WIIKWEMKOONG—There is always plenty to celebrate at the annual Wikwemikong High School Warriors Athletic Banquet, but with the school’s athletes toppling 17 records over the course of the year, the 17th edition of the banquet proved pretty special.
From the humble beginnings of one Grade 9 class when Wasse-Abin High School opened in 1997 and Jodi Nadjiwon and John Capin met with the North Shore Secondary School Athletic Association (NSSSA) to add the school to the association’s membership, through the formation of the school’s boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball teams the following year, just about every year has seen the programs grow.
“Over the past 16 years we have come a long way from competing with the bigger schools in the A division of NSSSA to the B division for smaller schools, which we helped to establish,” noted athletics coordinator Jillian Peltier in her opening remarks. “In 2007-2008 our boys made history and won both NSSSA volleyball and basketball championships and in 2008-2009 the boys won the school’s first Northern Ontario Secondary School Association (NOSSA) championships in both volleyball and basketball.”
In highlights for this year, Ms. Peltier noted that Delani Trudeau participated in the NOSSA golf championships, the girls’ volleyball team are NSSSA champions, the boys’ volleyball team are NSSSA champions, the boys’ basketball team are NSSSA champions, Ian Dokum and Mary Pangowish, Eileen Letander-Trudeau and Hannah Peltier participated in NOSSA badminton, Jasmyn Manitowabi-Pangowish, Novaleigh Peltier, Symone Peltier, Ian Dokum, Ferris Eshkawkogan and DJ Maiangowi participated at NOSSA track and field, and Symone Peltier participated at OFSAA track and field.
“It is clear that our small school has developed a strong athletics program over the last 17 years and all of our athletes should be proud to call themselves Warriors,” said Ms. Peltier. “We look forward to many more years of great experiences and wonderful memories.”
The Student-Athlete of the Year Award recognizes the need to find balance in their lives between their studies and athletics, noted Ms. Peltier. This year’s recipient was Annie Wemigwans, who participated on the girls’ basketball, volleyball and archery teams all while maintaining excellent marks.
The Female Athlete of the Year was Eileen Letander-Trudeau, who has been involved in athletics since she began high school. “Eileen is also a great role model for her teammates by consistently demonstrating great sportsmanship and leadership,” said Ms. Peltier.
The Male Athlete of the Year was Ian Dokum. Ms. Peltier noted that in the past it was very unusual for this award to go to a Grade 9 student, but that in recent year it has happened a couple of times. “Ian participated on many Warrior’s teams this year,” said Ms. Peltier. “Cross country, boys’ basketball, badminton and track and field. He represented our school very well at NSSSA, placing first in the 3,000 metre run and second in the 1,500 metre run. He also did really well at NOSSA track and field in Sudbury, placing third in all of Northern Ontario in both of those events.”
This was a year for breaking and setting records at the school. In midget girls’ Jasmyn Manitowabi-Pangowish set a record in the 100 metre sprint at 15.80 seconds (broke the record set in 2006 of 16.97 seconds); the 200 metre dash at 34.93 seconds; the high jump at 1.35 metres (broke the record from 2015 set at 1.28 metres). Novaleigh Peltier set a record for the 400 metre run at 1:27.70 seconds, and Anina Pangowish set a shot put mark at 7.41 metres (broke the record from 2002 set at 7.18 metres). In junior girls, Symone Peltier set a new mark for the 100 metre sprint at 16.11 seconds; the high jump at 1.45 metres (at OFSSA in Belleville); the long jump at 3.81 metres and triple jump at 7.43 metres. In senior girls, Harmony Rivers set the record for the 200 metre sprint at 33.88sec, the high jump at 1.30 metres (broke the record from 2010 set at 1.24 metres) and the long jump at 3.64 metres (broke record from 2010 set at 3.50 metres). In midget boys, Gabriel Trudeau set a new mark for the 100 metres sprint at 13.41sec; the 200 metre sprint at 27.42 metres and the long jump at 4.60 metres. Ian Dokum set a new mark for the 1,500 metre run at 5:15.65 seconds and the 3,000 metre run at 11:50.11 seconds. In senior boys, D.J. Maiangowi set a record for the 100 metre sprint at 13.28 seconds (broke the record from 2011 of 13.53 seconds) and the long jump with 5.14 metres (broke the record from 2015 of 4.53 metres).
MVPs for this year included: Delani Trudeau, golf; Ian Dokum, cross-country; Tessa Ominika, girls’ basketball; Noah Ominika, boys’ volleyball; Seneca Manitowabi, girls’ volleyball; Raymond Trudeau, boys’ basketball; Eileen Letander-Trudeau and Hannah Peltier, badminton; Symone Peltier and Ferris Eshkawkogan, track and field; DJ Miangowi, tennis and Reynold Assiniwe, archery.
Most Improved Player Awards went to Levi Morrison, golf; Geordan Lewis, cross-country; Jasmyn Manitowabi-Pangowis, girls’ basketball; Ferris Eshkawkoga, boys’ volleyball; Symone Peltier, girls’ basketball; Levi Morrison, boys’ basketball; Ian Dokum, badminton; Anina Pangowiah and Ian Dokum, track and field and Annie Wemigwans, archery.
The Most Sportsmanlike Athlete Awards went to Junior Girl Anina Pangowish and Junior Boy Elijah Bell, and Senior Girl Annie Wemigwans and Senior Boy Hawk Branth-Bondy.
Volunteer coaches this year included Samantha Cooper, Jacob Fox, Raymond and Sheila Madahbee, Jamie McCarville, Howie Mende, Marcel Recollet, John Stockman, Jason Thibault and Clifton Wassengeso.
