RCHS honours athletes, builder on sports wall of fame
By David McIver
Three athletes, an alumnus and two graduating students, and one builder, a retiring teacher-administrator, were inducted onto the Rosetown Central High School sports wall of fame last week.
School officials honoured Brielle Minish, Hailey Burton, Rayna James and Gary Paproski during the school awards program last Thursday afternoon.
Three of the four 2026 inductees to the Rosetown Central High School athletic wall of fame posed for the school yearbook immediately after receiving their induction plaques. Brielle Minish wasn’t able to be present, but Mrs. Jeannine James accepted the induction plaque on her behalf. Photos were courtesy of Mrs. Denise Turner of the school staff and taken by Emily Johnson, Dessirae Karmark and Celina Burlando.
Gary Paproski.
Hailey Burton.
Rayna James.
Minish played hockey on both Rosetown and Western Prairie Redwings teams from 2011 to 2019. She played for the Warman Wildcats from 2019 to 2021 and served as captain in her last season.
Minish played on the Saskatoon Stars AAA hockey teams from 2021 to 2024, including serving as an assistant captain. In 2024, she joined the Mount Royal University Cougars women’s hockey team, competing in the Canada West Conference of U Sports.
Hailey Burton began playing softball in Rosetown in 2015. After being picked up by another Saskatchewan team in 2022, she played in the Western Canadian championship tournament.
Burton played for the Saskatoon Hustlers in 2023 and for the Saskatoon Selects in 2024. She and the other Selects represented the province at the U19 women’s national championship, where they earned bronze medals.
Burton won provincial softball gold medals in 2025 and 2021, silver medals in 2019 and 2018 and a bronze medal in 2024. She was selected as one of four pitchers for Team Saskatchewan at the Canada Summer Games in 2025.
Burton is to continue her softball career this fall at Polk State College in Florida.
Rayna James began playing football at Rosetown Central High in Grade 7. James, usually playing as a linebacker or defensive back, has been on two provincial bronze medalist teams and in 2025 won a senior four-year dedication award and the Spirit of the Royals award.
In 2023, 2024 and 2025, she tried out for and made the women’s U18 Team Saskatchewan, which competed at the national championship tournaments. Due to her skill and IQ, James won a defensive player of the game award at each national tournament.
Gary Paproski has been a teacher for 36 years, 29 of them at RCHS. Paproski came here in 1997 “and quickly became immersed in the school sport programs,” stated his citation. He has coached badminton for all 29 years and football for 28 years.
Paproski won the 2015 West Central Athletics District Outstanding Coach Award and the 2019 West Central Athletics Service Award.
“This year Gary is being recognized provincially, being awarded the SHSAA Service Award, which will be presented to him on June 19,” said presenter Mitchell Wintonyk.
“His contributions to RCHS athletics since 1997 will be what RCHS staff and students will remember and be grateful for the most. Several banners hang in our gymnasium due to Gary’s commitment and coaching.
“In 2005, the Royals football team captured the school’s first and, to date, only provincial championship in the sport. In 2006, Gary’s coaching helped guide three athletes to provincial silver medals in badminton. In 2023 and 2024, the Royals football team captured back-to-back bronze medals.
“In all of these cases, Gary was instrumental in giving back to the students through coaching and mentorship. Gary’s ability to teach the sport is something to be admired, but it is his ability to relate to his student-athletes, guide and mentor them on how to be good citizens and people that is most important.
“Gary’s ability to have his athletes conduct themselves with class and integrity goes far beyond the sports themselves.
“RCHS will forever remember and always be grateful for Coach P’s significant contributions,” stated Wintonyk.
Teachers and coaches made several other sports or sports-related awards earlier in the afternoon program. An exception was in football, for which awards were given out at the season’s end.
Arlo Jeancart won the Chase Cordes Memorial Scholarship.
James and Jacob Weber won senior athletic proficiency awards and also the two $1,000 Gasper Family Memorial Scholarships. Harper Kampen and Jasper Adnam won junior athletic proficiency awards.
Coach-teacher Krista Wenaas won the West Central District Female Coach of the Year Award.
Jordan Merrifield won the most dedicated runner award in cross-country.
Nora Hayes won for most improved player in junior girls volleyball. Rachel Dobson won for most valuable player.
In senior girls volleyball, Jocelyn Ngo-Siemens won for most improved and Marisa Winny for most valuable player.
Eli-Yah Fenosoa won most improved honours in senior boys volleyball. For the second consecutive year, Jacob Weber won the most valuable player award.
Junior girls basketball awards went to Janie Wiebe, most improved; Gracie Rawson, top defensive player; and Sydney Dessert, most valuable player.
Nicholas Keith Grey Eyes won the most improved award in junior boys basketball. Caleb Woudwijk won the top defensive player award and Will Speir won the most valuable player award.
In senior girls basketball awards, Willemina Heinrichs won for top defensive player and Rayna James won for most dedicated player.
Malcolm Ledding won for dedicated player in senior boys basketball, Luke Harrington for top defensive player and Mark Mofolasayo for top rookie.
Rachel Dobson won the top female award in junior badminton. Mykola Melnyk won as top male and Maddex Gray won the most improved award.
In track and field, Fenosoa won the most improved male award, which he also won in 2024.
Hailey Burton won for most improved female, Giovanni Rinaldi won the most dedicated male award, Reese Kampen won the most dedicated female award, Ishaq Reid won the top male athlete award and Harper Kampen won the top female athlete award.