The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association, with support from Jostens, has announced the winners of the 2016-2017 Jostens High School Athletes of the Year. The presentations took place at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame on June 28.

Victoria Tachinski and Rylan Metcalf
The MHSAA has four competition classifications which are based on school populations.  “A” schools are rural schools with a population of under 125 students, “AA” are any City of Winnipeg schools with a population of under 100, plus rural schools with a population of 125-300. “AAA” consists of City of Winnipeg schools with a population of 100-500 and rural schools of over 300, while the “AAAA” category is all City of Winnipeg schools with a population of 500 students and greater, in addition to Lord Selkirk Regional, Crocus Plains Regional and Vincent Massey High School in Brandon, Steinbach Regional, Springfield Collegiate, Garden Valley and Northlands Parkway in Winkler, and Portage Collegiate.

A Male and Female Athlete of the Year was selected from each category, along with an overall Provincial High School Male and Female Athlete of the Year.

The 2016- 2017 overall Jostens High School Athletes of the Year are:


  • Male: Rylan Metcalf of Carman Collegiate
  • Female: Victoria Tachinski of Vincent Massey Collegiate (Winnipeg)


“A” Girls:
Georgia-Rae Maxwell of Elton Collegiate (Forrest) – participated in volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field. She led her team to numerous tournament wins and was named MVP and MHSAA Athlete of the Week. She was also nominated to the volleyball graduating all-star team and was a two-time player of the game at the Provincial Championships. In basketball, she led her team to a third-place finish at Provincials and was nominated to the graduating all-star team.  Georgia-Rae is the secretary of her grad committee and a junior high referee for volleyball and basketball.  She is an accomplished pianist and has been awarded the McFadden Piano Scholarship, for highest mark in a piano solo, and the grade 10 piano solo award at the Rolling River Festival of Arts.  She volunteers at her local Church and the Brandon Humane Society.  She also received the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Scholarship and was named a Credit Unions of Manitoba Scholar Athlete.

“AA” Girls:
Jessica Edel of Morris School – participated in volleyball, basketball, soccer and track and field. She was the captain of both her volleyball and basketball teams in addition to being chosen by her peers at both volleyball and basketball Provincials for the Players Choice Award.  Jessica is a graduating all-star player in both volleyball and basketball and has been awarded the McDonald’s Leadership Award and the Ron Meyer’s Leadership Award.  She is a member of her schools’ student council as well as a volunteer scorekeeper, canteen worker and member of the yearbook committee.  Jessica plays on the Dynamo Club volleyball team, is a swimming instructor at the Morris Community Pool, and a volunteer with Siloam Mission. Jessica was also named a Credit Unions of Manitoba Scholar Athlete.

“AAA” Girls:
Renée Desroches of Dauphin Regional Secondary – participated in volleyball, basketball, fastball, badminton and curling.   She was named a provincial all-star and graduating all-star for volleyball and had several game star and all-star awards at various tournaments. She was her team’s starting point guard in basketball and mix doubles zone runner up in badminton. Renée was the captain of her fastball team as well as a starting pitcher and shortstop and led her team to the Zone curling championship. She has assisted with numerous volleyball clinics and the Parkland Vipers club volleyball team, as well as officiating and scorekeeping for volleyball and basketball.  She has been recruited and offered scholarships at several post-secondary institutions for volleyball and decided to stay close to home and attend the Canadian Mennonite University. Renée is a Heart & Stroke canvas assistant and volunteers at her local church and district food bank.

“AAAA” Girls:
Victoria Tachinski of Vincent Massey Collegiate (Winnipeg) – participated in basketball, hockey, track and field and cross country. She was a member of the Provincial finalist team for basketball and was named as a provincial all-star and graduating all-star. She was assistant captain of her hockey team and was nominated for the CTV Division MVP. She was a West Winnipeg Athletic Conference meet champion for cross country and placed 2nd in the 200M and first in the 400M and 800M at the 2017 Milk Track and Field Provincial Championships. Victoria is a member of her schools grad committee, a WWAC Scholar Athlete, and is a volunteer at Tough Track practices, the Annual Run at the Ridge, as well as a member of Team Manitoba Flag Football.

“A” Boys:
Riley Rutherford of Glenboro School – participates in volleyball, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf and track and field.  He was the captain of his volleyball and basketball teams. He was a graduating all-star for both volleyball and basketball, and named player of the game at the basketball graduating all-star game. He was a member of the zone 6 golf championship team, and a goalie for the Westman High School Hockey League all-star team. He is the sports representative on the student council and played a major role in his school’s drama production. Riley also helps coach the 8 & 9 year-old Grand Slam baseball team.

“AA” Boys:
Rylan Metcalf of Carman Collegiate – participates in volleyball, hockey, basketball, badminton, and track and field. He was a provincial MVP for volleyball, and an all-star at the provincial hockey and basketball championships. He was the team captain and provincial champion in volleyball, hockey and basketball. He is the student council president, played the lead role in the school’s drama production, a Grade 7 gym class volunteer, and a referee and scorekeeper for volleyball and basketball. Rylan volunteers for the Christmas Cheer Board and is a member of the 204 U18 volleyball team. Rylan was the recipient of the Garret Lee Sidor Memorial Award for basketball and the McDonald’s Leadership Award.

“AAA” Boys:
Jonathan Miranda of St. Maurice School – plays volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field.  His was captain of his volleyball team, and received MVP honours for basketball and the most sportsmanlike player award at a basketball tournament. He is a member of the grad committee and a student tutor. Jonathan also referees for the Grade 7 and 8 and junior varsity volleyball and basketball teams.

“AAAA” Boys:
Image result for mhsaa basketballmanitoba.caCole Penner of Garden City Collegiate – participated in volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field.  He was the team captain for his volleyball, basketball and badminton teams. He was named MHSAA Athlete of the Week and has received numerous all-star awards at various volleyball and basketball tournaments. Cole was a graduating volleyball and basketball all-star and has been awarded the Carl Ridd Award for basketball. He has also received the McDonald’s Leadership award and was named a Credit Unions of Manitoba Scholar Athlete. Cole is a member of his grad committee, peer tutoring and Garden City Collegiate fundraising. He has assisted with a clothing drive for the Salvation Army, and with the junior high and junior varsity volleyball and basketball practices. He is also a member of the Riptide Club volleyball team and senior men’s basketball team.

Source:  http://www.mhsaa.ca/news/content-id-896/Jostens-High-School-Athletes-of-the-Year-Selected/ 
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