Amateur – Winnipeg Free Press

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Oak Park Raiders receiver, and ANAVETS Bowl MVP, Tavin Parani (right) carries the ball Thursday night with Dakota Lancers defender Luke Edmondson in hot pursuit.

Oak Park captures high school football glory, denies Dakota three-peat

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

The Oak Park Raiders finally got theirs.

After their last two seasons ended in heartbreak at the hands of the Dakota Lancers, the Raiders narrowly escaped the same outcome for the third year in a row, triumphing 22-17 over the Lancers to capture the Winnipeg High School Football League AAAA tier 1 varsity championship at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday.

A fumble by the Raiders, deep in their own territory with 18 seconds remaining, gave the Lancers late hope, but Oak Park’s defence stood tall one last time to end an 11-year championship drought for the program and end Dakota’s two-year reign.

“It’s amazing,” said two-way player Amyas Furst, who had a long touchdown run in the second quarter and secured an interception in the late moments of the contest. “We’ve grinded all year for this. The bond we have with this group, you can’t break it. We had some struggles at the start of the year, but we really found it. We found our click, and now, you can see we won it now — beautiful.”

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Olympic dream on the horizon for history-making pair

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Preview

Olympic dream on the horizon for history-making pair

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

SASKATOON — Two years ago, Canada’s pairs figure skating champions Deana Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps claimed their first Skate Canada International title, kick-starting a glorious season that culminated with world championship gold.

It was an historic win for Stellato-Dudek who, at 40, entered the sport’s record book as the oldest woman to win a world figure skating title.

This season, at 42, the tenacious athlete is poised to make Olympic history at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February.

“I’m really excited about it. It was something I wanted when I was young and I thought it was gone,” said the now three-time Canadian champion following their first 2025 Skate Canada practice.

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Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

Charles Krupa / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are looking to fourpeat gold at the Skate Canada International in Saskatoon.

Langelaar’s Olympic quest receives boost from the Jets

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Langelaar’s Olympic quest receives boost from the Jets

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

Tyson Langelaar is all about speed. Now, the 26-year-old long-track speed skater has received a significant boost from his hometown Winnipeg Jets in his quest to reach the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” he told the Free Press this week. “It’s a dream come true to be connected to them.”

The hockey club recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Langelaar that will help him on the road to Italy in February. He first approached True North with the idea over the summer.

“Amateur sport is very expensive. And it’s definitely not getting cheaper. I think for the last 20 years or so, amateur sport funding has always been behind the times and never really caught up,” said Langelaar, who now trains out of Calgary while also attending university.

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Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

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The Winnipeg Jets recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Winnipeg long-track speed skater Tyson Langelaar.

Workhorse guard’s time to shine for University of Winnipeg Wesmen

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Workhorse guard’s time to shine for University of Winnipeg Wesmen

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

Being the workhorse ball-handler for a top-ranked U Sports basketball program isn’t made for everyone.

Shawn Maranan, a former three-time Canada West conference second team all-star guard with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, knows that as well as anyone.

“It takes a lot, especially playing under (head) coach Mike (Raimbault),” said Maranan, who transitioned into an assistant coach under Raimbault this season.

“We have so much responsibility. We have to defend at a high level — defence starts with the point guards applying pressure — and not only on the defensive end, but offensively, we have to feel the game out. We have to control the game.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Wesmen guard Kato Jaro was named a Canada West all-rookie in his first season with the team and increased his numbers overall in his sophomore season.

Canadian pairs best bet to win Skate Canada Grand Prix

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Preview

Canadian pairs best bet to win Skate Canada Grand Prix

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

SASKATOON — Figure skating fans banking on home team wins at Skate Canada International this weekend would be wise to throw their support behind 2024 world pairs champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps and twice world silver medallist ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

The 2026 Olympic medal hopefuls come in to this third of six ISU Grand Prix events as the defending Skate Canada champions and the Canadian team’s best bets to mine gold.

Fans who enjoy a side of compelling subplots with their sports drama will want to pay close attention to Canada’s top seeds in men’s and women’s events where intense rivalries for Olympic team membership are unfolding.

With just a lone Olympic berth up for grabs in each of the singles disciplines, Canadian athletes are looking to bolster their credentials every time out.

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Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

Lee Jin-man / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are the favourites to win a sixth Skate Canada title.

Three Manitobans to rep the Maple Leaf at seniors bowling worlds

Ben Little 6 minute read Preview

Three Manitobans to rep the Maple Leaf at seniors bowling worlds

Ben Little 6 minute read Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

Donning his Team Canada bowling jersey for the very first time this weekend, Winnipeg’s Rodell Bautista feels mixed emotions.

Bautista is one of three Manitobans representing Canada at the International Bowling Federation World Seniors Championships in Reno, Nev. — joining Manitoba Bowling Hall of Fame inductee Lynne Gauthier and former national team coach Earl Sobotkiewicz.

Since he could walk, bowling has been a big part of Bautista’s life. His father, Rudy Bautista, played a significant role in growing the sport in the province’s Filipino community. He coached Bautista and his two siblings to multiple youth provincial championships.

“He was a huge part of my bowling life,” said Bautista, now 50. “He’s kind of the reason why I’m here.”

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Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

SUPPLIED
Manitoba is well represented on Team Canada at the International Bowling Federation World Seniors Championships in Reno, Nev., that begins Friday. From left: Rodell Bautista, Lynne Gauthier and Earl Sobotkiewicz.

Wesmen women’s guard just keeps getting better

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Wesmen women’s guard just keeps getting better

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The rest of the Canada West conference would’ve been much happier if Jennifer Kallon stuck to soccer.

