Kendra Chernoff wins Youth Female Athlete of the Year

Swim Saskatchewan is pleased to announce that for the 2nd year in a row, Kendra Chernoff won the Youth Female Athlete of the Year Award.

The recipients of the 2009 Sask Sport Inc. Athlete of the Year Awards were announced on March 25th at the 25th annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards ceremony, held in Regina. The annual Sport Awards help foster pride in sport achievement in Saskatchewan; athletes receive the encouragement and recognition they deserve for all of their hard work and practice. These athletes carry on a legacy of athletic excellence in Saskatchewan. In total, 53 nominations for the Athlete of the Year Awards were received. From these nominees, three finalists were selected for each of the six categories: master, youth-male, youth-female, male, female and team. The active and affiliate members of Sask Sport Inc. chose the award recipients in each category in a vote.

Kendra was nominated by Swim Saskatchewan for all of her great accomplishments last season. Chernoff, age 18, broke 37 provincial records and 3 national records in 2009. At the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific swimming Championships, she helped the Canadian Team win silver in the 4 x 100 Medley relay, won an individual bronze in the 100 Fly and broke the 200 Fly provincial record. At the Western Canadian Championships, Chernoff won 3 gold medals in all 3 Fly events and broke the national 100 Fly record twice. She broke the National SC Senior/Open record and was crowned National Champion at the 2009 Spring Nationals. At the 2009 Summer Nationals/World Aquatic Championship Trials, Kendra placed first in the 50 Fly, second in 100 Fly and fourth in 200 Fly. In the morning heats she broke the national record. She won two Gold medals and one silver medal at the 2009 Canada Summer Games. On the international stage, she won Gold in the 100 Fly and Bronze in the 200 fly at the 2009 Tri Nations Cup as well as Silver in the 100 Fly and Bronze in both the 50 and 200 Fly at the British Short Course Grand Prix.

Other award winners were:

Master Athlete of the Year: Ken Orr, Churchbridge, Saskatchewan Cycling Association
Youth Male Athlete of the Year: Shylo Wollf, Saskatoon, Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan
Male Athlete of the Year: Lucas Makowsky, Regina, Saskatchewan Speed Skating Association
Female Athlete of the Year: Brianne Theisen, Humboldt, Saskatchewan Athletics
Team of the Year: 2009 Canada Games Canoe/Kayak Team, Regina, Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan

The Coaching Awards were presented again this year.
The Coach of the Year Award was presented to John Wetzstein, Regina, Saskatchewan Rowing
The recipient of the Coach Dedication Award – Male was: Dale Hazell, Saskatoon, Skate Canada - Saskatchewan
The recipient of the Coach Dedication Award – Female was: Laurie Wachs, Saskatoon, Synchro Sask

The Saskatchewan Sport Awards also featured the Volunteer Recognition Awards, which were presented to:
Peter Brook, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Rowing Association
Dr. Marlys Misfeldt, Saskatoon, Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan
Judy Warick, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Athletics

Biographies of all the recipients, finalists and nominees can found at www.sasksport.sk.ca.

“Our athletes have had a significant impact on sport in the province and have demonstrated the level of excellence that can be reached when you set out to achieve your goals,” said Dale Holmes, President of Sask Sport Inc. “Sask Sport is proud of all the award finalists, recipients, and nominees. Their hard work and accomplishments in athletics and life are a tribute to the success of the sport system in our Province.”

2010 Olympic bronze medalist and Saskatchewan native Lyndon Rush was the special guest for the evening. Born in Humboldt, Rush played five years with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team. In 2004, he transitioned to the sport of bobsleigh and joined the national development team, learning to become a pilot. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, his first Olympic games, Rush led the Canada 1 four-man team to a third place medal. Prior to the Olympics, he won his first-ever World Cup victories in 2009 in the two-man event in Switzerland and in the four-man event in Lake Placid. The Saskatchewan Sports Awards are sponsored by Global TV, McMaster Photographers, Coaches Association of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Lotteries and the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan.

Swim Saskatchewan congratulates Kendra on winning the 2009 Saskatchewan Youth Female Athlete of the Year award.