Sports | DrumhellerMail

St. Anthony’s awards top athletes

    Athletes and St. Anthony’s School were recognized for another great year this week.
   On Monday, June 10, students were awarded for the various sports at the school and the school’s top athletes were named.
   The Senior High Male Athlete of the Year was awarded to Grade 12 student Tanner Borowicz. Borowicz played on the senior boys Sabres, where he led the team in points, and on the Drumheller Titans.
   Stephanie Hirsch, a Grade 11 student, was named the Senior High Female Athlete of the Year. Hirsch was recognized for her physicality in basketball and volleyball, and, most importantly, the leadership and passion she brings to the court.
   The Junior High Athletes of the Year were awarded to Riley Gaudet and Rachel Graf for their athletic prowess and leadership they bring.
   Megan Boland was recognized as the Saint of the Year and Issa Montoya was named the Sabre of the Year.
   In addition to being awarded, students were able to learn some valuable life lessons from one of St. Anthony’s most accomplished alumni.
   Andrew Poznikoff, son of Dr. Kenneth Poznikoff and Karen Almquist Silverberg, was the keynote speaker for the awards, speaking about setting goals and how to pursue them, and shared the story of his career in swimming.
   He attended St. Anthony’s School from Kindergarten to Grade 11.
   “It’s great. Coming back is so nostalgic. There are a lot of differences. Drumheller has changed so much since I was last here, like this new facility is great,” said Andrew.
   “To have a life of impact is something that’s always been a desire of mine. It’s been a long journey and something I want to pursue more is to start using my accomplishments to make an impact on others. I love talking to younger athletes. If they have a dream and a vision, it’s really encouraging to be able to help them out.”
   Andrew began swimming with the Aquadinnies when he was seven. By age 10, he had received numerous provincial qualifying times and 10 Aquadinnies club records.
   By Grade 10, after pressure from his friends, he dropped out of swimming. It wouldn’t be until college when he began to swim again. In 2007, he received an athletic scholarship from Simon Fraser University, which renewed his passion for swimming.
   Since then, he has competed in a number of international competitions, such as the 2010 and 2011 World Cup Series, and 2012 World Championships. In addition, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
   Some students took his message to heart, such as junior high student Shawn MacTaggart who took some time to speak to Andrew afterwards.
   “I just really wanted to talk with him about how his speech really motivated me to consider options between what I do now and high school sports, but also consider what I do past that and putting a goal inside my mind and actually doing something beyond that and maybe make a living off of it,” said MacTaggart.
    Pick up later editions of The Drumheller Mail and inSide Drumheller for more award photos from the 2012/2013 St. Anthony’s Athletic Awards.

Celeste Shrock (left) presented the Senior High Athlete of the Year awards to Tanner Borowicz and Stephanie Hirsch. Each were tough, physical players, but also demonstrated exceptional leadership and passion.

Celeste Shrock presented the Junior High Athlete of the Year Awards to Riley Gaudet and Rachel Graf, who demonstrated all the qualities of exceptional athletes.

Drumheller native Andrew Poznikoff shared his experiences with swimming in the keynote talk at the St. Anthony’s Athletic Awards. to help inspire students to set goals and achieve them.

Top 10 per cent world championship finish for Drumheller pool player

    Drumheller resident Shawn Bulechowsky is hoping to do better next time he heads down to Las Vegas.
   On May 23, Bulechowsky and his pool team headed to Vegas to compete in the VNEA 2013 Vegas World Championships. Roughly 700 teams from across the world competed. Bulechowsky and his team placed 65th overall.
   Though they were in the top 10 per cent overall, Bulechowsky was hoping to do better.
   “We didn’t have two of our regular players, so we had to pick up a couple,” said Bulechowsky. “If we had our regular team, I think we would have been in the top ten. I was shooting well, Shane shot well, and our captain shot well.”
   Bulechowsky is hoping to post a stronger finish when he heads down to Vegas again on July 17 for the BCA Pool League National Championships. There are a few changes he needs to make to his game before he shoots.

Drumheller resident Shawn Bulechowsky had a chance to meet boxing legend Mike Tyson while in Las Vegas, where he was competing in the 2013 VNEA pool championships. Bulechowky’s team finished in 65th place overall out of roughly 700 teams. He hopes to go back to Vegas for the BCA pool championships on July 17.

   “I might go back again this year on July 17. It’s a BCA tournament, which is what most teams in Drumheller play,” said Bulechowsky. “There are a couple rule changes. The VNEA tables have a little bigger pockets compared to the BCA tables and the rails are faster. Once you go from these tables (in Drumheller) to tables in Vegas, if you’re trying to be competitive, you’re weight is going to be off each time until you get used to the tables.”
   The biggest highlight of the trip was a chance to meet and talk with one of boxing’s biggest names.
   “After we were done, we went over to Caesar’s Palace and Mike Tyson was there signing autographs. I bought a robe and asked him to sign it,” said Bulechowsky. “I gave him a big hug, shook his hand, and left.”

Marathon effort raises $680 for arthritis

    A local runner made good time and a great donation to the Alberta Arthritis Society.
   Sam Brown, 15, participated in the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon on May 26. Of 12,000 runners, he came in at 193rd place, and second in the under 20 category with a time of 3:35:23.80, his best.
   He said it was a thrilling race and in fact, he was able to listen to Benard Onsare, the two-time winner of the event, speak, as well as Olympic triathlete, Simon Whitfield. He was even able to run with them.

Sam Brown raised $680, and counting, at the Calgary Marathon for the Alberta Arthritis Society. The folks at the local Scotiabank branch helped him collect the funds. Pictured are (l-r) Patti Rische, Sam Brown, Paula Sutherland and Angie Gill.

The marathon is a charity race and overall this year it raised $930,000. Sam’s part was a $680-plus donation to the Alberta Arthritis Society. The charity is meaningful to him, as he knows a number of people who are dealing with arthritis. The Scotiabank branch in Drumheller was supportive of his race and helped to collect pledges.
Brown will be on track this weekend at the Dinosaur Festival Triathlon. This summer, he is also planning to compete in a half Ironman race in Fort McLeod, a 10k race in Taber, and of course the Dinosaur Half.

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