WIIKWEMKOONG—The student athletes of Wiikwemkoong High School, the Warriors, have had a very successful year competing in sports across the province. On Wednesday, June 11, students and coaches gathered in the school cafeteria for the 25th Warriors Athletics Banquet.
“It has been 25 years, which is amazing because I remember a lot of these things from these photos over here that were a really long time ago,” said master of ceremonies Jillian Peltier, athletic director for those 25 years. “That just speaks to how much of an impact athletics can have on a person’s life. Being a coach, being a player taking part in athletics, is a really amazing thing and we wouldn’t be here tonight if it wasn’t for all of you for taking part in our school team.”
“We wouldn’t be able to travel and participate on school teams if we didn’t have parents getting up at five, six, seven am to drive their kids to school to get on the bus” she added.
“Also, thanks to your coaches, you guys can give us all a pat on our back and say thanks for coaching, because again, we wouldn’t be here without the volunteer also coaches getting up at five, six, seven am and getting on the bus with you guys traveling all day.”
“This year has been a really good year,” said Ms. Peltier. “We’ve rebuilt since COVID, when we didn’t have teams because we weren’t allowed to travel. We weren’t allowed to come into the school for years. But this year, we finally have it back on track, which is amazing. And there were a lot of big things that happened this year in the program.”
Student-athlete of the Year Awards went to Mikayla Denis-Servant for female and Carmine Wemigwans for male. Ms. Pelletier explained that the awards are named “student-athlete’ to reflect the importance of scholarship as well as athleticism.
Most valuable player awards went to Trinity Cheechoo for golf; Mila Odjig for cross-country; Lena Trudeau for girls’ basketball, Carmine Wemigwans for boys’ volleyball; Cassidy Peltier for girls’ volleyball; Nicho Simmons for boys’ basketball; Clytie Mishibinijima for badminton; and Mile Odjig for track and field.
Most improved player awards went to Clytie Mishibinijima for girls’ basketball; Adrian Katt for boys’ volleyball; Baybee Bryant for girls’ volleyball; Zander Shawongonabe for boys’ basketball; Gian Dube for badminton; and Tryton Kanasawe for track and field.
Most sportsmanlike awards went to junior girl Mila Odjig and junior boy Javier Salas-Cooper and to senior girl Mikayla Denis-Servant and senior boy Zander Shawanogonabe.
Special mention went to coaches Cameryn Beaudry, John Capin, Candace Cheechoo, Stephanie Mandamin, Chris Mara, Will Osawabine, Jillian Peltier and TJ Wabegijig, and especially to driver Larry Lecappelain (“who always made sure we arrived at our games safely”).
The award ceremony was preceded by a feast.
