Memorable sports achievements mark 2025
By David McIver
Most years have some noteworthy sports achievements, and 2025 certainly did.
Here are some of them:
The Rosetown Rhythms synchronized skating team won the Star 4 category of the Prairie Regionals Synchronized Skating competition held in Regina. Hayden Grunerud, Emma Phillips, Clara Benjamin, Gracie Rawson, Alex Joyes, Payton Ball, Ella Inverarity and Emma Grunerud made up the team.
After a year’s absence, Rosetown Central High School again had a school curling team. A junior girls team of Kalli Bacon, Sierra McKenzie, Andrea Kahovec, Kathryn Claffey and Deneile Morrison won district playoffs in Kyle on Feb. 28. Darby Freistadt coached them with help from Jannelle Kahovec.
In senior hockey, the Dodsland Stars won the Cross Roads Hockey League championship. The Stars eliminated the Rosetown Redwings in a semifinal series.
The Redwings got some consolation in two players being recognized with season-end awards: Noah Martens as the top goaltender in the league and Kayden Hrycan as the top rookie.
The senior Dinsmore Dynamos lost to the Kyle Elks in a Sask Valley Hockey League semifinal series. The Kenaston Blizzards defeated the Elks for the league championship.
Jaydon Jessiman of the Dynamos tied with Davidson Cyclone Ethan Grabowski as the top rookie in the league.
The under-18 Western Prairie Redwings reached the northern final series.
The Rosetown Redwings U-nine Danychuk team won the Hi-Way 14 Central Division at a playoff tournament in Macklin on March 2.
The U-13 Elrose Aces won the provincial U-13 D hockey championship. They consisted of Nick Myers, Maddex Elliott, Markus Minogue, Dryden MacDonald, Emery Fortin, Kohen Swan, Bryer Lang; (third row) Kénon Groeschel, Julian Lehmkuhl, Alex Keeler, Tanner Minogue, Oscar Minogue, Turner Baxter, Jayse Friesen, Emmett Smith, Jordan Moebis and Ayden Myers. James Myers was head coach, Brock Minogue and Dayle Fortin helped coach and Jamie Lehmkuhl managed the team.
The Rosetown Central High senior girls basketball team finished regional playoffs one game short of making Hoopla.
In track and field, Silas Burlando of Rosetown Central set a district record in the senior boys 1,500-metre race.
The Rosetown school team won medals but not events at the provincial meet.
Four Rosetown Royals went on the high school athletic wall of fame: Dami Igbekoyi and Taya Green for track and field, and Cailean Fehr and 2022 graduate Mitchel Robbie for football.
Hailey Burton played on the provincial female softball team that went to the Canada Games in St. John’s, N.L., this summer.
In football, Rosetown had a first: hosting an international football game on July 1. The United States team defeated the Canadian squad 70-52. Graduating Royal Dami Igbekoyi scored five touchdowns for Canada and was selected as his team’s offensive player of the game.
Royals assistant coaches Justin Haugen and Graham Montreuil were on the Team Canada coaching staff.
Also in football, receiver Daniel Wiebe got drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The club released him after training camp and Wiebe returned to the U of S Huskies, where he has his best season ever. The Huskies lost in the Vanier Cup this fall, but a week later Wiebe put his name on a contract with the Roughriders.
In the fall, the senior football Royals lost the provincial bronze-medal game.
Not to be forgotten, Gary Paproski, who retires in June, knows how to go out in style.
If you haven’t seen the video replay at Rosetown Central High School, the vice-principal made a behind-the-back basketball shot from mid-court, adding the most pep ever to a pep rally here on March 6.