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Thursday, December 29, 2011 Capital News
2011 IN REVIEW
Turner wins national title National award for Sun’s Doege Kelowna’s James Turner established himself as one of Canada’s finest up-and-coming track and field athletes in 2011 with his most significant performance yet. The 17-year-old established a personal best of 6,597 points in July in Winnipeg to win the gold medal in the Canadian junior decathlon on his first try. Turner, the Canadian Legion octathlon champion in 2010, won five of the 10 events in the decathlon—100 metres, long jump, shot put, 400 metres and javelin—to edge out Ontario’s Matheson West
James Turner by 60 points for the gold medal. Turner’s win didn’t come without some nervous moments. In the eighth of 10 events, the Okanagan Athletics Club failed on his first two attempts in the pole vault at 2.60 metres. One more miss and
Turner could forget about the podium entirely, let alone a trip to the Pan Ams. “I’ve never felt that much pressure in my life,” said Turner, who only began training for the pole vault this year. “If I miss a third time, I’m pretty much done. When I made it on my third, it was huge relief. Only making one jump was a disappointment, but in the big picture, it was just what I needed.” The Canadian title qualified Turner for the Pan Am Junior Games in Florida where he finished in fifth place.
Warren Henderson STAFF REPORTER
Okanagan Sun head coach Jason Casey can’t remember seeing a more dominant performance by a defensive player during the course of a football season. Defensive lineman Steven Doege made a habit of terrorizing opposing quarterbacks in 2011 on the way to leading the country with 11 sacks. The 20-year-old Rutland grad also recorded 31 tackles and 14 assists to compliment his three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
For his exploits, the 6-foot-2 230-pound Doege was named the Canadian Junior Football League’s defensive player of the year and was named an all-Canadian. “He is a one man wrecking-crew, both against the run and the pass,” said Casey. “As a defensive end, he is extremely fast and physical. Not only can he blow by an offensive tackle with his speed and quick hands, but he can use his strength to simply put you on your ass with his powerful bullrush. “Steven is one of the most complete football
FRED SCHAAD/CONTRIBUTOR
OKANAGAN SUN lineman Steven Doege was the CJFL’s defensive player of the year for 2011. players I have ever had the honour of being around.” Doege was also the BCFC’s most outstanding defensive player, the most
outstanding lineman, a conference all-star, and the Sun’s MVP. He is also the BCFC’s all-time sack leader with 31.5.
Challenge win PCSL crown
Lions roar to championship
The underdog role suited the Okanagan Challenge just fine in 2011. After going a combined 0-4 against the Vancouver Thunderbirds and Khalsa Sporting Club during the regular season, the Challenge got down to business when it counted most at the Pacific Coast Soccer League championship in Penticton. Okanagan defeated Vancouver 3-1 in the semis, then edged past Khalsa 5-4 ijn a shootout in the championship final for the Challenge’s second PCSL title in three years. “I think the guys deserved to be there and they deserved to win,” said first-year head coach Kelly Wolverton. “I think the guys are very worthy of being the best team in this league.” In a season of ups and downs, it all came together at the opportune time for rookie head Wolverton and his squad. The Challenge played much of the season undermanned, due to injuries and other commitments, but still managed a 5-5-2 record and the fourth and final playoff spot. “There were a lot of obstacles,” said Challenge manager Josh Leins. “The guys put a lot of work into this and were rewarded for it.” On the same weekend, Okanagan FC captured the Pacific Coast League men’s reserve title in Penticton with a 3-1 win over West Van.
In local minor football, 2011 may well be remembered as the Year of the Lion. To be more precise, it was the Kelowna Lions who went undefeated to capture the B.C. junior bantam football championship. As they did to their opponents all season, the Lions dominated the Meadow Ridge Knights in the B.C. final in Langley, winning handily 44-6. “We have told the young men all year that this group had a chance to achieve something special,” said Lions head coach Arden Knoll. “Opportunities to win a provincial championships may never come along again in their lifetime as part of a team. Leave everything on the field, play every down with speed
CONTRIBUTED
KELOWNA Skating Club’s Julianne De-
laurier won the national champ in pre-novice women’s title at the Skate Canada Challenge.
and with all the energy you have. “They all played with heart, excellence and dedication,” he added. “ Every player committed to the team and performed their role on the team without complaint throughout the whole year.” Knoll credited the rest of the Lions’ coaching staff and the team’s conditioning as other key elements in the championship win. The Lions finished 2011 with a 12-0 regular season and playoff record, scoring 591 points and allowing just 89. In the peewee division, the Kelowna Lions won the Southern Interior Conference championship, before losing to the Abbotsford Lions in the semis.
