At its annual awards luncheon, Certificates of Recognition were presented to basketball volunteers Keith Forsyth of Boissevain, Mike Lukyn of Portage la Prairie and the NickLaping Leadership Award was presented to Don Thomson of Brandon. For more on the awards including photos from the event...
Keith Forsyth of Boissevain Collegiate has been teaching 20 years and coaching high school for the past 16. His main sports are Basketball and most recently Volleyball. He has captured several
Provincial “AA” Championships and been in a number of Championship Finals. Keith has also been
involved with hosting the “AA” Girls Basketball Championships in 2001, “AA” Boys Basketball
Championship in 2007, and Fastball Championships in 2009.
Mike Lukyn of Portage Collegiate started at PCI in 1994, and has been an assistant coach for
Volleyball and Basketball for 13 years. He started to help with the football program in 2006/07 year
and is still part of the team. Mike does all of the injury care and taping. He keeps all of their athletic
awards up to date. Mike stores, washes and maintains all of the team uniforms on a regular basis,
and is the school’s sports photographer
The Nick Laping Leadership Award is presented in honour of former John Taylor Basketball Coach, Nick Laping. Nick was a tremendous leader in high school sport and involved at the college sport
level as well. This year’s recipient is Mr. Don Thomson of Neelin High School. Don has been
coaching for 27 years. His main sports are Basketball, Volleyball and Soccer and his teams have had
four Provincial Championships, four Finalist Banners, and a Bronze Volleyball Championship. He has
taught and mentored many current coaches, and has hosted several championships including the
2004 “AAA” Boys and Girls Championship, 2006 and 2010 Boys and Girls Basketball Championships
and 2010 JV Urban Girls Volleyball Championship. Don has been a member of the MHSAA Board of
Directors and Zone President and is one of the “go to guys” in Basketball across the Province. He
conducts clinics all over the area and hosts the two largest Volleyball and Basketball tournaments in
the province.
CONGRATULATIONS KEITH, MIKE AND DON!