Mikasa Achievement Awards

The Mikasa Achievement Awards are presented to athletes, coaches, referees and volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to volleyball in Alberta for the indoor club season and beach season.

This year's Volleyball Alberta Annual Awards Ceremony presented by Mikasa will be held on July 1st, 2022 in Calgary.

Award nominations are based on the following criteria:

Indoor Athlete:

An athlete in the 15U/16U and 17U/18U category who has shown a combination of performance, positive attitude, and leadership for his/her team both on and off the court. A total of 4 Athlete Awards will be presented:

• 1 Female in the 15U/16U age division
• 1 Male in the 15U/16U age division
• 1 Female in the 17U/18U age division
• 1 Male in the 17U/18U age division

* The 18U Mikasa Achievement Award winners (one female/one male) will be awarded $500.

Coach (Performance):

A coach in the 16U, 17U or 18U category who has led their team to a consistently high level of performance during the season while modelling the principles of fair play and sportsmanship. A total of 2 Coach Awards will be presented:

• 1 Coach in the female division
• 1 Coach in the male division

Coach (Development):

A coach in the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U, 18U category who demonstrates they are a great role model and leader who teaches character and life lessons in addition to volleyball skills and tactics. They go beyond expectations to ensure every athlete, and the team, reaches their full potential. A total of 2 Coach Awards will be presented:

• 2 coaches, in the female and/or male division

Volunteer:

A volunteer (all categories) who has shown a consistently high level of dedication and service to the club or organization over a period of years.

• One Volunteer Award will be presented.

Referee:

Two referees as selected by the Volleyball Alberta Referees Association criteria.

• 1 Referee (Development) Award will be presented
• 1 Referee (Performance) Award will be presented.

Beach Athlete:

One male and one female youth beach athlete will be selected based on performance and their commitment to beach throughout the summer.

• 1 Female youth beach athlete

• 1 Male youth beach athlete

Beach award recipients from the previous beach season will be invited to the annual awards ceremony that is typically held in the middle of the current beach season; the ceremony is typically held in June/July.

Nominations & Awards Ceremony Details (save-the-date)

2022 Nomination packages will be accepted after Provincials. If you are thinking about nominating an athlete or coach in the performance category, we strongly recommend that you submit their nomination package immediately after Nationals.

Prepare and collect:

Prepare and collect - 2022 Document

Nomination deadline: May 29, 2022 at 11:59pm

The selection committee will start to review all nomination packages on Monday, May 30th with the final selection committee meeting on Friday, June 3rd.

Awards Recipients will be notified by email and invited to attend the Awards Ceremony that will be held on Friday, July 1st, 2022 in Calgary.

Volleyball Alberta will need all guest RSVPs by Wednesday, June 8th.

The VNL Women's week 3 will be held in Calgary from June 28 - to July 3. After the Awards Ceremony, we are inviting all Awards Ceremony guests to the VNL Match to watch and cheer on the Canadian Women's Team play Serbia at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex & Jim Starlight Centre. Learn more on the 2022 Volleyball Nations League, HERE.

Award Recipients

*2022 Mikasa Award Recipients:*
Female Beach Athlete (2019)	Trinity Solecki	Congratulation to the 2022 Award Recipients. Thank you for attending this year's awards ceremony! Photos will be posted to our Facebook albums as soon as we receive them from our photographer. Program, pdf Photos, pdf of slide-show
Male Beach Athlete (2019)	Jacob van Geel
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Sophia Hansen
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Cole Czepuryk
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Evvia Belireau
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Jacob Sargent
Development Coach of the Year	Reid Brodie
Development Coach of the Year	Geoff Trentham
Performance Coach of the Year	Cheri Wright
Performance Coach of the Year	Vinny Saporito
Volunteer of the Year	Trent Rix
Referee of the Year (Development)	Nivi Uppal
Referee of the Year (Performance)	Steven Cabral

2021 Indoor Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 Awards Banquet - Cancelled

2020 Indoor Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2020 Awards Banquet - Cancelled	Communique regarding COVID-19

