Stratford city council honours 311 community members with recognition awards

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

“I hope some of you brought pillows,” Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma said on Oct. 29 to kick off this year’s iteration of the annual Community Recognition Awards. “We are going to recognize 311 individuals, from athletics to clubs to music, all – regardless of their achievements – have been great ambassadors of our city.”

The awards are given out every year by Stratford city council to recognize and congratulate individuals achieving outstanding accomplishments over the past year. It just so happens, as Ritsma shared with the large crowd at the Rotary Complex where it was held, that it was a record-setting year in terms of the number of awards given out.

In addition to the recipients, coaches, parents and organizers recognized by council, Ritsma thanked Lindsay Van Gestel for her work in organizing the event.

Those awarded this year, according to the city’s website, are:

Girl Guides

Canada Cord Award: Audrey Riehl, Lily Milliken.

Beavers

North Star Award: Gus Belford, James Chartrand, Ethan Trussler, Logan Trussler.

Swimming

Amiera Black, Silas Campbell.

Special Olympics Stratford and Area

Special Olympics Canada National Winter Games: Five-pin Bowling – Mike Keleman,

Floor Hockey – Mike Hitchcock, Curling – Jane Larkworthy (Coach), Dorie Woolrich (Coach), Tiffany Keller, Curtis Bender, Dylan Haynes, Meghan O’Donovan, Jacob Ponsford.

Tennis – Stratford Tennis Club

54th Annual Regional Doubles Tournament: Kim Straus and Heidi Pope-Kis – Ladies “A” title, Joan Aitcheson and Stacy Smith – Ladies “B” title, Liam Benton and Mark Barton – Men’s “B” Final.

Gymnastics

Lydia Pyzowski, silver medal at Gymnastics Ontario.

Canada Senior Games

Velma Hansford – silver in 65+ Pickleball, Janet Shivas – silver in 65+ Pickleball, Mary Dingman – silver in 80+ Low Gross Golf.

Basketball

U13 Boys – Stratford Revolution – OBA gold championship

Head Coach Dave Faulhafer, Assistant Coach Rob Mogk, Assistant Coach Graham Heaton, Mason Douglas, Caleb Faulhafer, Ethan Faulhafer, Archie Francis, Will Heaton, Ledoux Keumoe, Jack Lichty, Blake Mogk, Brayden Peters, Dilip Singh, Brent Van nes.

U17 Boys – Stratford Revolution – OBA gold championship

Coach Scott Brookshaw, Coach Nathan Brookshaw, Coach Julia Brookshaw, Adit Mishra, Nate Bannerman, James Aul, Hunter deBoer, James Villapando, Noel Hallman, Dylan Murray, Gurveer Singh, Declan Dumas, Liam Eddleston, Owen Carr, Josh Villapando.

U19 Boys – Stratford Revolution – OBA silver medalists

Head Coach Joe Lewis, Assistant Coach Avery Lewis, Team Manager Jen Lewis, Kody Eisler, Andrew Leitch, Kabir Aulakh, Charlie Kuepfer, John McCormick, Will Korver, Emerson Lewis, Josh Boyd, Jake Hawkeswood, Edmund Sauder, Jacob Tuling, Lincoln Perrie.

Fencing  – Stratford Fencing Club Athletes

Blake Degroot, Spencer Orr, Ellie Davies, Quintin Vollmer, Scott Bell, Cohen Bernard, Joshua Kim, Gordon Ye.

Stepdancing

First Place – 18 and Under ‘Solo’, Ontario Open Competition, Kensington Ische.

First Place – “In Step”, Ontario Open Stepdance Competition, Kensington Ische, Ellie Shantz, Julie McEvoy.

First Place – Tip Tap Toes – Jr Group Stepdance, Canadian Open Contest, Sabelle Ische, Zephy Goodwin, Eden Goodwin.

Kart Racing

Aristeides (Ari) Theodoropoulos.

Ontario Music Festival

Gordon Scot Miller and Gordon Paul Miller, first place in Contemporary Piano, Emile Grimes, first place in Classical Brass Level 6.

Volleyball

Tyson Cassone, represented Canada at the NORCECA Championships on Team Canada U19 Volleyball Team.

Stratford Stingers Volleyball

18U Girls – gold in Division

Head Coach Chris Parson, Assistant Coach Jenna Lange, Emelyn Collins, Virgina Will, Eva Patterson, Breanna Van Nes, Ella De Graaf, Ellen Thorup, Ella Spicer, Aydrie Groenestege, Lauren McKay, Ella Van Bakel, Milayna Mulder, Pihu Sharma, Summer Emms.

Slingshot Softball

Robbie Gibson, Mike Lamers, Bevan Mathieson.

Boys Baseball

Stratford Minor Baseball Association

Ontario Baseball Association Provincial Championships.

10U “B” Provincial Championship

Coach Jon Paola, Coach Jeff Molenhuis, Coach Scott Leyser, Coach Mark Bell, Coach Chris Smith, Bentley Cunningham, Bentley Paola, Brady Casey, Dylan Hansen, Henry Leyser, Korben Bowles, Louie Domm, Louis Molenhuis, Maddux Groenestege, Maddux Smith, Roman Bell.

