Yellowknife’s St Pat’s crowns its athletes of the year

Yellowknife’s École St Patrick High School announced the winners of more than 100 athletics awards on Wednesday last week.

Ten students – two from each grade – won athlete of the year awards for outstanding athletic ability, excellence in leadership and fair play.

One of those 10, Neveah Dusome, was described as a driven, resilient athlete who is constantly striving for excellence.

“Her unwavering determination and positive energy make her an inspiring leader both on and off the ice, field and court,” said her gym teacher, Katie Ballhorn.

Dusome said she feels honoured to win the award. Her siblings had won athlete of the year awards before her, she said, and she was proud to follow in their footsteps.

Dusome said her mom and sister are her biggest supporters and motivators. She hopes to one day play in the Professional Women’s Hockey League or for Team Canada, but enjoys basketball as well as hockey.

“I feel like everyone knows everyone,” she said of sports in the NWT. “It’s a great community.”

Liv Fondeh is a “fine athlete” who brings a youthful exuberance and a huge smile, according to Ballhorn and Tobi Taylor.

Fondeh was proud of winning the award.

“I tried hard in all my sports, had a lot of passion, and I really wanted to win this award. So I feel good about that, that I’ve accomplished what I’ve been dreaming of, and I hope to win more as the years go on.” he told Cabin Radio.

Fondeh described his friends as his biggest supporters. “They’d always be cheering loud, backing me up, making me keep my head up. I wouldn’t do this without them.”

He hopes to continue his journey in sports and one day become a professional soccer player. “My dream is to play in England, and I feel like getting male athlete of the year boosts me up a bit, and I’ll have more confidence in the future,” he said.

He described the territory as an “underrated” place for sports. “We don’t get enough recognition but when we go out of town, we prove that we have a lot of good athletes here,” he said.

Lily Brennan’s teachers called her “a true all-around athlete who gives her all no matter the sport” as they gave her an athlete of the year award.

“As soon as the game begins, she leads with focus, determination, and heart,” read a tribute to Brennan.

“I feel very proud, and I’m happy to have been able to represent my school this year in all of the athletic events,” Brennan told Cabin Radio.

She described her family – especially her mom, who coached her in figure skating – as her biggest supporters and motivators. She said her teachers, Taylor and Rob Hart, were a big help in getting her to where she is today.

“I’ve already started on my coaching certifications for figure skating and hope that that’s a part of my life for as long as it can be,” she said.

“Although it can be hard to get far with sports in the North due to the placement and the coaching, I think that there are so many opportunities here that you will not have in any other place, and living here is the reason I’m so into sports.”

Mario Hernandez-Mellin was described by his teachers as “a leader in both skill and positive energy who gives it his best from the first whistle to the last.”

“His skill, work ethic, and overall attitude has earned him the opportunity to represent his home country on the international level, playing for the Mexican national U18 hockey team,” read his nomination for an athlete of the year award.

“It’s nice to see that all the hard work paid off,” Hernandez-Mellin told Cabin Radio, “and that people recognize all the work that not only I put into my sports, but all the hard work that parents, coaches, and even students put into it. It’s pretty great.”

He said his parents have helped him get to early morning practices and even trips across the world. “They’re a huge support and I couldn’t have done it without them.” he said.

Mario hopes to play university or college-level sports and eventually give back to the sporting community by coaching or contributing in other ways.

Other winners of this year’s St Pat’s athlete of the year awards were Gavin Rose, Lexi Blandford, Hunter Webb, Brigid Murphy, Brooklynn Hewitt and Karter Carson.