giving back to the sport I love
Chantal Vachon with the President of the
Winnipeg Ringette League, Paul Shipman receiving
the 2015 Winnipeg Ringette League “A” division
academic scholarship.
Chantal Vachon
Winner of the 2015 Winnipeg Ringette
League’s Academic Scholarship Award
– “A Division”
Growing up in a fast paced world has
taught me that change is inevitable.
Your teams, your plays, and your skills
change every season. Growing up, while
playing ringette from the age of six to
now being eighteen has taught me that
whilst my life continues to change, my
love for the game has always stayed the
same. Playing on a ringette team for the
past twelve years has taught me that it is
one thing to join a team, but another to
Katie Schoenborn with the President of the
Winnipeg Ringette League, Paul Shipman receiving
the 2015 Winnipeg Ringette League “B” division
academic scholarship
Katie Schoenborn
Winner of the 2015 Winnipeg Ringette
League’s Academic Scholarship Award
– “B Division”
I have been a player in the WRL since
the age of 9. Playing ringette over
the years has given me the sense of
belonging to a team, has made me a
better person when dealing with people
18 / sportslife
feel as a member. By playing the sport, I
have learned that to be a team member
means being patient, accepting, and
working as hard as you can to succeed
together. Being a part of the Winnipeg
Ringette League as a player has made
me into the hard working, determined,
and motivated person I am today. As a
player, ringette has taught me that in
life you must always work hard for what
you want; and even though the end
result might not always be what you
wanted, knowing that you gave it your
all has taught me to be proud of my
accomplishments and has helped me
keep my head held high.
Being involved with the Winnipeg
Ringette League as a volunteer has
made me appreciate the sport in more
ways than I thought possible. As a
volunteer; I have helped at Transcona
Ringette tournaments, pre-season
free skates, as well as helping instruct
the Transcona ringette association’s
tryouts every October. Volunteering
has helped me realize just how many
people have been involved throughout
my ringette career. Between hundreds
of tournaments, tryouts, coaches
and so much more; volunteering has
shown me all the hard work that is put
towards a player’s success. To be able to
contribute towards the success of young
ringette players has given me so much
gratitude in knowing that my time will
make a difference. By volunteering,
it has taught me that not everyone is
awarded a medal at the end of a season.
That sometimes, helping to your full
capacity means that a “thank you”
should be more rewarding than a gold
medal. Being involved as a volunteer
has taught me that self-rewarding is key
in life to stay happy and confidant in
ones achievements, and to put others
first is more than often rewarding
enough.
From grade one, to grade twelve I
have encountered change every day
of my life. But to be able to say that
my involvement in ringette and my
love for the game has always stayed
the same is extremely important to
me. Being involved with the Winnipeg
Ringette League will forever continue
to benefit my life as the bonds I have
made with my teammates and coaches
have been fundamental in my personal
development and will be forever
cherished. l
and has taught me patience, respect,
and teamwork. I value the time I have
spent playing on a team. I have become
great friends with many of my fellow
team mates after the ringette season
is over. The opportunity to meet new
people and make new friends has been
very rewarding. Once I was playing for a
few years, I decided to start helping with
the younger girls by assistant coaching.
Although initially this was for a credit at
school, I found coaching was something
I wanted to continue doing, long after
I completed the hours required for the
school credit. Last year, I was coaching
two Lorette teams. Coaching has given
me another aspect of teamwork and
respect. It has made me a better player
and a better person. Once I was old
enough to become a ringette ref, I
embraced this new challenge. Being
a ref has come with many challenges.
Being in control of a game and having
to discuss rules with coaches, players,
and parents have provided me with yet
another aspect of the sport.
When the MRA brought in the R4U
program, I volunteered to be trained
as an instructor and work with the
youngest girls in the program. This
is truly where my love for the game
really shows. The weekly instructing
with the girls has given me a chance
to become a leader and mentor for
young girls who want to learn the game
of ringette. During all of my years in
ringette, I have influenced many of my
friends and team mates to participate
in volunteering for the younger teams.
I believe this is the way to give back to
the community and the great sport of
ringette.
I hope to be able to continue to
pursue my studies at the University of
Winnipeg while still allowing time to
play, coach, and instruct ringette. l