It’s going to take something monumental to knock the Eagles off their provincial perch.
The Edison School Eagles extended their remarkable run of success at the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Provincial Badminton Championships with a 12th straight 1A banner in the team event on Saturday at Edmonton’s Saville Centre.
“Everyone expects us to win and when we do win it feels good,” said Aniket Korotane, a Grade 11 student. “If we did lose the banner one year, it would be devastating, it would be embarrassing as well, like we let the school down in some way.
“And I think that pressure drives everyone in the school, other school’s respect us for winning the banner so many times.”
Edison had 10 athletes contribute to the team banner in which each win in both singles and doubles matches accumulates points. The Eagles’ 38 points were 26 more than their next closest competition at the 1A level.
“It means a lot,” said Edison Grade 11 student Saffi Malmqvist-Lund said. “I think we’re all pretty proud that we won the banner and it just feels good because we all had to work together to win it.”
Four doubles teams and two singles competitors, Eugene Sun and Shamiksha Sahoo, made up the Eagles contingent in Edmonton.
“This was my first year going to provincials and it was pretty exciting,” said Sahoo, a Grade 10 student. “When I train, I don’t get to play with people that are ranked top-10 in Alberta, so it was playing against new people.
“My coach Mr. (Billy) Gilliland, he told me I was playing even more skilled than I was during training. Having better competition, I could feel myself trying new shots that I wouldn’t try against someone easier.”
Korotane and Malmqvist-Lund teamed up in the intermediate mixed doubles, posting two wins in four matches. The other teams included Efe Koksal and Ben Zwanepoel, in intermediate boys doubles, Ata Koksal and Edgar Skliarov in junior boys doubles along with Lauren Maheux and Jasmine Toukabri in junior girls doubles.
“Last year, I played singles and this year wanted to try something new, so I played mix,” said Malmqvist-Lund. “It was a lot of fun, I enjoyed playing with a partner on the court and enjoyed that it was a different kind of competition than playing singles.
“It was a different kind of game style in general and we had good competition.”
“It was educational,” added Efe Koksal, a Grade 11 student. “There was good competition, there was a lot of people, new faces, and making new friends. There were hard games.”
Edison wasn’t the only Okotoks area school to come home with a banner in hand.
The Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School Spartans earned their second straight 2A banner with 20 points won in the team event, two ahead of second place Kate Andrews.
Avinash Murthy, Isabelle Rutz, Michael Liu, Kadam Veer and Amy Ding all competed in singles events and contributed points to the team event.
Individually, Okotoks also earned silverware.
The Holy Trinity Academy Knights’ Grade 12 team of Sam Stadnyk and Jacques Henning won bronze in the senior boys doubles event.
The duo posted a 5-1 record at provincials and came from behind to win a three-set thriller in the bronze medal final over the Nelson Mandela High School squad.
In the junior mixed doubles event, HTA’s Grade 10 team of Sarah Joy and Ian Henning advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 2-2 record in Edmonton.
High River’s Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves also had a strong showing.
France Sancio won bronze in the junior boys singles event with the Grade 12 team of Johan Estrada and Gracyn Sekura posting a 2-2 record in the senior mixed doubles.
Scholar Athlete Award – Awarded to all eligible student-athletes – Recognizes student-athletes who have achieved both academic & athletic success – Student-athletes receive a commemorative Scholar Athlete Certificate. – Three-peat Scholar Athlete recipients also awarded special graduating Scholar Athlete Pin. Nominate: https://ssnl.online/Scholar-Athlete-Award
Brother G.I. Moore Student Athlete of the Year Awards – Awarded to one Male and one Female student-athlete for each classification (A/2A/3A/4A) – Recognizes student-athletes who uphold the ideals of sportsmanship and demonstrate well-rounded athletic proficiency, and excellence in their high school sports career – Recipients each receive $500 Scholarship Nominate: https://ssnl.online/Student-Athlete-of-the-Year
Student Athletic Program Volunteer of the Year
Student Athletic Program Volunteer of the Year – Awarded to one Male and one Female student-volunteer – Recognizes those who have played a vital role in supporting SSNL athletic programs in their school. – Recipients each receive $500 Scholarship Nominate: https://ssnl.online/Student-Volunteer-Award
Varsity Coaching Service Awards
Varsity Coaching Service Award: – Awarded to Coaches with long history of involvement in SSNL Varsity – Recognizes Coaches who have a strong developmental program in their school, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to the total development of the student-athletes in his/her program. – Coaches who have coached SSNL for 25+ years automatically eligible Nominate: https://ssnl.online/Coaching-Service-Award
DEADLINE FOR ALL: Thursday, June 1st!
