Several people were recognized at the Horizon Central Athletic Association Spring Meeting on May 1, 2018, for their outstanding contributions to school athletics programs.

Joe Filson (Nokomis School), nominated by Travis Edwards

Joe Filson has been an important and energetic force behind school athletics over the course of his career in Raymore, Strasbourg, and Nokomis. Joe has coached many sports, including track and field, cross country, basketball, and volleyball. He has also served as athletic director in Strasbourg and Nokomis.

At present, Joe has been the driving force for a resurgence in athletics and fitness in Nokomis School. Despite some limitations in terms of facilities, Joe has not limited the programs offered in Nokomis, as he has either started or shown leadership in developing track, cross country, volleyball, and fitness in two short years in Nokomis, and makes sure to utilize the skating and curling rinks. As well, Joe officiates basketball and volleyball.

Joe has also been very adept over the course of his career in finding creative ways to fundraise for better equipment and team clothing in each school he has been at.

Joe left a legacy in Strasbourg in cross country and track & field. As Vice-Principal, he co-founded the Last Mountain Track and Field Club. Joe had a distinguished career as a track athlete at the University of Regina, and the school could see they had a very eager and talented group of young athletes ready for something big. Joe agreed, and although he was only with the club for one year, he served as a huge inspiration for the club, and his mentorship was a catalyst in bringing out some great accomplishments in the student-athletes.

It is for these reasons that Joe Filson is a deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.

Corey Biccum (Wakaw School)

Corey Biccum has been an integral part of athletics in Wakaw School for the past 15 years. He has coached numerous sports and dedicated countless hours to the development of student-athletes.

He is most well known in the volleyball world as he coached the sr. boys volleyball team in Wakaw from 2004 to 2017, winning multiple provincial medals along the way. Over the years he has also coached golf, curling, badminton, and jr. girls volleyball. Corey is also currently coaching club volleyball in Wakaw and has coached many other club teams in the past. He also dedicates his time to community events as he has played a major part in numerous fundraisers within the community of Wakaw.

Corey has been a positive role model in Wakaw School as he stresses respect and work ethic with his students and athletes. His vast knowledge, which comes from his wealth of experience, has played an important role in many students’ lives over the years.

Corey’s commitment and dedication to athletics over the last 15 years in Wakaw make him a worthy recipient of this award.

Lesley Otsig (Three Lakes School in Middle Lake)

Lesley Otsig has always been actively involved in the extra-curricular program at Three Lakes School in Middle Lake. She has coached many teams over her 15 years there. Currently she is the coach of the senior girls volleyball team as well as the co-ed grade 4-6 basketball team. She is also the teacher advisor for the school student leadership council (SLC).

Lesley’s enthusiasm for all students and their activities is contagious. She is forever promoting and pumping up the students and staff for any and all school activities, supporting the multiple activities her husband (school principal Trevor Otsig) and her children are involved in at the school, or by helping put on a pep rally, or by decorating a bulletin board for the week’s event. She always gives a 110% to everything she does. Whether coaching, officiating or volunteering as a parent (driving, organizing canteens, picking up supplies, etc.) you can always count on her.
For these reasons, Lesley is a very deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.

Ricky Block (Annaheim School)

Ricky Block began teaching in Annaheim School in 2001, and immediately began his involvement in high school athletics.

Ricky coached school volleyball, school badminton, school track, club volleyball, hockey, fastball, and school drama. He was involved with SADD, accompanied students to leadership conferences, and coached Saskatchewan Summer Games teams. He championed sports of every kind with passion and commitment, always encouraging students to take part and try their best, no matter what their ability. His enthusiasm for sport and his excitement for his students’ achievements were often indistinguishable. When Ricky wasn’t coaching, he was spending time on improving his coaching skills with either coaching courses or officiating upgrading.

