School

Weledeh Catholic School and Table Tennis North hosted the 2016 NWT School Table Tennis Championships in Yellowknife on Sat. November 26th. 

The idea was very simple, play as many matches as possible. Therefore, organizers decided to create 2 big Round Robins,  mixed boys and girls, grades 6 and 7, one group, and grades 8 to 12, the other. The winners of each grade were decided by the overall ranking of their group. 

Undefeated, in not just their own grade, but the entire tournament, were Cole Clinton (6, 7) and Brian Liang (8-12) The youngest athlete, Zakary Mathieson (Grade 2) was undefeated, even among the Grade 6 players. That made him the gold medalist! 

Here are the results by Grades.

Grade 6 Boys

Zachary Mathison – Weledeh
Lennox Mutford – William Mac Donald
Adam Clinton – Allain St-Cyr

Grade 6 Girls

Natasha Zoe – Weledeh

Grade 7 Boys

Cole Clinton – Allain St-Cyr
Darius Moosenose – Weledeh

Grade 7 Girls

Amy Bestina – Weledeh
Therese Coyen – Weledeh
Jaylin Hamilton – Weledeh

Grade 8 Girls

India Edwards-Lowen – St. Patrick

Grade 9 Boys

Louis Phillipe Cloutier – Allain St-Cyr

Grade 9 Girls

Aurora Frasor – St. Patrick

Grade 10 Boys 

Brian Liang – Sir John Franklin
Anthony Wood – Allain St-Cyr

Grade 10 Girls

Tamara Jovic – Sir John Franklin

Grade 12 Boys 

Adrian Litao – St. Patrick
Sebastian Toner – St. Patrick
Justin Uson – St. Patrick

Grade 12 Girls

Katrina Deneron – Thomas Simpson

 Ava was named the “Fair Play Award Winner” for her positive attitude and encouragement for her team mates and others, as well as, finding the time to umpire matches. Katrina and Ava also received the “Most Improved Players award, showing up early for practice, enthusiastically giving their best. 

Most improved player award

Katrina Deneron – Thomas Simpson
Natasha Zoe – Weledeh

Fair Play Award

Ava Erasmus – Thomas Simpson

Jeremy Kielstra, President of Table Tennis North, was excited about the tournament. “Table Tennis North has had a successful few weeks running programming for youth here over the last couple of weeks. Things culminated with a tournament on Saturday. I think this was a great event for the sport and will encourage involvement in Table Tennis moving forward. Thank you to Thor for organizing and executing the events over the past weeks in Yellowknife. Thanks also to Ulli Nolting for helping out wherever needed.”

“It has been an amazing event, everything worked out perfectly” says Executive Director, Thor about the workshops and tournament this past weekend. He adds, “The kids got to play a lot of matches, even the parents used the opportunity to play on the tables that were available. The kids actually improved a lot in just that one day. Table Tennis rocks!!!”

We are looking forward to the 2017 Territorial Championships hosted in Fort Providence from January 27th to 29th 2017. See you there!?

It was a very exciting time for Table Tennis North when Doug Rentmeister, Executive Director of Sport North, came for a visit to Sir John High School. He observed the clinic that coach Thor was hosting with the Sir John Sport Academy.

Table Tennis is the 30th Territorial Sport Organization and newest member under the Sport North Umbrella. Now 16 months old, Table Tennis North has reached 11 communities, plus played and workshoped with over 2,500 children in the Northwest Territories. This month of November has included  5 schools in  Yellowknife. 

“Sport North is the foundation of our success. They welcomed us into their family just over a year ago, giving us the possibility as a Territorial Sport Organization to expand and grow. It is very important to come together and make the North stronger, we work and succeed together with one common goal.”

Weledeh School and Table Tennis North are excited to host the 2016 Territorial Table Tennis School Championships from November 25-27th 2016. It will be a combination of clinic and tournament so the students can see how a Table Tennis tournament is run and experience it. This will be our second Territorial School Championships in just one year of being a Territorial Sports Organization.

Early in Spring this year, all physical education teachers in Yellowknife came together to plan Table Tennis clinics in their schools. To finish those clinics they wanted to host a tournament and that is how it all came together.

“We are looking forward to this event. There is quite a few kids interested in Table Tennis, so I am sure that we will have a good turn out for this event.” says Ulli Nolting, Phys. Ed. Teacher at Weledeh School.

Also very excited about this is Marny Twigge, new elected Vice-President of Table Tennis North “We see that the schools are definitely loving the sport of Table Tennis and I am sure that this will be a great event with many participants.”

You can find more information right here on our website: https://tabletennisnorth.ca/2016-territorial-school-championships/

We are looking forward to seeing you all at Weledeh School on November 25th 2016!

Deh Gah School in Fort Providence was hosting their first ever Table Tennis Championships. Tournament Director Mikaela Vandell hosted over 50 kids from Junior to Senior High School to find a winner in the 2 days afternoon competition.

Senior High – 1. Place Willie Aqulaq 2. Place Dustin Bonnetrouge 3. Place Wyatt Causa

Junior High – 1. Place Evan Nadly 2. Place Luke Bonnetrouge 3. Place Isaac Bonnetrouge

After 3 weeks of Table Tennis Clinics at Deh Gah School and a daily Table Tennis Club, it was a great way to finish the physical education classes with a tournament.

Images from the tournament

Tournament Director Mikaela Vandell with the Winners

A very nice article in the Dehcho Drum “From student to teacher” in showing the growth of Table Tennis in the Northwest Territories. Two time Arctic Winter Games Athlete Mikaela Vandell taking on a different role. This time, coaching the children at Deh Gah School in Fort Providence!

Have a look at the article!

2016 Arctic Winter Games, and Grade 12 Graduation have been exciting events in Athlete Mikaela Vandell’s year. Also exciting that she is back at school, having just received her Certificate a few weeks ago. Why? To study more? To upgrade courses?  All wrong guesses! Mikaela, who also participated in the 2014 Arctic Winter Games, is back to inspire and teach the kids at Deh Gah School Table Tennis! She brings her years of experience from practice and competitions into the class to share her wisdom and enthusiasm for the sport.

“White Rabbit” she calls out and the kids now know it is the signal to hold up your racket. Or as she shows the right hand grip -” what is this called again?” “Yes, you got it, the shake hand grip. Good job everyone!”

The 17 year old Mikaela will be with classes from Grades 4 to 9 for the entire week. Can you see all the smiles that brings? Thanks for sharing your skills and fun and coming back to Deh Gah! Great to see you here!

Fort Providence is taking off with Table Tennis this week.

The first day of Table Tennis is concluded. Today the kids learned a bit about the service in Table Tennis. First a nice warm up with “Flush Tag” and then an obstacle course on 4 tables to learn the basics about Table Tennis.

Frog Games, Targets and Table Tennis Cricket were all part of this fun day! And of course a lot of smiles!!!

Legacy of the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games has began.

Table Tennis is big in Fort Providence and most of the kids play 4 days a week. Right now we have clinics with every class at the school for a few weeks.

Can you see the excitement in the kids.