Shakespeare sports banquet celebrates youth athletes

The U17 Shakespeare Falcons Tier II Girls team capped off a successful season with tournament wins and multiple medals, showing how hard work and dedication lead to success both on and off the diamond. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Last week was a big day for young athletes in Shakespeare who spent the summer playing the sports they love.

The annual Shakespeare Community Athletic Association (SCAA) Sports Awards Banquet was held at the Shakespeare Optimist Hall, honouring 287 local kids who played soccer and ball this season. Many of the youngest athletes took part in “Learn to Play” teams.

Coaches and parents agreed the season brought out the best in sportsmanship and performance at the Shakespeare Ball Park and at diamonds and fields across southwestern Ontario.

Team awards for Most Sportsmanlike (MS) and Most Improved (MI) were presented as follows:

Soccer teams

• U7: Levi Gautreau (MS), Taylor Gauler (MI)

• U9: Boden Yantzi (MS), Carly Swain (MI)

• U11: Emily Swain (MS), Havily Yantzi (MI)

Ball teams

• U7 Team 2: Axel Lebold (MS), Brooklyn Harper (MI)

• U9 Girls: Acadia Hobson (MS), Adelyn McDermid-Blakely (MI)

• U9 Boys: Carter Kuchma (MS), Jed Lebold (MI)

• U11 Girls: Natalie Kuchma (MS), Sadie Lange (MI)

• U11 Boys: Clark Weber (MS), Ben Bell (MI)

• U13 Girls: Anna Neeb (MS), Zoe Debus (MI)

• U13 Boys: Nashville Wynette (MS), Blake Wilhelm (MI)

• U15 Girls: Maisy Moore (MS), Leah Weicker (MI)

• U15 Boys: Jared Pletsch (MS), Jensen Gerber (MI)

• U15 Rep Girls: Cara Weber (MS), Alexis Bell (MI)

• U17 Rep Girls: Sierrah Babcock (MS), Kennedy Vail (MI)

The Jimmy Roth Memorial Leadership Award went to Alyssia Mosterd (U11 Girls) and Bryce Sebben (U11 Boys).