Seventeen athletes and teams from across Saskatchewan have been announced as finalists for the 2018 Athlete of the Year Awards, and one of the nominees includes a local girl who has lit up the sport of racquetball since she was quite young.
Seventeen-year old Cassie Prentice of Macrorie is one of the three finalists up for the Youth Female Athlete of the Year award. The long-time racquetball player and multiple champion has many accolades to her name, and has competed literally around the world in the sport, whether representing her province or her entire country.
A few highlights of Cassie include:
- She had a 98.5% average in Grade 11 and has been named to the Honour Roll every year in high school.
- She drives to Saskatoon to train 3 times a week from Macrorie, which is a three hour round trip.
- She has qualified to be a member of Team Canada at the World Junior Championships for the past 3 years - every year that she has been eligible.
- She competes on the Basketball and Badminton Teams at High School and is a member of the school choir.
- She played Boy's Midget AA baseball this past summer and has been a member of Team Sask for girl's baseball.
- She is finishing Grade 12 at Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute in Outlook and has been accepted to the University of Saskatchewan in the College of Kiniseology this fall.
Each year, up to three finalists are selected in six Athlete of the Year Award categories based on their accomplishments from the preceding year. In the coming weeks, active and affiliate members of Sask Sport Inc. will conduct a vote to select the recipients, who will be honored at the Saskatchewan Sport Awards ceremony in Saskatoon in March. At the ceremony, awards will also be delivered to deserving coaches, officials and volunteers supporting amateur sport in the province.
"Congratulations to this year's Athlete of the Year Award finalists whose hard work and determination make us all #SaskProud," said Leslie Blyth, Chair of the Board of Directors for Sask Sport Inc., a volunteer-led non-profit organization and the federation for amateur sport in Saskatchewan. "Whether competing at home or abroad, these athletes are inspiring, and their accomplishments put a spotlight on the vast network of community organizations, athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and families that enrich our province with the benefits of sport. Sask Sport is proud to champion this vibrant community each and every day."