Ricky was the best champion for students that anyone could hope for. Whether those students were on his own school team or on another school’s team, Ricky supported and inspired students to get involved in sports. He followed students’ in-school and out-of-school extra-curricular involvements and made a point of asking them how they made out in their games. Students could always tell that Ricky cared.

Every coach dedicates countless hours to school sport, and Ricky was no exception. The time spent coaching, planning, travelling, and scheduling for his own team was incredible. Add to that the many hours that he spent reffing basketball and volleyball, the numerous times that he hosted volleyball provincials so that his students could have that experience, his willingness to cover another teacher’s coaching duties when needed, and the hours he spent after hours at the school just so students could be active, and it is obvious that his contributions made an amazing impact. All of this was done with Ricky’s upbeat and positive smile and demeanor.

Ricky devoted countless hours and immeasurable energy to his students, giving them opportunities that they may not have had otherwise. He gave all that he had to others, as he supported students and division sports in general. And nothing made him beam with more pride than his own children.

Ricky Block has set an exemplary model of what a teacher and coach could be and his legacy will carry on for many years, impacting all of us that knew him. Ricky’s untimely death, doing what he loved, left a huge hole in our hearts. He will be dearly missed.

Lindi Stroeder (Lanigan Central High School)

Lindi Stroeder has put in countless hours the past few seasons for no other reason than caring about the students in the community. She is not a staff member at Lanigan High but still takes time away from her family and preparation time to help grow the girls volleyball program in the high school. She is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the game and has helped the girls move into a position where they can play competitively with any team in the province. She was the leading force behind bringing provincials to Lanigan last year and has shown the school, staff, community, and most importantly the students, that they can achieve great things if they choose to do the work.

As a mother of three, she has more than enough activities to fill her weeks but still somehow manages to run practice, organize a home tournament, and manage the team’s busy tournament travel schedule. She brings a very professional attitude to the sport and yet has the ability to connect with the students on a personal level that helps them grow not only as players but as young adults moving forward in their lives.

It is for these reasons that Lindi is a deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.

Ralph Viczko (Lake Lenore School)

Ralph Viczko has been at Lake Lenore School for 28 years and he has been the principal over the last ten years. Throughout his tenure, he has coached and managed many teams. He has been involved in senior boys volleyball, senior girls soccer, senior and junior badminton, junior basketball, and track & field in one form or another. He has acted as a head coach, an assistant coach, a manager, and a helping hand when needed. He has also been involved with the SRC and always helps with any event going on within the school such as drama, Christmas concerts, and variety nights.

As principal over the last number of years, he has been incredibly supportive of the athletics program. This support has directly influenced the success of the Lake Lenore teams over the last number of years. Ralph can be seen at all sporting events the school hosts – supervising, working the gate, working the concession, and simply supporting the teams as a fan. The students in Lake Lenore realize this and are appreciative of the support and time Ralph has given throughout his tenure at Lake Lenore School.

Ralph is always easy to approach, and is always willing to support and lend a helping hand. He believes in recognizing all students’ achievements and puts the students in Lake Lenore first.
It is for these reasons that Ralph is a deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.

Dale Hrytzak (Kelvington High School)

Dale Hrytzak has been a member of Kelvington High School for 30 years. During his time at KHS, he has held the position of classroom teacher, Principal, coach, and referee. He has been involved in coaching golf, curling, and volleyball, and in officiating volleyball and football.

Dale has been an avid supporter of athletics at Kelvington High School in many ways. He spent many years coaching junior volleyball in the beginning of his teaching career, and moved on from there to become an excellent volleyball referee. He later took on the role of both curling and golf coach and became a referee for both the boys tackle football program and the girls flag football program. One of Dale’s greatest contributions to athletics has been as a mentor for young officials. He is always willing to help guide students who are interested in the role of referee.

