A multi-sport athlete and a hard-throwing pitcher were honoured last week as the top senior high athletes at F.P. Walshe school.
Raegan Gurney and Nathan Coast received the annual Danny Paskal Memorial Award.
“This award is presented each year to a student or students who best exemplify the spirit of Danny Paskal,” F.P. Walshe school athletic director Aimee Sandham said. “Each recipient has a true love of sports, shows a deep desire to improve, learn new skills and strives to reach the highest level of competency possible.”
The award was presented Wednesday during the school’s annual Blue and White Night.
The award is presented each year in memory of Danny Paskal, an F.P. Walshe school student-athlete who 30 years ago was killed in a car crash.
“The Danny Paskal award recipients also demonstrate a healthy lifestyle, befitting an athlete,” Sandham said.
Raegan competed hard in her Grade 12 year on the volleyball and basketball courts, the rugby pitch, and in badminton and track and field.
On Wednesday night, Raegan was named Most Valuable Player of the Flyers senior girls basketball team, after earning Chinook league all-star honours during the season.
“Reagan was our captain and leader on our basketball team,” Flyers coach Aimee Sandham said. “She consistently gave 100 per cent effort and dedication every game and every practice.”
Sandham said Raegan was quiet when she joined the team in Grade 10 but in Grade 12 provided a strong voice and rallying presence.
“She led by example and was consistently asking questions of how to get better and improve,” Sandham said.
Sandham said Raegan’s strengths are her work ethic and commitment to the game, along with a great drive to the basket and shot.
“Raegan has a passion for the game that we rarely see these days,” Sandham said. “She gave all she had to each game and practice. A lovely human and a great person with values.”
The Flyers rugby team also honoured Raegan during Blue and White Night as Most Improved Player.
Nathan Coast was named Most Valuable Player on the Flyers baseball team during Blue and White Night.
“Nathan was a game changer,” Flyers coach Ben Paskal said. “When he was pitching, we had the chance to beat anyone.”
“When he wasn’t pitching, he was behind the dish working his hardest, leading his teammates. He also was a big part of our offence hitting for a high average with power and he’s also a really smart base-runner. He’s a pretty special talent we were lucky to have on our side.”
Paskal said Coast pitched 21 innings of high school baseball this season, recording 51 strikeouts.
“He not only has impressive velocity but commands his off speed pitches well,” Paskal said. “He thinks like a pitcher, mixing his pitches, keeping runners honest on base and just does so many small things that make him so effective.”
Nathan also contributed on offence with a batting average of .415 this season, with a home run in the league playoff tournament in Medicine Hat.
“When Nathan wasn’t pitching, he played arguably the toughest position in baseball, catcher, which he does a great job of as well,” Paskal said. “He takes charge of the game as a leader, helps out our pitchers and controls the run game very well.”
In addition to playing for the Flyers in high school, Nathan also plays for the American Legion Fort Macleod Royals and the Lethbridge Longhorns.
Nathan will suit up for the Dawson College Buccaneers in Glendive, Mont. next season.
Nathan also played hockey this past season for the Fort Macleod Mavericks U18 team.
Both Raegan and Nathan received Walshe letters on Wednesday, which were presented to grade 12 students in recognition of their dedication to the school’s athletic program.
Nathan Coast and Raegan Gurney received the Danny Paskal Memorial Award on Wednesday during Blue and White Night at F.P. Walshe school.
