Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame announces 2019 inductees

Skip Diane Foster’s crew was comprised of third Shirley McPherson, second Shirley Kohuch and first Chris Wilson.

Together, they captured the 2006 Alberta Senior Ladies championship. In 2007, they repeated as provincial champions and went on to win the Canadian Senior Ladies crown.

That win got them to the 2008 World Senior Curling Championships in Finland and claimed the world title with a 10-2 win over Scotland. Team Foster received the 2008 Kinsmen Sports Team of the Year award and were later inducted into the Southern Alberta Curling Association Hall of Fame.

“It’s a real honour, a great honour,” said McPherson.

“It’s totally a team effort, right from the beginning until the last rock is thrown,” she added, giving kudos to their teammates Foster and Wilson.

Kohuch said it was something neither of them expected, and it was quite the pleasant surprise.

LETHBRIDGE LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STARS – 1981 CANADIAN CHAMPIONS (TEAMS)

In 1981, the 13-year-old division of the Lethbridge Little League All Stars made it all the way to the Joe Shea Canadian Little League Championship in Calgary.

They lost their first game of the tournament but avenged that loss with four straight wins in a row. They went on to beat the Calgary Continentals 6-5 (coming back from a five-run deficit) for the championship.

The following year, four players from the team played for the 1982 Canadian Senior Little League team that was inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

“It’s nice that we get to get together with all these old players and see them,” said Blake Babki, a member of the team.

His former teammate Scott Crowe said it was an amazing experience playing on the Little League team.

“This recognized the first team for that division, that’s quite special. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go on to any World Series or anything, but the year after you guys (the 1982 senior team) did,” Crowe said.

Babki added that one of their former teammates has since passed away, and it’s going to be nice to honour him during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“Just to see a lot of the old guys, because we don’t see a lot of these guys…I mean Scott and I see each other because we’re involved in Little League baseball again (coaching). It’s funny how life goes full circle, so it will be really nice to see some of the old guys and share this with them.”

Crowe said that one of his favourite things about playing Little League was the camaraderie and teamwork with other players.

“Now we’re coaching our own kids in Lethbridge, so to give back what we got and hopefully get our kids there (is and) would be quite the accomplishment.”

TREVOR MCALPINE – JUDO (ATHLETES)

In 2002, the heavyweight was named the Kinsmen Male Sportsperson of the Year after winning gold at the Pan American Under-20 Junior Judo Championships in Mexico and the at the United States Open in Las Vegas.

Across a decade, McAlpine racked up countless accomplishments, including the 2000, 2001 and 2004 Canadian Senior Championships, the 2003 Canada Cup as well as podium finishes at the 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 Pan American Championships. He also finished on the podium at the 2003 Swedish Open and the 2005 Finnish Open.

In total, he amassed 21 international tournament medals and six national senior championship medals over the course of his judo career.

DAWN BERRY-FURTADO – GOLF (ATHLETES)

Playing out of Henderson Lake Golf Club, Berry-Furtado won the 1993 Lethbridge City Junior title, three straight Alberta Schools Athletics Association (ASAA) High School team championships and the 1995 ASAA Individual Gold medal for Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.

That was followed up with two provincial titles, the 1996 and 1997 Alberta Junior championships.

She went on the play for the University of Oregon Ducks (a Division 1 NCAA school) and became a three-time Academic All-American and a 2000 PAC 10 Conference all-star selection.

Following her collegiate career, she became an assistant golf coach at James Madison University and Vanderbilt University before returning to Southern Alberta to teach. Berry-Furtado went on the win eight Henderson Lake Ladies Classic championships and three City Ladies Amateur titles.

ARD BIESHEUVEL – VOLLEYBALL (BUILDER)

Biesheuvel played at the collegiate level and followed that up with coaching Lethbridge College’s women’s team from 1990 to 1993. His teaching career brought him to both Lethbridge Collegiate Institute (LCI) and Chinook High School. His teams captured 10 straight zone titles between the two schools, including a perfect 59-0 season at LCI in 2007. That team won provincial gold.

He was named the Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League Coach of the Year eight times and was one of the founders of the Lethbridge Volleyball Club in 1992.

In 2003, he founded the STARS Volleyball program. In 2015, he became the first-ever high school coach to be named as a coach with the male Canadian Youth National Team.

He also co-wrote a book, ‘Coaching Volleyball Champions’, that included tips and insight from top university and national team coaches from across North America.

BERNHARD POHL – MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (BUILDER)

Pohl began his career in the mixed martial arts field as a fighter and has served in every capacity of the sport on over 250 fight cards over the last 18 years. He served on the Lethbridge Combative Commission from 2004 to 2017, including many terms as vice chair.

Pohl was behind a referee seminar that brought unified rules and regulations to the sport locally under the guidance of UFC referee John McCarthy. He was also instrumental in bringing the Canadian Mixed Martial Arts Amateur Tournament to Lethbridge, where it’s been held since 2015.

CAROL THIBERT – MULTI SPORT (SPECIAL AWARD)

Thibert worked with City of Lethbridge Recreation and Culture Department from 1990 to 2015. As an athlete, she’s competed in many local competitions ranging from swimming to cycling to triathlon.

She is one of five athletes to have competed in all 30 Moonlight Runs, and has served in multiple capacities for youth, senior and 55-plus Southern Alberta and Alberta Winter and Summer Games committees. Thibert was a founding member of the Lethbridge Sports Council and the Alberta Sports development Centre Southwest.

She’s served on the board for many groups, including the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, the Southern Alberta Recreation Association, Healthy Lethbridge and KidSport.

AWARDS CEREMONY

This year marks the Hall of Fame’s 34th anniversary. Past inductees include volleyball star Lauren Perry, former NHLer Bryan Maxwell and many others.

The 2019 induction banquet and ceremony will take place on Friday, May 3 at the ENMAX Centre.

by Justin Goulet (@JustinGoulet21)

Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame announces 2019 inductees

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