*2019 Mikasa Award Recipients: Beach Season*	These awards would have been presented at the June 2020 Awards Banquet. Trinity & Jacob are invited to attend and accept their award at the 2022 Awards Banquet.
Female Beach Athlete (2019)	Trinity Solecki
Male Beach Athlete (2019)	Jacob Van Geel

2019 Mikasa Award Recipients:		2019 Award Recipients' Bios & Photos
Female Beach Athlete (2018)	Avery Kelly
Male Beach Athlete (2018)	Sam Elgert
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Mary Thiessen
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Aaron Elser
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Parker Austin
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Chris Byam
Development Coach of the Year	Jennifer Telfer
Development Coach of the Year	Stefan Filip
Performance Coach of the Year	Janelle Rozema
Performance Coach of the Year	Jason Evans
Volunteer of the Year	Wendy Trifunov
Referee of the Year (Development)	Evan Labonne
Referee of the Year (Performance)	Jared Mathes
2018 Mikasa Award Recipients:		2018 Award Recipients' Bios & Photos
Female Beach Athlete (2017)	Kenzie Vaandering
Male Beach Athlete (2017)	Carson Brennan
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Scarlett Gingera
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Bryce Neuls
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Dholi Thokbuom
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Sam Elgert
Development Coach of the Year	Rick Boyes
Development Coach of the Year	Rachel McKellar
Performance Coach of the Year	Ron Thomson
Performance Coach of the Year	Scott Miller
Volunteer of the Year	Sue Mohler
Referee of the Year (Development)	Seth Goodswimmer-Ferguson
Referee of the Year (Performance)	Travis Rott
2017 Mikasa Award Recipients:		2017 Award Recipients' Bios & Photos
Female Beach Athlete (2016)	Journey Flewell
Male Beach Athlete (2016)	Jesse Elser
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Parker Austin
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Carter Hills
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Madison Marshall
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Mitchell Newman
Development Coach of the Year	Andre Turgeon
Development Coach of the Year	Tayler Marra
Performance Coach of the Year	Jon Goldie
Performance Coach of the Year	Nathan Kern
Volunteer of the Year	Nicole Mathews
Referee of the Year	Jenna Nichol
2016 Mikasa Award Recipients:.		2016 Award Recipients' Bios & Photos
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Kara Crittall
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Hunter Stewart
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Sara McCreary
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Max Elgert
Development Coach of the Year	Grachella Garcia
Development Coach of the Year	Michele Hunt
Performance Coach of the Year	Greg Elgert
Performance Coach of the Year	Tracy Keats
Volunteer of the Year	Trish Holterhus
Referee of the Year	Pat Chizek
*2015 Mikada Award Recipients:*		2015 Award Ricipients' Bios & Photos
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Lexi Peart
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Jaxson Thys
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Natasha Gordey
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Jacob Kern
16U Female Coach of the Year	Suzi Cooke
16U Male Coach of the Year	Nathan Kern
18U Female Coach of the Year	Rhonda Schmuland
18U Male Coach of the Year	Ian Halliday
Volunteer of the Year	Denis Delemont
Official of the Year	Shawn Shepherd
2014 Mikasa Award Recipients:		2014 Award Recipients' Bios & Photos
16U Female Athlete of the Year	Hilary Howe
16U Male Athlete of the Year	Shane Verkland
18U Female Athlete of the Year	Ciara Hanly
18U Male Athlete of the Year	Tanner Greves
16U Female Coach of the Year	Rod Hebert
16U Male Coach of the Year	Greg Elgert
18U Female Coach of the Year	Sandra Lamb
18U Male Coach of the Year	Kerry MacDonald
Volunteer of the Year	Mary Beth Meeuwisse
Official of the Year	Everette Dionne
2013 Mikasa Award Recipients:		2013 Award Recipients' Bios
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Carter McIntyre
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Tessa Hill
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Levi Wolthuis
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Mariah Walsh
15U/16U Male Team Coach of the Year	Allan Coulter
15U/16U Female Team Coach of the Year	Raynell Lavertu-Prince
17U/18U Male Team Coach of the Year	Jace Barros
17U/18U Female Team Coach of the Year	Lindsay Jones
Official of the Year	Karl Hiebert
Volunteer of the Year	Janet Kawchuk
*2012 Mikasa Award Recipients:*		2012 Award Recipients' Bios
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Derek Meeuwisse
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Beth Vinnell
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Brett Walsh
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Alexa Gray
15U/16U Male Team Coach of the Year	Jace Barros
15U/16U Female Team Coach of the Year	Reid Brodie
17U/18U Male Team Coach of the Year	Mark Maris
Official of the Year	Pam Rintoul
Volunteer of the Year	Laura Vaillant
2011 Mikasa Award Recipients:		2011 Award Recipients' Bios
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Ryan Nickifor
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Courtney Yoo
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Blake Hinchey
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Alissa Coulter
15U/16U Male Team Coach of the Year	Candace Greves
15U/16U Female Team Coach of the Year	Dusty Freimark