As an administrator, Dale has supported the student-athletes by both promoting the programs at KHS and supporting the coaches who work with those students. Dale also participates in intramural activities at Kelvington High School during noon hours which allows to him to actively engage with students in the area of athletics. Dale takes on the role of accounting for all of the funding for all school athletic programming in Kelvington, freeing up the coaches’ time to focus on the athletes themselves.

Dale’s influence on athletics in the town of Kelvington has exceeded the boundaries of Horizon athletics. Dale has also been a minor hockey referee in Kelvington and various other communities.

Dale Hrytzak is a very deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.

Erin Bernhard (St. Brieux School)

Erin is a teacher and coach and is the athletic director for St. Brieux School. Erin has had a great 2017/2018 school year – she was the head coach of the cross-country program which had over 50 participants and sent seven athletes to provincials. Erin was also in charge of hosting the HCAA cross country pre-district and district championships. Both of these events went over incredibly well and the success was greatly due to Erin’s organization and attention to detail.

Shortly after the cross country season, Erin then took on the assistant coaching role with the senior boys basketball team. Erin was an integral part of the team, attending 10 out of town tournaments and helping to host two tournaments and a Regional championship. The boys went on to have an incredible season, finishing with a 31-3 record, a Conference championship, regional Championship, and a Provincial championship. More importantly, Erin helped instill a culture of teamwork, respect, and class. Erin was a very important part of all that success and it would not have happened without her help.

Erin is currently planning the track and field season where she will be the head coach of another very successful program with a very high participation rate.

Erin Bernhard represents what the HCAA and SHSAA stand for. She offers competitive, all-inclusive programming that teaches young athletes to be successful on and off the competitive stage. She has an infectious attitude toward sport and this attitude rubs off on her athletes. She has high expectations of her athletes and they respect her for it. Erin does all of this while being a dedicated teacher, athletic director, and caring for three young children.

It is for these reasons that Erin Bernhard is a deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.

Tyler Bieber (Humboldt Collegiate)

From a young age, Tyler Bieber was enthralled by sports. This passion was strengthened when he attended Humboldt Collegiate, where he served as one of the equipment managers, trainers, and statisticians for the Mohawk football team. Never complaining, hard-working and dedicated, he carried out his duties in August heat and November cold. Tyler was always prepared. The players and coaches appreciated the efforts and accepted Tyler as part of the team.

When Tyler moved back to Humboldt in 2014 he became a Mohawk once again. He volunteered to co-coach the girls flag football team and also co-coached the last three seasons of Mohawk basketball, the first at the junior level and the last two with the senior boys.

Mohawk tackle football was his passion. For the last three years, he volunteered to be the Mohawks receivers coach. He was dedicated and trustworthy. The players loved him. He made everyone better - he built players up and he built the coaches up. He was the first to come, the last to leave.

Tyler volunteered at the Kelly Bates Football Camp since its inception several years ago. He also coached at the Senior Bowl at the provincial level and was soon set to coach three times a week at the Saskatoon Minor Football Academy.

When Tyler was asked to be the Humboldt Bronco play-by-play announcer at the beginning of this hockey season, he hesitated. He was concerned that it would interfere with his volunteer coaching at HCI. His station manager was able to work around Tyler’s busy volunteer schedule and hire alternate announcers when Tyler was busy with HCI athletics.

Tyler was very thorough in reporting of Horizon School Division athletic events. His Bolt FM morning sports reports always included upcoming division events, junior and senior results, and coverage at the district and provincial level. Tyler could be counted on to deliver up to date, accurate news.

Tyler also volunteered at the community level, serving as vice president for the Humboldt Flag Football League. He also volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters and was helping that organization set up a new program which uses the role of mentors to help boost self-confidence, self-esteem, and an active and healthy lifestyle for boys age 11 to 14.

Tyler was taken from us in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. There is no doubt that Tyler’s spirit and effort will be dearly missed by Horizon School Division athletics, HCI, and our entire community.

Tyler’s passion and selflessness in giving back to his school and community make him a most deserving recipient of the HCAA Recognition Award.