Keefer helps team to Youth Commonwealth Games bronze Review from A11 • The Kelowna United U13 boys win the Langley Labour Day weekend soccer tournament. • The B.C. Colleges Athletics Association changes its name to the Pacific Western Athletics Association (PACWEST). • Keefer Joyce helps Canada run to a bronze medal in the 4 by 100 relay at the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games on the Isle of Man. • Izaak Berglund is named captain of the BCHL’s Westside Warriors. • Kelowna soccer product Rob Friend is loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt by Hertha Berlin for the 2011-12 Bundesliga 2 season in Germany. • West Kelowna’s Julia Ransom wins a silver medal at the North American Summer Biathlon Championships in Canmore. • In a swap of defencemen, the Kelowna Rockets acquire Myles Bell from the Regina Pats for Colton Jobke and two draft picks. • The KSS Owls girls volleyball team wins the UBC high school tournament in Vancouver, while the Owls boys win the Pen Hi tournament.
OCTOBER
• The Liquid Lightning of West Kelowna is named the Swim B.C. club of the year, while Lighnting coach Emil Dmitrov wins the B.C. Junior Coach of the Year award. • Calgary’s James Curran wins the 2011 BMO Okanagan Marathon. Fruitvale’s Heather Johnson won the women’s race, while West Kelowna’s Stacey Carrigan took third. • The Okanagan Sun are eliminated from the
B.C. Football Conference playoffs with a 3129 home field loss in the semifinal to the Langley Rams. • Kelowna’s Jesse Keca wins a bronze medal at the Oktoberfest speed skating competition in Calgary, while Chris Neykov sets several PBs. • The KSS Owls win the UBC Okanagan and Best of the West senior girls volleyball tournaments. • Kelowna Skating Club’s Jayda Jurome wins the gold medal in the novice women’s event at the Sask Skate Invitational. • The Thompson Okanagan U18 boys soccer team wins the Addidas/Whitecaps soccer tournament in Vancouver. • Former Olympic champion Kyle Shewfelt travels to Kelowna to help the Okanagan Gymnastics Centre celebrate its 30th anniversary. • The UBC Okanagan Heat women’s soccer teams wins a silver medal at the BCCAA soccer championships in Kelowna, while the Heat men win their first bronze medal. • Kelowna soccer product Carson Gill leads the SFU Clan to the No. 1 ranking in NCAA Div. 2 soccer. • The KSS Owls clinch top spot in the Okanagan AAA Conference of B.C. high school football. • The Kelowna Christian Knights win their first ever Okanagan A boys soccer title with a 4-2 victory over St. Ann’s Academy. • Kelowna field hockey products Abi Raye, Dani Hennig, Natalie Sourisseau and the Canadian women’s field hockey team finish fourth at the Pan American Games in Mexico. • Okanagan Sun lineman Steven Doego is named the BCFC’s defensive player of the
year and an all-star, while teammates Dan Turek, Sam Looysen, Brennan Van Nistelrooy, and Drew Digout were also all-star selections. • The UBC Okanagan men’s and women’s volleyball teams make their CIS debuts at home to the University of Winnipeg.
NOVEMBER
• Forward Brett Bulmer is reassigned to the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets after playing nine games with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. • The Kelowna Owls win their 10th consecutive Okanagan AAA girls field hockey title with a 1-0 win over South Kamloops. • Rockets Colton Sissons, Zach Franko and Brett Bulmer play for Team WHL in Subway Super Series against Russia, while Ryan Huska serves on the coaching staff. • KSS Owls quarterback Sam Davies is named the offensive player of the year in the Okanagan AAA Conference of high school football. • Lawrence Nagy (builder), Eric Tasker (builder), Joan Campbell (pioneer), Dan Bertoia (athlete) and Aundrea Bertoia (athlete) are inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame. • After snow on the CNC field in Kelowna forces relocation of the game, the KSS Owls lose 50-0 to W.J. Mouat in the B.C. high school football quarterfinals in Abbotsford. • Kelowna’s Chantal McFetridge helps the Queen’s Golden Gaels capture the CIS women’s soccer championship in Montreal. • Kelowna Western Bus Lines Rockets win the midget tier 1 division at the Wickenheiser
International Women’s Hockey Festival. • The Mt. Boucherie Bears post a 9-0 record to win the Okanagan AAA junior varsity football title. • The UBC Okanagan Heat basketball teams get their first ever Canada West victories with the men beating Regina and the women defeating Brandon. • The host Kelowna Skating Club captured 10 out of a possible 16 medals at the B.C. and Yukon Sectional Championships at CNC.
DECEMBER
• Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa wins the first two World Cup ski cross races of the season in San Candido, Italy. • Kelowna hosts the largest ever B.C. high school boys volleyball tournament with 48 teams in three divisions. The KCS Knights win bronze in the A category. • Okanagan Gymnastics Centre’s Emma Tucker wins a silver medal in double mini at the World Age Group Trampoline Championships in Birmingham, England. • Kelowna Skating Club member Julianne Delaurier wins gold in the pre-novice division at the Regina at the 2012 Skate Canada Challenge. Jayda Jurome won the novice women’s event, while Cailey England was second. • The Kelowna Crows finish second at the B.C. U19 rugby championship, losing to Bayside in the final. • Kelowna Rockets forward Brett Bulmer is cut from Canada’s roster for the world junior hockey championship in Alberta. Rockets coach Ryan Huska and athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn work behind the Canadian bench.