2011 Hall of Fame

Athlete

  • Christine Mordhagen
    Christine Mordhagen

    Christine Nordhagen is a graduate of Beaverlodge Regional High School, where she competed on the school’s volleyball and badminton teams, winning a 3A girls volleyball provincial banner in 1988. It was not until after her high school career that she found her calling as a wrestler. She didn’t discover competitive wrestling until the age of 20, while she was studying for her education degree at the University of Alberta. She has since become the most decorated female wrestler of all time.

    Christine has been a true pioneer in the sport of women’s wrestling. The first women’s world wrestling championships was held in 1987 and Canada did not participate until the early 90’s. In 1993, Christine paved the way for future Canadian athletes by winning a spot on Canada’s first women’s world team. Christine took the competition by storm and never looked back. For 12 years, she was a dominating force in the world arena capturing ten Canadian Championships and was World Champion in 1994, 1996-98, and 2000-01. In 2001, the announcement came that women’s wrestling would be an event at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games. Christine qualified for a spot on the Olympic team and placed 5that the Games.

    Christine has received many honours during her career. In 1997, the wrestling world governing body named her as the Top International Female. She was the first woman to be inducted into the International Wrestling Federation Hall of fame and the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association Hall of Fame. Christine has also been honoured with a ‘Breakthrough Award’ by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and continues to be an ambassador for the sport of wrestling and she was instrumental in the international growth of women’s wrestling.

    Christine gives back to the sport of wrestling through coaching and mentoring young athletes and coaches. Her influence, reputation and attitude make her one of the most influential women in sport in Canada.

  • Terry Danyluk
    Terry Danyluk

    Terry Danyluk graduated from M.E. LaZerte high school in Edmonton, where he led his volleyball team to a City and Provincial Championship in 1976.

    Since his high school days, Terry has gone on to have a storied athletic career. His dedication, work ethic and athletic ability helped him to be selected for the Canadian Junior National Team in 1977 and then he moved on from there to play two seasons at the University of Alberta from 1979-81. Due to his commitments to the 1984 Team Canada Olympic program, Terry was unable to dedicate his time to the university team for his last years in university. While at the U of A, he was selected to the Canada West all-star team and was also the CIAU tournament MVP twice and led the Golden Bears to a CIAU National Championship in 1981. The U of A further acknowledged Terry’s athletic aptitude by naming him the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year in 1981.

    Terry represented Canada as a member of the Sr Men’s National team in 1978 and from 1981 to 1987. He competed in several international competitions, which included the 1981 Commonwealth Championship team, the 1983 Universade silver medal team, and the 1984 Summer Olympics fourth place team. Terry continued his international level of play in the All Japan League, French National ‘A’ league and the Swiss National ‘A’ league from 1984-1991. During this time, Terry was able to lead his teams to great successes and was the recipient of many awards and accolades.

    Terry has now shifted his athletic career to a coaching career and has been the head coach of the U of A Golden Bears for close to 18 seasons. He has led his teams to five CIS National championships and has been named Canada West Coach of the Year six times.

    Terry continues to be a presence in the volleyball world and has given back to the sport that he is passionate about by immersing himself in a variety of programs from the National team to world student games.

Athletic Administrator

  • Marg Debyshire
    Marg Debyshire

    Marg is a retired teacher from Medicine Hat. She has served in a variety of capacities from teacher and AD at McCoy High School, Director of Athletics on the ASAA, chairperson of Provincial Track & Field 2007 & 2010, South zone secretary for 27 years and organizer of countless zone championships in many sports.

    Marg has always displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility and organization. She is definitely a leader rather than a follower. As zone secretary, Marg takes care of the South zone finances, communications, awards, registrations, minutes, website, ordering of materials and all other administrative duties involved in running a very active zone.

    Marg has also been the recipient of the 1994 Robert H. Routledge Award and the 2003 Zone Award of Merit, HPEC Distinguished Service Award and is the namesake of the ASAA’s 1A/2A Girls Golf Team Trophy, which reflect the great amount of respect that she has garnered not only within her zone but throughout the province.

    Marg is very active in her local community, serving on the committee that built the new track in Medicine Hat, running community events - track meets, curling bonspiels, and coordinating the Southern Alberta Summer games. She is an avid golfer, curler and all around amazing woman.

    “So what will we do when Marg steps down? Heaven help us, because I don’t know of anyone in this zone that can fill those shoes. My answer will be - We’ll thank the Lord that she has led us and guided us for so long and that we have all had the pleasure and honour to have worked with her.” ~Terry Hanna, Kate Andrews Athletic Director and 2010 Robert H. Routledge Award winner ~

Coach

  • Barb Young
    Barb Young

    Barb is a dedicated wife, caring mother, a person that believes in lifelong learning, teacher, mentor and coach. She has been coaching for over thirty years in a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, track & field, tennis and recently team handball. She started her teaching career at Eastview Jr. High and then transferred to Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive in Red Deer. She has given thirty five years of servant leadership to the youth, teachers and school division during her career.

    Over her career, she has only ever missed volleyball provincials three times. Her teams have done very well over the years and were crowned 4A Provincial Champions from 2001-2003. She has dedicated countless hours to helping athletes improve their skills and more importantly become better people. Barb’s dedication to her players is displayed by her willingness and passion for mentoring young athletes and helping them to achieve success in sport.

    Barb has been a successful teacher and coach because she has a philosophy that promotes positive attitudes and behavior in all of the athletes and students she works with. She is confident and has the ability and skill to develop confidence in others. She truly loves what she does and the countless athletes and students whose lives she has touched are a reflection of that.

    Successful coaches have a model of persistence, both in games and practices. Barb believes in and cares for each student athlete she has worked with. Barb does not only understand the game but she also understands her athletes. She has an open door policy with students, athletes and parents and treasures the opportunities to help mold their character and lives.

    A successful team in Barb’s view is not about a team that wins every game, but rather that all the athletes strengthen existing skills, learn new ones, create lasting memories, and most importantly have fun.

  • Tom Inkster
    Tom Inkster

    Tom was involved in amateur wrestling as an athlete, coach, official and administrator for over 37 years. He had an amazing career at Ernest Manning High School in Calgary, where he coached the wrestling team to three consecutive high school team championships.

    Tom impacted the lives of hundreds of student athletes on and off the mat. He coached 105 individual provincial champions and seven national age-class champions. Tom’s contributions as a coach are matched by his contributions as an official, being a honourary member of the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Officials Association in perpetuity. He officiated provincially for 27 years, nationally for 22 years and internationally for 14 years. He was responsible for the design and implementation of the draw program for Canada as it currently stands.

    Tom’s passion for the sport resulted in him being recognized by several provincial and local associations for his contributions to wrestling. Some of these awards included - the FILA Gold Star, three-time recipient of the Alberta Amateur Wrestling Association Outstanding Contributor Award, honourary lifetime member of the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Officials Association, induction into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association Hall of Fame, induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, and induction into the Calgary Hall of Fame.

    Tom was a guiding force for wrestling at all levels across, not only across Alberta but throughout Canada, providing a model and legacy that all athletes, coaches, officials and administrators can follow and pursue. He will be greatly missed.