It was a night of celebration at the Coast High Country Inn as local athletes were honoured at the 44th annual Member Awards of Distinction on Thursday evening.

Sandra Soars, program and events coordinator for Sport Yukon, said it was a chance for their members to recognize their athletes.

“Tonight’s event is for our members, so our sport governing bodies and our recreational organizations that are part of Sport Yukon,” said Soars. “It’s a platform to recognize their athletes within their own organizations and sports.

“Anywhere from volunteers, coaches, administrators and athletes (can be awarded). This is just a big night of amateur sport.”

Soars said the Yukon has a large sporting community.

“We used to combine it with our major awards and hall of fame but it’s grown immensely over the years,” said Soars.

“We have had to split it into two nights. This is a special night for our members.”

Soars said it is just as important to recognize the amateur athletes and not just the high-level performers.

“They are hard workers as well,” said Soars. “They deserve this recognition as well and this night is strictly for them.”

Midway through the program, after a great piano performance from alpine skier and Subzero Volleyball athlete Clayton Chapman, Minister of Community Services, John Streicker addressed the room.

“Sports are an amazing thing,” said Streicker. “It encourages us to strive, commit, to train. It’s not always easy to get out of bed to practice or miss hanging with friends to perfect that running form, or swim stroke…

“Sport is sometimes about winning and sometimes losing. Sport is about learning to navigate and rise above both of those. When you win and win with grace, you are learning to deal effectively with the coming successes in your life.

“When you lose and lose with character and self-confidence you really learn. You learn so much more when you lose than when you win. You improve. You figure out how to pick yourself up and brush yourself off. In life, there will be those moments.”

Streicker spoke to the athletes about the importance of those around them who have helped them succeed on the playing field.

“Your coaches and your teammates, they guide you, they inspire you,” said Streicker. “Follow their lead. Your family and friends, they cheer you on. Draw on that.

“We don’t get sports except with volunteers. They are thankless and I want you to thank them.”

With Streicker’s encouragement, the athletes gave the volunteers a longstanding ovation.

Dual sport athlete Cassi Jensen won an Athletic Achievement award for judo and Most Dedicated Athlete award for basketball.

Dual sport athlete Cassi Jensen won an Athletic Achievement award for judo and Most Dedicated Athlete award for basketball. Jensen spoke about what it’s like to be committed to two sports.

“It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of time and dedication,” said Jensen. “But it’s really fun and you get to do so much more.”

Jensen finds that her training in each sport helps with the other.

“I find that helps sometimes, like my cardio from basketball can train into judo and not minding being pushed helps in basketball,” said Jensen.

So much goes into sports and it is far more than just the game that day. Jensen outlined what sports mean to her.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and go places,” said Jensen. “If you want to travel and learn new things sports are definitely a great way to do that. And working together with a team and other people are very helpful.”

The awards given out were for performances in 2019 and Jensen touched on her athletic goals for the upcoming year.

“I’ve just met one of my goals for basketball which was to make the senior team at F.H. Collins and I’m in Grade 10,” said Jensen. “I’m working on a goal for wrestling which is to win gold at Arctics. Last Arctics that I went to I won gold so I want to get that back again.”

On the evening 21 sports organizations handed out awards to their athletes, volunteers and administrators. There were 121 awards given out to 120 people and one to Mojo, who was recognized as the Horse of the Year by the Equine Association of Yukon.

Along with Jensen, two other athletes heard their names called out twice. Stian Langbakk received the Shredder of the Year honours from Snowboard Yukon as well as Junior Athlete of the Year from the Yukon Orienteering Association.

Chad Williams was the U16 Player of the Year for the Wolf Pack Basketball Club and got Most Valuable Player honours from Basketball Yukon.

Congratulations to all the winners on Wednesday and best of luck in your future athletic endeavours.