The Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate (SSSAD) honoured coaches, officials and other supporters of high school athletics from across the city at the 2018 Coaches Appreciation Luncheon Monday afternoon.
Hundreds of local coaches, alumni, staff and supporters of high school sports gathered at the Gordie Howe Centre for the celebration.
Five people received the coaching merit award, which goes to those who have spent 20 sport seasons or 15 years coaching and are retiring. They included, Patti Rowley, Larry Hounjet, Mark Andrews, Mark Loehndorf and Dorothy Van Hof’t.
Johnny Marciniuk was awarded the service excellence award for his contribution to Saskatoon athletic programs, in areas other than coaching.
The Mantyka Family was given a service award for the work on the football yardstick crew throughout the year, while Al Jeffrey received the same award for his work on football game film.
The Saskatoon High School Athletic Association (SHSAA) award for service was given to Andrews, making it his second award of the day.
The SHSAA outstanding male coach award was handed to Terry Graham.
“It’s a real honour, I didn’t really expect anything like that. My phys-ed teacher asked me to write down all of the seasons I’ve coached volleyball and all of the other sports, so I did that and then he just told me I won an award,” Graham said.
Over the past year he coached the senior boys’ volleyball team, junior badminton team and track at Saskatoon Christian School. Graham has been coaching for the past 40 years.
His highlight from the past year was making it to quarter finals with the volleyball team, and he is hopeful the team will win a medal next season.
The outstanding female coach award went to Theresa Brossart, the girls’ soccer coach at Bedford Road.
“I’m very kind of astounded, I feel that I haven’t put enough time in yet. So definitely very thankful for the nomination,” Brossart said.
“I’m very honoured, you know it means a lot to me to be nominated from your peers and your colleagues,” she added.
Over the past year, she said a highlight for her was the team making it to third place and seeing the growth of the team.
Brossart has been coaching for eight years.
Both coaches agree that the connections they have been able to form have been one of the best parts of their careers.
“Just the relationships, coming here and seeing a number of your students who are now teachers and being able to visit with them,” Graham said.
“I would say the collegiality with colleagues, I think you get a very different experience than if you don’t coach and also the relationships with the kids. You get to see them in a different light and it’s just so wonderful,” Brossart said.
Murray Taylor won the SHSAA award for outstanding official for his work in football.
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