18U “A” Provincial Championship

Coach Don Grasby, Coach Matt Berger, Coach Ryan Wagler, Andrew Leitch, Beckham McLeod, Blake Hodgson, Brett Knechtel, Brynley Vogt, Carter Koch, Colin Slattery, Grady Murphy, Hutton Patterson, Jackson Campbell, Kieran Butler, Liam McEvoy, Nick Betto, Noah McIlwain, Noah Roth, Nolan Trainor.

22U “B” Provincial Championship

General Manager Dave Graff, Field Manager Brian Hawley, Coach Barry Grasby, Coach John McIntosh, Coach Jeff Morris, Nathan Graff, Spencer Eidt, Jack Whitehead, Evan Heinbuch, Owen Akey, Hunter Reid, Sam Bolger, Nole Musselman, Jacob Hall, Will Murphy, Carson Habel, Trent Dearden, Connor McIntosh, Jake Heinbuch, Conor Davis, Liam Parsons, Drew Tessmer, Luke Murray, Kale Murray.

Softball

Karlee Satchell, Qualifying for the U17 Girls Canadian Championship

Stratford Minor Girls Softball – Stratford Flames Championships

U11 – Ontario Provincial Championship

Coach Courtney Canal, Coach Matt Roberts, Coach Ross Herold, Coach Tyler Canal, Avery Canal, Avery Kelly, Pierce MacNeil, Kiyah Marshall, Mya Herold, Lenna Roberts, Aubrey Vail, Nora Frayne, Sydney Hall, Emily Ewing, Lauren Masselis.

U13 – Eastern Canadian Championship

Coach Jenn Marshall, Coach Barb Wilhelm, Coach Carolyn Quehl, Coach Lori Hartman,

Avree Marshall, Alyssa Graham, Delia Buchholtz, Abby Herold, Alise Crawford, Ciana McLaren, Reese Flanagan, Julia Glitz, Milana Verellen, Hallee Priestap, Gracie Neumeister, Scoty Lewis.

Soccer – Stratford Strikers, League Championships

U13 – League Championships

Coach Catherine Walsh, Coach Scott Herman, Elena Hogger, Jessica Blake, Lilly Harrigan, Janey Van Straaten, Edie Murray, Reese Campbell, Kinsley McIntosh, Grace Elliott, Bailey Fergus, Payton Herman, Madison Brisbois, Myla Burdett, Hazel Shantz-Walsh, Ava Langis, Peyton Ward, Ashley Van Straaten, Peyton Van Straaten.

U15 – League Championships

Head Coach Lindsay Marshall, Assistant Coach Mike Janmaat, Addison De Groot, Chloe Rison, Emma Groenestege, Emma Van Nes, Eve Binns, Julia Luk, Krista McMahon, Lydia Janmaat, Maeve Moss, Maren Marshall, Meghan Jongert, Mollie Hannam, Paige Witschi, Savanna Pereira, Sophia Pereira, Sophie Smith, Sutton Olmstead.

Stratford Junior Warriors – U10 Alliance AA Championship

Head Coach Jeff Molenhuis, Assistant Coach Kyle Casey, Assistant Coach Chris Smith, Assistant Mike Holmes, Manager Jon Paola, Trainer Dalton Smith, Roman Bell, Oliver Berg, Brady Casey, Louie Domm, Archer Ehgoetz, Lucas Holmes, Ethan Hummel, Nash Knight, Finley McKee, Louis Molenhuis, Bentley Paola, Connor Parsons, Josh Peck, Beau Smith, Maddux Smith, Cater Van Nynatten, Finley Welsh.

Dragon Boating

Stratford Women’s 2.0 – 100m Sprint – Stratford Dragon Boat Festival

Melissa Rood, Ruth Lacey, Deborah Lount, Alexandra Stephens, Chelsea Raymond, Heidi Flikkema, Heather Herman, Cathy Russell, Leah Carinci, Veronica Miller, Mary Brunk, Ann Sills, Jessicca Macintosh, Rachel Chamberlain, Sue Wakelin, Heather Martin, Gabby Arkett, Claire Boles, Julia McLeod, Georgina Zaharuk, Michelle Good, Steve Herman, Don Kirkpatrick, Ken Gene, Jutta Pearson.

Ritz Dragons – A Final & Community Cup Winner – Stratford Dragon Boat Festival

Amanda Martin, Yanick Bourassa, Jaxon Martin, Paige Holdsworth, Clara Leney, Jodi McLean, Jennifer Clements, Claire Heckman, Rhiannon Ball, Phil Phillips, Alex Boersen, Dean Heckman, Josh Forbes, Bryan Tyler, Matt Theoret, Mike Graff, Adam Boersen, Sarah Pukal, Sarah Beluzic, Melissa Theoret, Erica Sayles, Kathleen Hickson, Pati Fader, Nick Pauli, Gulam Rhotumatally.