of Angels School.

“She is definitely helping our program become more mainstream. I want to thank her for her achievements because she is bringing more numbers in.’’

Kuruvita has a busy schedule coming up with an international tournament at Simon Fraser University and the Western age class and Port Alberni tournaments after that.

No. 3 Mitch Knippelberg just returned on Christmas Eve from Maui where the Cowichan Thunderbirds played in a basketball tournament.

“The teams are a lot smaller, but a lot faster,’’ Knippelberg said of the competition.

No. 4 Elise Wyatt just had enough time to attend the banquet before returning to Vancouver where she now goes to school and is a member of the Whitecaps’ women’s soccer residency program.

“It’s been very difficult to leave all my friends and go to a new school to actually be the new girl there,’’ said Wyatt. “But they’re very welcoming over there and I’ll obviously miss being with my mom and my brother and my family.’’

No. 5 Blake Torok-Both has long been a key player of the Cowichan Valley Football Association.

“We have probably the best organization I’ll ever see in a football association,’’ he said. “The guest speaker said teamwork and that’s a huge thing teamwork and I’m happy that I grew up playing here.’’

Ranked at No. 6 through 10, respectively, were: rower and rugby star Christy Scholten, golfer Cameron Davison, triathlete Maya Munzar, judo athlete George Lukas and multi-sport athlete Megan Groenendijk.

“Being selected makes me want to continue my training and work even harder to continually grow as an athlete, to reach the best I can be,’’ noted Scholten.

“Knowing that my perseverance and dedication has given me this opportunity, I feel that much more determined to continue to race at an elite level, not just in the Cowichan Valley, B.C. or Canada, but in the world,’’ noted Munzar.

“Awesome,’’ was Lukas’ response to being a top athlete.

Filling out the rest of the top 20 were: No. 11 Amanda LeSergent, No. 12 Samantha Jory, No. 13 Mark Wallace, No. 14 Sophie Cutt, No. 15 Tanner Dobson, No. 16 Steen Cooper, No. 17 Jolene Bull, No. 18 Morgan Rogers, No. 19 Kristal Lukas and No. 20 Jed Leech.

“It is great to be recognized among such talented people,’’ noted Cutt.

Dobson was also awarded the Olympic 24 Hour Fitness Club most inspirational athlete as voted on by the other members of the top 20.

Bull and Rogers both play on the same Duncan fastpitch team moving up to Midget A this season.

Water skier Leech was the lone Grade 10 student in the group.

Lost & Found!

Posted by Ali Baggott at Jan 10, 2012 9:28AM PST ( 0 Comments )
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Hi Everyone,

Please see the note below from Sharon White. Let’s do our best to make sure we keep the turf tidy and we get all of our belongings!

The Rebels have been cleaning up at the field this weekend – picking up lots of lost items. From Saturday, we have a small black umpire’s kit bag and silver water bottle. At the field tonight, we picked up two sticks, a pair of black “thinsulate” gloves (may be men’s?), and another silver water bottle.

We would love to get the stuff back to its rightful owners. Owners can contact me at sharonpw@shaw.ca .

Thanks,

Sharon White

Post Author Picture

VILFHA Second half of season begins!

Posted by Ali Baggott at Jan 3, 2012 12:20AM PST ( 0 Comments )

The second half of the VILFHA season will begin on January 7th, 2012:

at UVic:
9:30am Lynx 2 vs Blue Jays
11:00 am Lynx 3 vs Devils
12:30pm Sailors vs Demons
2:00pm Ravens vs Renegades

in Duncan:
11:00am Cardinals vs Swifts
12:30pm Stellers vs Kestrels

Have a look at the calendar on our teampages website (www.vilfha.ca) for an up to date schedule until March. All updates to the calendar will be posted with a note. Please check back frequently.

For questions/concerns please contact me:

alilee05@gmail.com

IGNITE: Athletic Development Program

Posted by Ali Baggott at Dec 8, 2011 6:49PM PST ( 0 Comments )
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An Athletic Development Program for Ages 12-17

To introduce young athletes to high performance lifestyle by improving their athleticism, physical literacy and fitness through a multi-sport training program which compliments their current sport specific practice and competition.

ATHLETE BENEFITS:
- Introduction to a High Performance Lifestyle
- Dedicated and experienced Coaches
- Exclusive Athlete to Coach ratio
- Improved overall athleticism
- Physical literacy and fitness
- Nutrition and Mental Readiness
- Two 1 hour strength and conditioning sessions per week
- One 90 minute balance and kinesthetic session per week

2012 WINTER PROGRAM
Applications now accepted for Winter Session (Jan 9-Mar 29) – 12 week program

DEADLINE:DEC 15, 2011
(only 20 applications accepted)

First 20 athletes receive a $510 scholarship

TO APPLY CLICK HERE: http://www.cscpacific.ca/content/PacificSportVanIsle/VIProgServ/AthletePrograms.asp

UVic Alumni Field Hockey Dinner

Posted by Ali Baggott at Dec 5, 2011 11:47AM PST ( 0 Comments )
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Attention all UVic Vikes Field Hockey Alumni & Friends,

The Vikes women’s field hocke alumni chapter would like to invite you to an informal dinner being held on Friday, January 20, 2012 in Victoria. We would also like you and all members of the field hockey community to come watch or participate in the UVic INDOOR Field Hockey Tournament being held January 21-22nd, 2012 at the Ian Stewart Complex Gymnasium at the University of Victoria.

ALUMNI DINNER:
When: Friday, Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $40.00
Location: Cucina Luca’s & Taphouse (3195 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC)
Registration Online at: alumni.uvic.ca/events/register
Registration Deadline: January 13, 2012

ALUMNI GAME – Current Vikes vs. UVic Alumni
When: Sat. Jan 21, 2012. 11:00am
Cost: FREE
Location: Ian Stewart Complex, UVic

For more information contact:
Ali Lee
250-686-5000
alilee05@gmail.com