Well-known athletes from the Saskatchewan Rush lacrosse team were chosen to present the 2020 annual awards from the Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association, and several Weyburn players and athletes were highlighted on social media during the awards presentations.
The inaugural Junior Coach of the Year Award was presented to Hunter Willoughby, from Radville, who was one of the many coach nominations made by the Weyburn Lacrosse Association.
In the nomination package, Willoughby’s commitment to growing the game of lacrosse in the community was recognized. He has coached all age groups and offered a valuable hand in running Try Lacrosse nights in Radville. He had also promoted the sport and was a fantastic role model for young athletes.
Willoughby recruited a handful of players from Radville to the Weyburn Lacrosse Association and continues to include them in all of the activities. He has a great attitude at every practice and ensures to provide opportunity for all the athletes that he coaches.
Other nominees for Junior Coach of the Year included: Sawyer Leko, for his passion for the sport and his willingness to do what it takes to improve everyone around him; Ryder Hignett, for the work he puts into growing the game within the community; Matt Charlton, for his ability to relate to any young athlete on the field; Jessica Benning, because of her ability to work with athletes at all ages of the game; Jack Missal, because of the positive influence he played while working with athletes; Alex Labrecque, for his dedication to the sport of lacrosse.
The Minor Female Athlete of the Year Award was presented to Callie Dammann, who has been playing lacrosse since last summer. The 13-year old, Grade 8 student, first got interested in the game when she saw her brother Jake play, and thought that she should try out for the game.
“It was an opportunity for field lacrosse, which is less contact. I got comfortable playing it,” said Callie. “I really like playing scrimmages, and being supported by my teammates and coaches.”
Callie had an immediate impact on the field, and pushed those around her to compete at a higher level. She was quick to pick up on the sport and did not shy away from the physical nature of the game. One of the most important roles Callie played was being a role model to younger female athletes.
Callie was very excited and surprised to learn that she had won the Minor Female Athlete of the Year Award, saying: “I was not expecting it.”
Jep Furgason was the nominee from the Weyburn Lacrosse Association for the Minor Male Athlete of the Year Award. The seven-year old, Grade 2 student, has been playing lacrosse every since he was four years old.
His father Mike explained that Chase, Jep’s older brother, was already playing lacrosse when there was an age group opportunity to include Jep in the sport.
Jep really likes playing “British Bull Dog, and getting to shoot into the net.”
He is one of the hardest working, confident young athletes of the Weyburn Lacrosse Association. Even with a shorter season due to COVID-19, Jep was still found in the community practicing lacrosse day in and day out.
He gets along well with his teammates and coaches, with Mike adding that Jep really likes out running the coaches during practice. “We are very proud of his hard work, and that he has wanted to learn new things.”
“The coaches have really helped me learn how easy it is to play,” said Jep.
Randy Labrecque was nominated as the 2020 Volunteer of the Year award, because of the overwhelming amount of time, support, energy and passion that he has given back to the sport of lacrosse, and to the community. In his role as president of the association, Randy has also taken on the marketing role for the Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association, and recently built an All-Sports Training Facility in Weyburn.
On top of all of this, Randy led the Weyburn Lacrosse Association through a difficult time and helped handle the COVID-19 regulations, and as a result the Weyburn Association continued to see growth in their program.
Finally, Prairie Sky Co-op won the 2020 Sponsor of the Year award from the Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association. Prairie Sky Co-op had tremendous support through out 2020 of the programs offered by the Weyburn Lacrosse Association.
Starting early in 2020, the Weyburn Lacrosse Association started a program for athletes ages three to eight years old to introduce lacrosse and continue their player development. Prairie Sky Co-op approached the association to see if they could extend the program, and with that offer the Little Thrashers Academy and an Intro Stick Program was created in the community.
The Little Thrashers Academy is now fully equipped with child specific, safe, proper lacrosse equipment including mini sticks so that players can go anywhere and to play lacrosse with little athletes to grow the game.