Varsity Regional Recognition Award
Varsity Regional Recognition Award: – Awarded to one individual from each of SSNL’s 11 Varsity Regions – Recipient has made a significant contribution to SSNL Varsity school sport over 5+ years OR have made a single outstanding contribution. – Recipient could be a coach, convenor, official or administrator Nominate: https://ssnl.online/Varsity-Regional-Recognition-Award
Burnaby, BC – BC School Sports is pleased to announce the 2024 BCSS Award winners recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication to fostering student-athletes in their pursuit of sport excellence.
These awards aim to honour those whose tireless efforts behind the scenes contribute significantly to the growth, development, and success of student-athletes, both onand off the field of play.
BCSS Executive Director, Jordan Abney said “It is such a privilege to celebrate these incredible individuals. They have dedicated so much to supporting school sports and changing the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of student-athletes. They are truly the very best of the school sport community.”
The Awards Ceremony will take place on May 10th in Kelowna, where recipients will be honoured for their exceptional contributions. BC School Sports extends its congratulations to all the 2024 award winners who have played a part in supporting student-athletes on their journey.
The Honour Award is the highest form of distinction BCSS can bestow upon an individual. This award is presented to an individual in recognition of a lifetime of service to school sports. The recipient is an individual who has demonstrated prolonged and distinguished service to BC School Sports, their zone, local association, and school. This person has made a significant difference to BCSS and the impact it has on the lives of student-athletes and our member schools.
Honour Award: Paul Thiessen (Okanagan Mission Secondary, Kelowna, BC)
The Women in Sport & Leadership Award is to recognize the service and leadership of women in school sports. The recipient is a role model to colleagues and student athletes alike. The recipient has made a tangible impact on school sport and has demonstrated commitment to their student-athletes, their school, and their sport.
Women in Sport & Leadership: Breanne Quist (Nanaimo Christian School)
The Media Person of the Year recognizes an individual in the media who has highlighted and celebrated school sport in their reporting. The nominee has continued to bring attention to BCSS, its member schools and student-athletes by showcasing the very best of school sport in BC. The recipient may be employed by traditional media outlets, but those who use blogs, social media, podcasts, or other emerging platforms to consistently promote school sports may be considered.
Media Person of the Year Award: Mark Booth (Delta Optimist)
The Inspirational School recognizes a school whose special commitment to improving the lives of student-athletes and staff through leadership and public service. This school has contributed significantly to the welfare of school athletics and the local community.
The Citation of Excellence in Coaching recognizes outstanding coaches and their distinguished contributions to their sport and athletes. The recipient of this award guides student-athletes to success through the philosophy of fair play and sportsmanship for a sustained period, while displaying values consistent with BCSS and school sport.
Citation of Excellence Award – Coach
Al Carmichael (Oak Bay Secondary)
Shon Ryan (Claremont Secondary)
Rob Gunning (Penticton Secondary)
Adele Renzullo (St. Patrick Regional Secondary)
The Citation of Excellence Award in Administration recognizes the invaluable contributions from administrators to school sport. The recipient has shown demonstrable leadership and sustainable support to athletic programs, athletic directors and coaches while contributing to the promotion and enhancement of athletic programs and the student-athlete experience at the school and/or district level.
Citation of Excellence Award – Administrator Mike Finch (Sentinel Secondary)
The Citation of Excellence Award in Officiating recognizes outstanding individuals and their distinguished contributions to the officiating of school sport. The recipient of this award has demonstrated outstanding commitment to school sport, being recognized as a quality official, while displaying the values of BCSS and fair play.
Citation of Excellence Award – Official
Wayne Steele (Football)
John Mill (Basketball)
The Citation of Excellence as an Athletic Director recognizes the outstanding individuals for excellence as an athletic director and the hard work and dedication shown to improve the student-athlete experience, enhance the school’s athletic program, and build the school community at large. The Athletic Director leads by example and consistently demonstrates the values of their school and BC School Sports while finding new creative ways to support their coaches and student-athletes.
Brother G.I. Moore Student-Athlete of the Year
