Driedger & Loeppky Named Athletes of the Year

Two very special student/athletes ended their high school sporting careers on an extremely high note Friday morning.

Wellington Driedger of Steinbach Christian School and Eric Loeppky of Steinbach Regional Secondary School were named the "AA" & "AAAA" Athletes of the Year by the Manitoba High School Athletics Association at a press conference in Winnipeg.

"It's kind of like 'Wow I actually got this'," said Driedger who was captain of both the Flames volleyball and basketball teams. "You watch some of the other great athletes but to think that you're actually the one that gets chosen is a pretty awesome opportunity."

Driedger received the MVP Award and the Players Choice Award as Steinbach Christian successfully defended the Provincial "AA" High School Basketball Championship.

"I feel like I'm not the best athlete but I've definitely put in a lot of hard work into my skills and stuff like that because I really get passionate about stuff. I believe that passion has driven me to the next level where many athletes don't go."

Driedger was a member of the Steinbach Christian School Band, a middle school mentor, basketball skills coach, and is on the Spritual Emphasis Planning Committee.

He will attend the International House of Prayer University in Kansas City, Missouri.

"It's a big moment for us at SCS," said Flames athletic director Dewayne Penner. "Wellington's a special guy and and it was nice for him to get recognized."

Eric Loeppky was awarded the Players Choice Award and was named an All-Star at the Provincial AAAA Volleyball championship. He was also the leading scorer on the Sabres basketball team and won MVP honours at two tournaments and was on the SRSS Zone 13 championship golf team.

He also had no idea he was the "AAAA" Athlete of the Year recipient when he was texted the news.

"I just read this and I was shocked," texted back Loeppky who wasn't able to attend Friday's news conference in Winnipeg because he's training with the National Junior Volleyball team in Gatineau, Quebec and preparing for the NORCECA U21 Continental Championship next month. "Super excited and honoured to be named Athlete of the Year. My coach (Henry Kasdorf) just told me to sign because he thought I had a good shot."

Loeppky, who will be playing volleyball at Trinity Western University this fall, reflected on his high school volleyball career at the SRSS.

"My favourite sports memory at Steinbach Regional would have to be winning the "AAAA" provincial championship for volleyball in grade 11," said Loeppky. "To win with that group of guys was something really special. We had all been playing together since grade six & seven and to win the SRSS's first championship on our last game all together was amazing. It's something I'll never forget."

Ashley Jay of Hamiota Collegiate and Matthew Klassen of Glenboro School were named the “A” award winners. Kaylee Butterfield of Souris School was the female “AA” recipient. Carmen Ross of Virden Collegiate and William Hatherly of Hapnot Collegiate in Flin Flon were the “AAA” award winners while Keylyn Filewich of Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnnipeg was the female “AAAA” recipient.

Matthew Klassen and Keylyn Filewich were chosen the overall Manitoba Male & Female Athletes of the Year.