Red Deer Polytechnic is proud to announce the RDP Athletes of the Week:
1. Grace Smith
Hometown: Sylvan Lake, AB
Bachelor of Business Administration (3rd year)
After a two-goal performance this past weekend with one of those tallies being just the second goal allowed by the SAIT Trojans this year, Grace Smith is the Queens Athlete of the Week.
She would pick up her first goal of the season on Saturday afternoon in their home opener against the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings. This goal came off a set play on a corner kick from midfielder Sofia Quinteros (Practical Nursing Diploma). Quinteros swung it in and Smith was able to deflect the ball past the Vikings goaltender to give her team a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute of the match.
The student-athlete from Sylvan Lake would add an assist on the Anessa Harrod goal in the second half to make it a three-point performance. The Queens would score two more goals to make it a 5-0 final against Augustana.
But Smith was not done scoring for the week as she would follow this up with a goal against the Trojans which broke the clean sheet bid for the SAIT goaltender. Grace was later named the player of the match in the 4-1 defeat.
Head Coach Mahziar Peyrow says the team is lucky to have the third-year striker again for another year.
“Not only is she fast and skillful on the ball, but she also knows our method of play extremely well and finds those holes to break the defensive line. She’s been connecting with Paige Kalbfleisch well and the two of them are playing at a different level together.”
Smith and the Queens will just have one game on the schedule this weekend with a match against the Ambrose University Lions on Saturday at noon.
Congratulations Grace and we look forward to watching you score more goals hopefully this year!
2. Benjamin House
Hometown: Red Deer, AB
Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (2nd year)
Another week gone and another Kings Athlete of the Week honour for Benjamin House. Following an impressive performance last week in his opening race of the season, House would back it up with another amazing run to help the Kings finish in first place in the 8km event at the Running Room Grand Prix hosted by the SAIT Trojans.
In a race that was even more packed with talent than the meet in Edmonton a couple of Saturdays ago, the student-athlete from Red Deer finished in third place with a time of 27:59. This was just about two minutes faster than his opening race of the season where he finished in fourth place.
Head Coach Douglas Spicer explains House still has his best race ahead of him.
“He continues to work toward his personal and team goals with very focused dedication. His excellence is surpassed only by his humility and single-minded determination.”
House and the rest of the Cross Country team from the Polytechnic will have this weekend off to prepare for their third Grand Prix of the season hosted by Lethbridge College on Saturday, September 30. Lethbridge College will host the ACAC Championships on this very same course on October 28.
Congratulations Ben on the third place finish!
