In a school with some of the most celebrated athletic alumni across the country, Zack Waldbauer and Tillie Heighington have captured Canmore Collegiate High School’s male and female athlete of the year awards.
The school celebrated its athletic success in a ceremony Tuesday (May 31) at the annual Knights of Honour evening at CCHS, honouring excellence, teamwork, commitment and togetherness on and off the field.
Considered one of the best football players in CCHS history, Waldbauer played four seasons with the Bow Valley Wolverines and was in the middle of most of the club’s big moments. A fierce competitor on the field, his coaches often looked to him for athletic brilliance when in need.
“It feels so great. All of that hard work I’ve put in over the past four years, it’s amazing,” Waldbauer said.
The 17 year old will study engineering in the fall at the University of Victoria, and said that may not have happened without sport in his life. He will try to make their varsity team in the fall.
“Football was a motivation. I did good in school, so they would let me play football. The less homework I had to do, the more I could play football. It was so much fun,” Waldbauer said.
Over the course of four seasons, Waldbauer emerged as a leader on the team, and said he took pride in acting as a role model for younger players.
“When you’re in Grade 9, you try and learn the game and look for leaders. As you get older, you need to do that – to be that leader. It feels good to be a leader on the field,” Waldbauer said. “My coaches really helped. Jeff Howatt helped me get through school and taught me so much on the field, Wade Buckley, Chad McLenaghan when he was here. They all helped.”
The multi-talented, self proclaimed team goofball Tillie Heighington took home top female athlete honours following a tremendous year of accomplishments. Heighington was named MVP of her volleyball, basketball and badminton teams to clinch top honours and was all smiles when called to accept her award.
“I guess I could say I owe everything to school sports. I made the majority of my friends there and I really blossomed as a person. School sports have helped me become the person I am today,” Heighington said.
Her coaches praised her skill and tenacity on the court, as she was a dependable member of every club she joined. But Heighington, who is off to study nursing at McGill University in the fall, said she simply saw herself as court jester, while her teammates were more like family.
“I’ve always been known as the team goofball the entire time I played sports. I’m really great at lifting the team up,” Heighington said. “I’ve not only learned to work under pressure, but my own emotions through sport. Having an emotional connection to sport can help immensely. Your team is your family and your family is your team.”
She praised her coaches, specifically volleyball coach Darren Anderson, for helping her through her sterling career, as well as her teammates and parents.
“(Anderson) has been such a supportive teacher and coach. My teammates – I have played with the same teammates my entire career, and it’s been incredible. My parents have been my biggest supporters – driving me and my teammates to every tournament they can. I can’t ask for better parents,” Heighington said.
Female Knight of Honour: Casie Stanton
Male Knight of Honour: DJ Herbert
Golf
Top male golfer: Matt Paley
Top female golfer: Amanda Graham
Cross-country running:
Top male runner: Ty Godfrey
Top female runner: Karly Coyne
Top junior male runner: Jack Menzies
Top junior female runner: Alison Gourlay
Girls soccer:
Player of the year: Journey Hames
MVP: Rachelle Labranche
Most improved: Abigayle Weatherhog
Football:
MVP: Zack Waldbauer
Offensive player: Luke Murphy
Defensive player: Max Ruane
Grade 9 girls volleyball
Shining Star award: Annika Belireau and Mikaela Holthuis
JV girls volleyball
Most improved player: Heather Booth
All around award: Melissa Grant
JV boys volleyball
MVP: Torin Young
Heart & hustle: Rilee Poffenroth
Sr. girls volleyball
MVP: Tillie Heightington
Heart and soul award: Christine Otto
Sr. boys volleyball
MVP: Ty Godfrey
Coaches award: Simon Yamamoto
Grade 9 boys basketball
MVP: Max Waldbauer
Coaches award: Elliot Jantz
Grade 9 girls basketball
MVP: Samantha Messier and Jennifer Booth.
JV girls basketball
Team unity award: Paige Anderson, Nana Fukumoto, Jazlyn Evans, Amanda Graham, Maya Baylis, Sophie Kuzik, Reegan Downer.
JV boys basketball:
MVP and leadership award: Geoff Otto
True Crusader award: Jordan Bean
Sr. boys basketball:
Team Player award: Jackson Howatt
Most Improved Player: Derek Gilbert
Sr. girls basketball
MVP Tillie Heightington
Coaches award: Christine Otto
Handball
Builder’s award: Casie Stanton & Tyler Samms
Badminton
Top male player: Noah Philp
Top female player: Tillie Heighington & Casie Stanton
Top junior player: Jennifer Booth
Boys soccer:
MVP: Matt Paley
Most improved player: Ryan Statham
Karl Albert memorial award: River Huchison-Brewster
Track and field
Top junior female: Fiona Messier
Top senior female: Sarah Price
Top junior male: Renon Mizuide
Top senior male: Sam Hendry