17U/18U Male Team Coach of the Year	Howard Gelderman
17U/18U Female Team Coach of the Year	Rob Ellis
Official of the Year	Mike Malowany
Volunteer of the Year	Brenda Jones
2010 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2010 Award Recipients' Bios
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Brett Walsh
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Kacey Otto
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Zach Brown
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Carly Hamilton
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Mark Maris
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Linda Richter
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Tyler Myroniuk
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Tracy Keats
Official of the Year	Ashley Fox
Volunteer of the Year	Sai Wong
2009 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2009 Award Recipients' Bios
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Jackson Maris
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Kyjsa Brkich
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Jarron Mueller
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Camille Saxton
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	David Jones
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	LeAnn Kinvig
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Jeremy Deeks
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Reid Brodie
Official of the Year	Arch Beck
Volunteer of the Year	Heather Wishlow
2008 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2008 Award Recipients' Bio's
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Branden Schmidt
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Jordhynn Guy
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Jeremy Potter
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Kaylene Ehret
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Steve Weinbeer
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Tracy Keats
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Brad Poplawski
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Don Saxton
Official of the Year	JP Desaulniers
Volunteer of the Year	Candice Sylvester
2007 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2007 Award Recipients' Bio's
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Jarron Mueller
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Dione Lang
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Ciaran McGovern
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Jamie Thibeault
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Howard Gelderman
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Pat Pyne
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Ian Bennett
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Gisele Kreuger
Official of the Year	Neal Konowalyk
Volunteer of the Year	Don Hutton
2006 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2006 Award Recipients' Bio's
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Jarrod Offereins
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Camille Saxton
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Tanner Nault
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Tiffany Proudfoot
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Dale Gullekson
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Alex Melnyk
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Gord Bocock
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Chris Wandler
Official of the Year	Tammy McNally
Volunteer of the Year	Terry Noble
2005 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2005 Award Recipients' Bio's
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Paul Lindemulder
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Jaryn Ruether
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Thomas Jarmoc
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Raynell Lavertu
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Darryl Tetz
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Bob Gabruck
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Ryan Marsden
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Rob Lindberg
Official of the Year	Sherri Weed
Volunteer of the Year	Matt Stayner
2004 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2004 Award Recipients' Bio's
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Ben Saxton
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Jackie Gagnon
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Lauren Perry
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Art O'Dwyer
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Grace Scott
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Tyson Waters
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Linda Merrick
Official of the Year	Glenn Johnston
Volunteer of the Year	John Findlay
2003 Tachikara Award Recipients:		2003 Award Recipients Bios
16 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Colin Bell
16 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Kristy Anderson
18 & Under Male Athlete of the Year	Mark Thibeault
18 & Under Female Athlete of the Year	Carolyn Macdonald
16 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Ian Kulmatycki
16 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Heather McIntosh
18 & Under Male Team Coach of the Year	Mike Lauzon
18 & Under Female Team Coach of the Year	Craig Gattinger
Official of the Year	Scott McLean
Volunteer of the Year	Kathy Van Humbeck