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Scott Larson's Top 10 Amateur Sports Stories in Sask. in 2005

Compiled by Scott Larson
The StarPhoenix

Of all the Saskatchewan athletes who reached new heights in their respective disciplines in 2005, none went higher than a group of Saskatoon pole vaulters. Led by coaches Rick and Suzanne Petrucha, the vault crew did it up big. Start with Kelsie Hendry. She had a dream season, winning her third straight Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship and helping the University of Saskatchewan Huskies successfully defend their national team title. Hendry was also runner-up as CIS female athlete of the year. She competed at the world senior track and field championships in August and won gold at the Francophone Games in Niger in December. Adrianne Vangool was second at CIS nationals and fifth at the Francophone Games. Rob Hanson won silver at the World University Games in Turkey and captured bronze in Niger, equaling his personal best by clearing 5.20 metres in both events. Taylor Petrucha won a silver medal at the Canada Games in Regina and Leah Vause won bronze at the Pan-American junior championships.
The event that dominated Saskatchewan's amateru sports scene was the Canada Games in Regina. Corman Park's Stacey Nahachewsky, along with her canoe/kayak teammates, led Saskatchewan to its best ever medal count in Games history. Nahachewsky won two gold, a silver and three bronze, while the canoe/kayak team won 20 of Saskatchewan's 67 medals. Regina's Cory Rublee won gold in all five of his Canada Games races. Kayaker Whitney Vanderleest of Regina won four gold at the Pan-Am canoe championships and qualified for junior worlds in Hungary. Nahachewsky and Trista Neilly of Loon Lake competed at the world marathon championships in Perth, Australia.
In wrestling, is there a stronger group of athletes, and coaches, in the country than those from Saskatchewan? At the Canada Games, the men's won team gold and the women took home silver. Individually, the wrestlers combined for 15 medals, including gold by Saskatoon's Mitch Bodnarchuk, Craig Albert, Pamela Ewanishin and Allysa Krahn. From club teams through university and senior categories, Saskatchewan is a perennial power. Todd Hinds of the U of S is an assistant coach with the national team.
Saskatchewan is becoming a big-time player with the Canadian women's basketball program. Sarah Crooks of Fife Lake and Carolyn Ganes were on the national senior team that qualified for worlds this year in Brazil and Krista Phillips of Saskatoon was on the under-19 team. U of S coach Lisa Thomaidas is an assistance with the national program.
What's a year in Saskatchewan without mentioning speed skaters? As many as four Saskatchewan skaters could be competing in Turin at the Olympics in February: Melville's Kerry Simpson, Regina's Kim Weger and Justin Warsylewicz and Yorkton's Jason Parker.
In track and field, Saskatchewan won 18 medals at the Canada Games, its most ever. Heptathlete Brianne Theisen of Humboldt and long jumper Nicole McKell of Indian Head took gold.
Going the distance was Regina's Simon Bairu, who won his second consecutive NCAA cross-country championships while competing for the University of Wisconsin. Bairu also won the Canadian senior cross-country championships for the fourth straight year in Vancouver. Saskatoon's Jason Warick lowered the provincial record in marathon when he ran 2:20:44 in Chicago.
In sailing, Mark Lammens, along with his brother Hank, and Doug Sabin placed fourth in the three-man Etchell's class at worlds in San Francisco. The field included seven Olympic medallists and sailors from the America's Cup.
Meaghan Buisson of Saskatoon once again dominated the national inline skating championships, winning all seven events. Hoping to make her mark in another sport, Buisson has swapped her blades for speed skates this winter.
Despite a lack of slopes in the province, Saskatchewan's well represented in bobsleigh. Competing on the women's national team as Saskatoon's Jamie Cruickshank, Borden's Nadine Walker and North Battleford's Lesa Mayes-Stringer. On the men's side are Saskatoon's Bret Bresciani, Regina's Morgan Alexander and Rama's Ken Kotyk.

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