When principal Trevor Otsig looks back at a year of athletics at Three Lakes School, he sees all the hard put in by students, staff and parents.

“We’re trying to build good citizens here at Three Lakes. It’s not about winning - winning is always nice but it’s about the process and what you learn along the way.”

The school recognized that hard work with their 16th annual athletic awards banquet Thursday night.

The school’s athletes brought home four medals this year - three golds and a silver - and this was the first year the Three Lakes boys and girls basketball teams both won gold.

Buy-in from everyone involved in sports - especially parents - is critical to the school’s success, Otsig said.

“It’s not always easy if your kid is not the one starting on the soccer field or the basketball court. I’m a parent now and I’ve seen my kids aren’t always starting or playing - it’s tough and I get that.

“But once you sit on the other side of the court, on the bench as a coach, it’s a tough job sometimes.”

Both basketball teams earned their championships at home in front of a packed gym, a testament to how sports are woven into the school community.

“We don’t have hockey in Middle Lake. So the gym is kind of like our small town Saskatchewan hockey rink. People, whether they have any relations or not, are coming down to watch games,” Otsig said.

“It’s awesome. The kids love it, playing in front of a crowd, and it makes for a lot better game.”

The full list of winners includes:

4-6 Cross Country Hard work and Dedication: Blaire Otsig, Sarah Mertz
Junior Cross Country Most promise: Breanna Brockman, Cara Dobrohoczki
Senior Cross Country Hard work and Dedication: Jenna Brockman, Jade Otsig
Junior Coed Volleyball Hard work: Jax Reiter
Senior Boys Volleyball Team Spirit: Cole Smith
Senior Girls Volleyball Most improved: Kelsey Parsons
MVP Volleyball Coed Most Valuable Player: Cara Dobrohoczki
MVP Volleyball SG Most Valuable Player: Jenna Brockman
MVP Volleyball SB Most Valuable Player: Troy Martinka
Kent Lessmeister Memorial Official of the Year: Troy Martinka
4-6 Coed Soccer Hard work: Karson Pitzel, Blaire Otsig
Junior Boys Soccer Sportsmanship and Team Spirit: Justin Richardson
Junior Girls Soccer Sportsmanship: Cara Dobrohoczki
Senior Boys Soccer Sportsmanship: Masson Altrogge
Senior Girls Soccer Leadership: Katelyne Richardson
Soccer MVP Coed Most Valuable Player: Emma Schnee
Soccer MVP JG Most Valuable Player: Morgan Otsig
Soccer MVP JB Most Valuable Player: Aiden King
Soccer MVP SG Most Valuable Player: Jenna Brockman
Soccer MVP SB Most Valuable Player: Troy Martinka
Curling Junior Sportsmanship: Cara Dobrohoczki
Curling Senior Sportsmanship: Tuker Bautz
4-6 Coed Basketball Most Improved: Sarah Mertz, Daylan Hoeflicher
Junior Boys Basketball Dedication and Determination: Aiden King
Junior Girls Basketball Dedication and Determination: Breanna Brockman
Senior Boys Basketball Hardest Working: Troy Martinka
Senior Girls MVP Most Valuable Player: Jenna Brockman
110% Basketball Coed 110%: Kolten King
110% Basketball JG 110%: Morgan Otsig
110% Basketball JB 110%: Justin Richardson
110% Basketball SG 110%: Kelsey Parsons
110% Basketball SB 110%: Masson Altrogge
Badminton Junior Hard work and Dedication: Rayanne Hoeflicher
Badminton Senior Hard work and Dedication: Troy Martinka
Badminton Junior Most Improved: Michael Schnee
Badminton Senior Most Improved: Cole Smith
Sports Volunteer Volunteerism: Kelsey Parsons
Track and Field Coed Dedication, Performance, Excellence: Masson Altrogge
Track and Field Junior Dedication, Performance, Excellence: Jade Otsig
Track and Field Junior Dedication, Performance, Excellence: Jenna Brockman
Track and Field Senior Dedication, Performance, Excellence: Rayanne Hoeflicher
Track and Field Senior Dedication, Performance, Excellence: Cole Smith
Track and Field Senior Dedication, Performance, Excellence: Cara Dobrohoczki
Intramural Award Team Award: Eagles
4-6 Boys Athletic Votes: Karson Pitzel
4-6 Girls Athletic Votes: Blaire Otsig
7-9 Boys Athletic Votes: Justin Richardson
7-9 Girls Athletic Votes: Morgan Otsig
10-12 Boys Athletic Votes: Troy Martinka
10-12 Girls Athletic Votes: Jenna Brockman
Participation Participation Points 1st – 680 pts: Jenna Brockman
Participation Participation Points 2nd – 650 pts: Morgan Otsig
Participation Participation Points 3rd – 610 pts: Justin Richardson
Spirit Award Boy Sportsmanship, Leadership, Spirit: Jenna Brockman
Spirit Award Girl Sportsmanship, Leadership, Spirit: Troy Martinka