SAIT Polytechnic’s Art O’Dwyer is the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) South Division Coach of the year, ending a nearly 30-year-old drought for the SAIT Trojans women’s volleyball program.
     O’Dwyer received the award Wednesday evening at the ACAC Women’s Volleyball Conference Championship banquet held in Red Deer, Alta.
     The win for O’Dwyer makes him the first Trojans women’s volleyball coach ever to earn the honour since the ACAC started handing out the award following the 1986/87 season.
     His fifth season on the sidelines for SAIT saw O’Dwyer’s team finish second place in the ACAC South Division with a 17-7 record — their highest win total ever. His team also cracked the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national rankings for the first time in the program’s history, reaching as high as No. 5 during the season.
     O’Dwyer was part of powerhouse generation of volleyball players from the valley, which included names such as Derek Wade, Glen Farmer, Kelly Colberg Bob Rosgen and Tony Rosgen, to name a few.
    Former coach Ian Jones said that in high school, Art was one of the best players in the province and went on to captain the University of Calgary squad.He also played on the junior national team.

    CBAC has had a great start to the season with 12 competitive swimmers and 10 non-competitive swimmers in Drumheller.
    Coaches Sheila Martin, Morgan Syvertsen and Rachelle Russell are very proud of the work ethic each athlete is showing and their accomplishments thus far.     
    Elite swimmers, Keely Martin and Arielle Dobell train 5 days a week with Keely travelling to Genesis Place in Airdrie twice a week to train. Arielle Dobell, Annika Lassen and Emily Martin also train in Airdrie once a week and the rest of the time join their Drumheller teammates swimming in the local Aquaplex.
    Annika Lassen and Arielle Dobell achieved their 13 & 14 year old provincial Meet Qualifying Times (MQT) respectively at the Lethbridge meet in late October. Annika also received a bronze medal and 2 provincial “B” times in Breaststroke in Lethbridge and a third provincial “B” time in November. Arielle achieved another MQT and a provincial “B” time in the grueling 400 meter Individual Medley (100 meters of each four strokes) at the U of C in November. Nathan Dobell and Alicia Christensen each took second place at the Wacky T-shirt meet in 50 meter Backstroke and 50 meter Breaststroke respectively.
    Emily Martin achieved her MQT in the 200 meter Individual Medley in December and her 400 meter Freestyle MQT this past weekend in Calgary. Ava Harrington, at only 9 years old, is exceeding all expectations this season. She went into the season with 10 & under MQT’s, achieved provincial “B” times in November and then two “A” times in December. So far she has taken home 4 first place finishes, 4 second place finishes, 1 third place and 6 top ten finishes! Keely Martin, 15, has achieved a provincial senior time in 50 meter Butterfly and will be attending the Speedo Alberta Open in Edmonton at the end of this month. Arielle, Annika and Emily will attend “B” provincials Feb. 19-21 and Ava will attend “A” provincials Mar. 4-6.
    Drumheller Head Coach Martin says “The Drumheller community should be proud of how these young athletes are representing our valley throughout the province”.