Saskatchewan Sport Awards

Athlete of the Year Finalists announced for upcoming Saskatchewan Sport Awards
Awards will also honour long-time coaches, officials and volunteers

An all-star lineup of athletes, teams and coaches are among the finalists for the Athlete of the Year awards at the upcoming Saskatchewan Sport Awards.

The annual program celebrates the success and dedication of those in the province’s amateur sport community. Nominees for the Athlete of the Year awards were submitted by Provincial Sport Organizations based on the accomplishments of athletes, teams and coaches in 2019. Recipients will be selected by a Sask Sport awards committee. They will be announced at a gala event in Saskatoon on March 26 that will also honour six long-time coaches, officials and volunteers with dedication awards.

“Saskatchewan is home to some incredibly talented and hardworking athletes, teams, coaches, officials and volunteers and we are excited to shine a spotlight on their accomplishments at the upcoming Saskatchewan Sport Awards,” said Kenric Exner, Volunteer Board Chair for Sask Sport, which serves as the provincial federation for amateur sport.

“All of these finalists and recipients are making meaningful contributions to sport. They are tremendous ambassadors for the province and serve as an inspiration for others to get active, participate in sport and pursue their dreams.”

Finalists for the seven Athlete of the Year awards are listed below. Select results and highlights from their 2019 competitions are available in the attached document.

Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Courtney Hufsmith

• Saskatoon • Athletics
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Keely Shaw 

• Saskatoon • Para Cycling
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Cycling Association

Krystal Shaw

• Regina • Para Swimming
• Nominated by Swim Saskatchewan

Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

Graeme Fish

• Moose Jaw • Speed skating
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Speed Skating Association

Jarret Kenke

• Saskatoon • Kayak
• Nominated by Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan

Payne Wylie

• Elstow • Athletics
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Team of the Year Finalists

Team Sask. U19 Men

• Water polo
• Nominated by Water Polo Saskatchewan

Saskatoon Valkyries 

• Saskatoon • Football
• Nominated by Football Saskatchewan

Coach of the Year Finalists

Eric Kramer 

• Saskatoon • Para Swimming
• Nominated by Swim Saskatchewan

Jason Reindl

• Saskatoon • Athletics
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Jeff Stusek

• Regina • Football
• Nominated by Football Saskatchewan

Youth Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Aida Lissel-DeCorby

• Saskatoon • Rowing
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Rowing Association

Lila Stewart

• Regina • Diving
• Nominated by Dive Sask

Savannah Sutherland

• Borden • Athletics
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

Youth Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

Colby Kosteniuk

• Regina • Special Olympics Swim
• Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan

Carson Lee

• Saskatoon • Wrestling
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association

Rylan Wiens

• Saskatoon • Diving
• Nominated by Dive Sask

Master Athlete of the Year Finalists

Laurie Meschishnick

• Saskatoon • Weightlifting
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Weightlifting Association

Team Syrota

• Wadena • Curling
• Nominated by CURLSASK

M. Vincent/I. English

• Regina • Canoeing
• Nominated by Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan

Coach, Official and Volunteer Dedication Awards

Coach Dedication Award Recipients

Russell Martin

• Grand Coulee • Softball
• Nominated by Softball Saskatchewan

Sherry Pasloski 

• Yorkton • Special Olympics
• Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan

Official Award Recipients

Dennis Rennie

• Saskatoon • Tennis
• Nominated by Tennis Saskatchewan

Deanna Rindal

• Prince Albert • Curling
• Nominated by CURLSASK

Volunteer Recognition Award Recipients

Margaret Auringer

• Maidstone • Figure Skating
• Nominated by Skate Canada Saskatchewan

Ken Trofimuk

• Prince Albert • Weightlifting
• Nominated by Saskatchewan Weightlifting Association

For more on the contributions of these coaches, officials and volunteers, see the document below.

• MORE: 2019 Saskatchewan Sport Awards Dedication Award Recipient Bios

Additional details about the Saskatchewan Sport Awards are available at sasksport.ca. Sask Sport would like to thank Global TV, its production and promotion partner for the Saskatchewan Sport Awards, and acknowledge Saskatchewan Lotteries, the main fundraiser for amateur sport in the province.