Athletes at Ponoka Secondary Campus (PSC) were recognized for their dedication to the sports they take part in.
A special athletics banquet was held June 12 with hundreds of PSC athletes acknowledged. For athletic director Paula Chapman, recognizing the students (all the way from Grade 7 to 12), is a positive way to encourage them to continue.
“At the junior high level it’s just getting the kids out and participating,” said Chapman.
“We have 60 kids that participated in just one sport, which is awesome because it means they are coming out.”
The awards night recognizes student athletes who participated in one, two, three and more sports and Chapman is pleased to see such heavy involvement of what she calls “multi-athletes.”
“To see this many kids out is fantastic,” said Chapman.
She estimates there are about 120 junior high kids in one or more sports at PSC, and in the senior high level she estimates about 75 kids. The student population at PSC is around 520 students, and for Chapman, the numbers tell a story of involvement.
Students also took time to thank coaches for their dedication to their teams. Chapman said that coaches being involved in athletes’ development is something the school appreciates.
When asked if she feels the school needs a booster club, Chapman stated a solid “yes.” There are donations from sponsors that come to the school, said Chapman, but she feels that additional funding will become more of a need.
“It costs a lot to play a sport now,” said Chapman.
Special recognition
Students were recognized for their special dedication with several awards.
Among them is the PSC Bronc and Athlete of the Year of Awards. Grades 7 to 9 athletes were recognized for the Bronc of the Year award while the Grades 10 to 12 received awards for both.
However, there was one student, Jared Bussiere in Grade 11 who had some major accomplishments this year in track and field.
At zones Bussiere won the aggregate for 3A boys in the pentathlon area. And then Bussiere’s 4x100 relay team won gold at zones. In the first week of June Bussiere then took on provincials in both areas.
“I won all of them (in the pentathlon) except for shot put,” said Bussiere of provincials, adding that the relay team landed a fourth place spot.
Bussiere still has another year of school left and he’s excited for what’s to come.