Talons honour top athletes
By RYAN MCCRACKEN on June 6, 2019.
NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Eagle Butte Talons Megan Kowalski and Triston Duchscherer stand with their athlete of the year awards at the school's annual athletic awards banquet on Wednesday at Medicine Hat Lodge. Duchscherer also won the Dave Rozdeba Memorial AAA Award.rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Triston Duchscherer and Megan Kowalski closed the book on their high school athletic careers with one final cheer from the crowd on Wednesday night at the Eagle Butte Talons’ annual athletic awards banquet.
The pair of Grade 12 athletes were named the school’s male and female athletes of the year to a rising chorus of applause from their family, friends, teammates and fellow students.
“It was a really good honour,” said Kowalski, who was also named most outstanding girls volleyball player and competed in softball this season. “I worked so hard to get here, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. They’re just the best people. They really helped me an encouraged me.”
“It was a great honour to just be on any of the sports teams,” added Duchscherer, who also earned the Dave Rozdeba Memorial AAA Award to close out the evening. “I just want to thank all my coaches, my fellow teammates, all my teachers and my parents, especially … if it weren’t for them pushing me every day I wouldn’t be able to be where I am right now.”
Duchscherer competed in football, basketball, badminton, rugby and track and field this season, earning MVP in basketball, badminton and rugby – to help solidify his place as the school’s top male athlete, but he says it all pales in comparison to earning the AAA Award – which celebrates athletics, academics and attitude – in memory of his late teacher Dave Rozdeba, who died of cancer in 2017.
“That is the biggest honour you could give me,” said Duchscherer, who will focus on his studies in the nursing program at Medicine Hat College in the fall. “I had Dave Rozdeba as a teacher in Grade 10 and he really helped humble myself. He was always asking me questions, always being on me. If it wasn’t for him I don’t think I would be here.”
Kowalski – who will compete for the Rattlers women’s volleyball team while studying at Medicine Hat College next year – added Eagle Butte’s dedicated staff of coaches were a catalyst in her development as a player.
“(They) just encouraged me to keep pushing to what I wanted and help me achieve my goals of getting to the college level,” she said, adding she built lasting relationships as a member of the Talons. “Meeting my two best friends was probably my best memory. I met them in Grade 10 playing volleyball actually. We’ve been best friends since then and I think we’re going to continue to be best friends after high school.”
Returning Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins kicked off the banquet by speaking to those in attendance about what it takes to succeed and the power of staying determined in the face of adversity.
Each team went on to name most outstanding athletes and Talon Pride Award winners – given to athletes who demonstrate a variety of traits including dedication, spirt, hard-work or selflessness. The school also announced special recognition honours for athletes of the year, the Dave Rozdeba Memorial Triple “A” Award the Spirit Award – given to Track and field athlete Kelsey Hamill – and the Team Academic Award, won by the Track and Field squad with an academic average of 86.3 per cent.
With roughly 50 per cent of Eagle Butte’s student population involved in sports at the school through various means, Duchscherer says it’s an unrivaled community where everyone feels like part of the same squad.
“Everywhere you go, you can talk about anything to anyone in any sport,” said Duchscherer. “They’ll always have tips to help you train, you’ll always have someone to go to the gym with.”
