The future looks bright for the Foothills Composite High School’s Athletes of the Year, even if they never pin an opponent, throw a football or make another lay-up again.
The Grade 10 and 11 Male and Female Athletes of the Year have all put a priority on their academics as well as putting points on the board for the Foothills Composite Falcons.
Taylor Armsworthy, the Grade 10 Male Athlete of the Year, found out the hard way the importance of balancing the books, athletics and a personal life.
“I had my grades drop quite a bit at one point,” Armsworthy said after being honoured at the athletics awards banquet on June 6. “I went from about the high 80s and low 90s to about a 65, but I have been able to pick them up again.”
However, he said it wasn’t athletics that caused his grades to slip, but other distractions. Athletics is just another reason to attend the school he takes pride in.
“I played football and basketball,” said Armsworthy. “I was fortunate enough to start in the defensive backfield and I was the kicker.” Armsworthy was also the backup to starting quarterback Devan Karl — the Foothills Grade 11 Male Athlete of the Year. He’s a quality understudy as Armsworthy recently made the U-18 Team Alberta as a quarterback for the Canada Cup of Football this summer in Lethbridge.
Armsworthy proved to have a worthy arm as he led the Falcons to victory when Karl went down last year. However, he has no illusions about his role next season.
“Devan is a great quarterback,” Armsworthy said. “I have been working at playing slotback so I can possible take Kris’s (Stretton) place next year.”
Karl said it was a rollercoaster year for him athletically, however, he was able to keep his grades at the high 70s lows 80s. Karl played badminton and was on the Falcons’ 4x100m relay team in track as well as being the starting quarterback.
“We had a lot of ups-and-downs on the football team this year,” he said. “I thought we could have gone all the way (the Tier II provincial championship) but we just couldn’t get it done.”
However, he said being part of the Falcons’ football legacy is a highlight for him. His goal is to quarterback the Falcons to their fifth provincial title next year.
The Grade 10 Female Athlete of the Year, Cassidy Barnert, has followed in her brothers’ footsteps. All four brothers, Shane, Wes, Jeremiah and Blake Barnert were all provincial high school medallists in wrestling while attending Foothills Composite. Cassidy got her medal taken care of early by winning a silver medal at 61kg in her Grade 10 year.
“Winning the silver medal was a real highlight for me because of the tradition in our family,” Barnert said.
She said she would like to have some company next year. She admitted she is disappointed there aren’t more students giving wrestling a try. Next year, Foothills Composite will host the high school provincial wrestling championships.
Barnert was able to combine her wrestling while playing basketball with the Falcons’ JV team at the same time.
Barnert was also a member of the Falcons’ girls rugby team, which finished eighth at provincials on Saturday.
“Wrestling really helps my rugby,” Barnert said. “I have better endurance and wrestling really helps me with my tackling.”
Barnert has a 90 per cent average in her classes.
The Grade 11 Female Athlete of the Year didn’t let her smaller size stop her from being a power on the Falcons’ volleyball team or mixing it up on the rugby pitch.
“I was able to play power and also libero in volleyball,” Noelle Reboul said. “I like hitting the ball and I also like playing in the backcourt.”
She also isn’t afraid to push her weight around. Reboul was a steady tackler on the girls’ rugby team.
However, it was quarterbacking the Senior girls basketball team as a point guard she most enjoyed.
“I think the highlight for me this year was winning zones in basketball and going on to provincials,” she said.
Reboul, who is an honour student, plans to be back with the basketball team next year and is confident the team’s rebuilding program is on the right track.
The six nominees for the Grade 12 Athletes of the Year were also announced during the ceremony. The recipients will be announced at the Foothills Composite graduation ceremony on June 29 at the Centennial Arena.
They are: Grade 12 Female Athlete of the Year — Danielle Berns, Paige Marzinzik and Alex Williamson. Grade 12 Male Athlete of the Year — Landon Pitcher, Scott Sparrow and Kris Stretton.
Following are the recipients at the FCHS Athletic Awards banquet on June 6:
Football: Special teams player, Taylor Armsworthy; lineman junior, Brandon Stratton; lineman senior, Graham Trenholm; back fielder junior, Dallas Toso; back fielder senior, Trace McLellan-Eeles; most valuable junior, Devan Karl; and most valuable senior, Kris Stretton.
Cheerleading: Rookie of the year, Lara Marchuk; most improved, Krystal Foord; leadership, Michelle Durand; sportsmanship, Lauren Erdely; and most valuable cheerleader, Emily Sim.
Cross-country: Outstanding female, Rachel Baxter; and outstanding male, Tibor Van Den Wildenbergh.
Junior girls volleyball: Rookie of the year, Haley Jensen; most improved, Natasha Sergl; most inspirational, Brittany Whyte; and MVP, Sydney Osland.
Junior boys volleyball: Most improved, Brodie Rowland; most inspirational, Quinn Wilkie; and MVP, Taylor Orr.
Senior girls volleyball: Rookie of the year, Raegan Wolfe; most improved, Angie Okeynan; coach’s award, Hillary Cooling; and MVP, Danika McNeil-Willmont.
Senior boys volleyball: Most improved, Mackellar Wilkie; most inspirational, Jason Sorg; MVP, Kieran Read; and coach’s award, Landon Pitcher and Scott Sparrow.
Curling: Sportsmanship, Brett Jones; most valuable female, Kathleen Steele; and most valuable male, Kyle Morrison.
Junior girls basketball: Most improved, Ashlea St. Martin; coach’s award, Alyssa Sheen and Katie Richardson; and MVP, Dannica Robertson.
Junior boys basketball: Most improved, Ethan Carter; coach’s award, Taylor Armsworthy; and MVP, Kurtis Taylor.
Senior girls basketball: Rookie of the year, Courtney Fox; most improved, Danielle Berns; most inspirational, Noelle Reboul; and MVP, Amy Wooldridge.
Senior boys basketball: Rookie of the year, Ray Goff; most improved, Tyler Grigor; most inspirational, Joss Engen; and MVP, Ryan Derochie.
Wrestling: Coach’s award, Victoria Bergeron; and most valuable wrestler, Cassidy Barnert.
Badminton: Girls doubles, Alex Nikolova and Kylie Stokes; girls singles, Ashley Kakoschke; boys doubles, Brydan Carey and Braden Gelinas; boys singles, Cody McPeak; and mixed doubles, Ashley Kakoschke and Mike Clifford.
Golf: Most valuable male, Taner Parrington; and most valuable female, Kat Kennedy.
Track and field: Coaches award, Alex Ivan and Shelby Postelwaite; outstanding female, Amanda Carruthers; and outstanding male, Jake Brewster.
Girls rugby: Rookie of the year, Cassidy Barnert; most improved, Cassandra Watson; most valuable forward, Dani Slamko; most valuable back, Meg Wescott; and MVP, Morgan Schultz.
Boys rugby: Rookie of the year, Coulton Karch; most improved, Caleb deWaal; most valuable forward, Richard Kulhanek; most valuable back, Jack Graham; and coach’s award, Jeff Poffenroth.
Girls soccer: Rookie, Amanda Carruthers; most improved, Lucia Vajdova; and MVP, Leah Rettie.
Boys soccer: Rookie, Jared Nudd; most improved, Austin Lamb; and MVP, Zoltan Helli.
Athletes of the year honourable mentions: Grade 10 female, Kailea Buchholz and Katie Richardson; Grade 10 male, Ethan Carter and Shaedon Hawse; Grade 11 female, Angie Okeynan and Amy Wooldridge; and Grade 11 male, Dallas Toso and Joss Engen.
