2017 Hall of Fame

Athlete

  • Jen Kish

    It’s a beautiful day to play some rugby - Jen Kish played Rugby in grades 10 and 11 while attending W.P. Wagner High School in Edmonton. While playing on the U16 Alberta Team, her skills were recognized and she joined the U19 Team Canada roster. At age 17, Jen was selected to join the Senior Women’s National Team and played senior women’s rugby in Edmonton as well. Jen would go on to play in 3 Nations Cups and the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Rugby 15’s. In 2013, Kish captained Canada to a silver medal at the 2013 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Rugby 7’s. Her performance was acknowledged and Jen was named Rugby Canada’s 7’s Player of the Year in 2013- for the second year in a row. She went on to play at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and led her team to a gold medal. In 2016, Kish was named to Canada’s first ever Women’s Rugby 7’s Olympic Team - the team won Bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. When Jen is in the Edmonton area, she drops by her Rugby Club to chat or help with skills for junior rep teams. She enjoys the chance to help young players, and to have the opportunity to talk about her Olympic experience, rugby, and her teammates.
    “Jen’s passion for sport, in particular for equity in sport for women, is commendable and shows that the leadership she has grown on the field has transferred into positive leadership off the field.” ~John Tait, Head Coach, National Sr. Women’s 7’s Program
    “I have watched her grow into a confident leader who puts the needs of her teammates first, her unselfish play and her desire to achieve team success over individual accolades is always represented by the way she makes those around her better players.” ~John Tait, Head Coach, National Sr. Women’s 7’s Program

  • Stefan Daniel

    Stefan Daniel recently graduated from the National Sport School in 2015. As a student athlete, Stefan competed in Cross Country and Track & Field while attending the National Sport School. Stefan was fortunate to be one of the student athletes who attended ASAA Cross Country Provincials, and placed first in his age category, all 3 years. After high school, we would see Stefan on the world stage when he began competing in National and International Triathalons & Paratriathalons. In 22 starts, Stefan has been on the podium 13 times with 9 wins. Some of those wins include: 2016 Yokohama ITU World Paratriathlon (Men’s PT4), 2015 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Chicago (Men’s PT4), 2015 Edmonton ITU World Paratriathlon Event (Men’s PT4), 2015 CAN Paratriathlon National
    Championship (Men’s PT4), 2015 CAN Triathlon National Championships (Jr Men) and the 2015 London ITU World Paratriathlon Event (Men’s PT4). His biggest celebration to date could be considered his Silver Medal in the Paratriathalon at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At this event, Stefan made history by becoming the first Canadian triathlete to win a medal at the Paralympic Summer Games given that the sport made its Paralympic debut in Rio.
    “Stefan’s commitment to excel is shown in everthing he does…He is a kind, caring, hardworking young man.” ~Rob Jewan, Assistant Principal, National Sport School
    “His dedication to training not only served him well at the High School level, but also at the National and International level, competing in several events as a PT 4 athlete as well as against able bodied participants.” - Rob Jewan, Assistant Principal, National Sport School
    “Students at the National Sport School demonstrate commitment, dedication and perseverance on a daily basis. Stefan exemplified these characteristics, consistently modeling hard work and responsible citizenship as as he strives to continue as a very high performance athlete.” ~Ken Weipert, Principal, National Sport School

Athletic Administrator

  • Don Maxwell

    Don Maxwell has held various Administrative positions in his 35+ years as an educator with the Calgary Board of Education. Don was the Athletic Director at Henry Wise Wood (1986-1988), and Queen Elizabeth (1988-1994). He was the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Ernest Manning (1994-1996). While at these schools in Calgary, he also coached football, basketball and volleyball. In 1996, Don assumed the position as the Secretary-Treasurer for the Calgary Senior High Schools Athletic Association (CSHSAA), and continued in that role until 2001 when he retired from CSHSAA. His next role would be as Sessional Instructor of Education at the University of Calgary, becoming a University Associate to teaching students for five years. During this time, he was asked to work for the CSHSAA once again. This time he would be stepping in as Executive Director in 2008 for a short period. Throughout the years, Don has continued to assist the CSHSAA on any committee work that requires his knowledge and expertise. He also continues to volunteer his time with various ASAA events.
    “Don Maxwell has been a selfless, tireless worker for all things athletic, for the the city of Calgary and the province of Alberta.” ~Rob Lederer
    “Don would be a wonderful addition to the group of previous honourees; he is well-deserving of the stature as one of the ASAA athletic giants, upon whose shoulders we all stand.” ~Rob Lederer
    “Through the progress made in provincial athletics and various challenges that caused the CSHSAA and ASAA to work closely together, Don and I became great friends. Don is a great leader who, in his quiet and unassuming way had the ability to impact school sport for the better. He commands great respect amongst his peers.” ~John Paton, Executive Director, ASAA~

Coach

  • Del Cleland

    Del Cleland began coaching volleyball sideways and by happenstance. He never played as a kid but he played baseball, basketball and football. As a young, new teacher, he took on the role of Volleyball Coach as a way to impress and get a permanent contract. He had to learn the game one step ahead of his players and made himself available to attend many coaching clinics, reading manuals, and watching other successful and more experienced coaches. Del coached Volleyball for an impressive 34 years at W.R. Myers in Taber, positively impacting numerous students during this time. His teams went to provincials countless times winning 3 gold (1979, 2001 and 2002), 4 silver and 2 bronze. During his time coaching at W.R. Myers, he won 20 South Zone Volleyball Championships out of 29. Del was the quintessential player’s coach - he was tough and demanding, but personable, fun and well loved by his athletes. He tended to have teams with a small roster size but he made sure those teams were the most fit and athletically conditioned of any team in the province. Practices were long and intense and always ended with conditioning. These practices made you bond as a team - everyone was going through the same thing.
    “Coaching is not just imparting technical skills in practice, and managing game situations. That’s maybe a third to half of the role. The other half, is managing the psyche of the team collectively, and of the individual athlete.” ~Jordan Cleland, Del’s son
    “The team was blessed with the wisdom and insight you gave us as a coach” ~Amy Nyce
    “We ran stairs, did thousands of push ups and climbed ropes till our hands bled but never did we do it alone, Del was always there leading us, doing everything he asked of us” ~Robert Layton
    “Almost every aspect of my life has been influenced by Del Cleland. He is true to who he is. He lives life to the fullest and will bring along with him any and all that want to join in…he is a man who has dedicated his whole life to health, fitness and education.” ~Robert Layton