That’s because the junior forward for the Winnipeg Wesmen women’s basketball team can be a nightmare to play against on the hardwood — just ask Lakehead University who she terrorized Saturday at the Duckworth Centre with eight steals in a 72-60 pre-season victory.

“This sounds bad, but I love when players are scared of me guarding them,” said Kallon, who also had a career-high 24 points.

“It’s so obvious to see that, it’s like ‘OK, perfect.’”

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

David Larkins / Wesmen Athletics
Jennifer Kallon says she loves it when her opponents are afraid of being guarded by the third-year U of W hoopster.

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Bisons believe they can weather early storm

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Bisons believe they can weather early storm

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025

The issues currently plaguing the University of Manitoba Bisons are concerning, but head coach Kirby Schepp called them fixable.

The Bisons men’s basketball team has been oddly slow out of the gates by the program’s standards. They hold a 4-3 record in Canada West despite having yet to face any of the top teams in the conference.

Shooting has been the glaring issue. Manitoba has fired at a 42.9 per cent clip from the field — that ranks eighth out of 17 teams — and 30.3 per cent from beyond the arc (12th), while the club’s dismal 59.3 per cent efficiency from the free throw line (second-worst) — something Schepp called mystifying — has certainly capped the offence.

Overall, the level of play hasn’t matched the aspirations of a team that believes it can compete for a national championship at the end of this season, but it remains too early to panic.

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Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES
University of Manitoba Bisons guard Daren Watts (left) said Thursday the team needs to play as one to win, feeling as though — particularly in their losses — they’re ‘moving as five separate guys’ on the court.

Wrestling changed his life

Ben Little 6 minute read Preview

Wrestling changed his life

Ben Little 6 minute read Friday, Oct. 24, 2025

When Sam Pereira joined his Winnipeg school’s wrestling program in Grade 8, he simply wanted an outlet for his energy. Ten years later, he’s representing his country at world championships.

Pereira, 22, who attended St. John Brebeuf School in River Heights, is a four-time national champion freestyle wrestler, who’s medalled in four international events. He takes the mat Saturday in Novi Sad, Serbia, where he hopes to reach the podium at the U23 World Wrestling Championships.

“It’s changed my life dramatically, in a very positive way,” he said of his early introduction to the sport. Pereira attended the University of Alberta before transferring to Simon Fraser University, the only Canadian school that competes in the NCAA.

For the past couple of months, Pereira has trained at the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Regional Olympic Training Center in Lehigh, Pa. He rooms with Mike Macchiavello, a NCAA champion and U.S. National Team wrestler, and three-time NCAA All-American Jordan Wood.

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Friday, Oct. 24, 2025

Bisons future bright, even without Light

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Bisons future bright, even without Light

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025

When Raya Surinx returned to the court to prepare for a new season with the University of Manitoba Bisons, something admittedly felt off.

The last time the star outside hitter was on a court in school colours, it was in celebration with many longtime teammates while confetti rained down.

There was a figurative void as a new campaign approached. Three cultural pillars inside the program — outside hitter Light Ucheckukwu, libero Julia Arnold and setter Katreena Bentley — had moved on.

“It was really strange at first, especially because I joined the team late,” said Surinx, who was away with the Canadian NextGen team last month.

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Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS
Left-side Raya Surinx is a leader on the national-champion University of Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team.

The Herd look to dig in hooves in home finale

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

The Herd look to dig in hooves in home finale

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025

Don’t tell Stan Pierre that a win is a win.

The University of Manitoba Bisons football team squandered a 28-3 advantage over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds two weeks ago before securing a 35-31 victory with a late touchdown to avoid disaster.

“It didn’t feel much like a win, to be honest,” said Pierre, the first-year Bisons head coach.

“It was really disappointing the way we played in the second half of that game.”

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Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES
Bisons pivot Jackson Tachinski set a new U of M rushing touchdowns by a quarterback record in the Herd’s last game. Tachinski racked up 21 career rushing TDs after adding three against the UBC Thunderbirds before the bye week.

Manitobans eager to strike gold on world stage

Ben Little 5 minute read Preview

Manitobans eager to strike gold on world stage

Ben Little 5 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

Already making history earlier this year when she became the first woman to win the Marinelli City Singles bowling tournament, Marissa Naylor-McCall is now bolstering her training routine as she prepares to represent Team Canada at the 2025 International Bowling Federation World Championships.

Naylor-McCall is one of two Manitobans representing Canada at the adult level, alongside Mitch Hupé. Both bowlers attended the last world championships in Kuwait in 2023, where every Team Canada bowler brought home a medal.

“It was a record year for Canada… we all brought home a medal which hasn’t happened in many years,” said Naylor-McCall.

This is Naylor-McCall’s fourth year representing Team Canada as an adult, and her second World Championships tournament. She spoke highly of her teammate Hupé — a three-time National Bowler of the Year — who returns for his 12th adult year.

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Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

JAMES CAREY LAUDER PHOTO
Marissa Naylor-McCall was part of the Canadian record-setting 2023 worlds which saw every bowler on Team Canada bring home a medal.

‘Just keeping things simple and not overthinking it’

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

‘Just keeping things simple and not overthinking it’

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

The Manitoba Bisons are in the middle of the chase for a Canada West playoff spot, but might be without their quarterback for the second week in a row.

Jackson Tachinski’s status is up in the air for Saturday’s home contest against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at Princess Auto Stadium (12 p.m.).

Tachinski, who did not return to the field after halftime of the Bisons’ Sept. 20 game against the Alberta Golden Bears, missed last week against the Regina Rams.

The star fifth-year pivot practised this week, but head coach Stan Pierre could not say how confident he is that Tachinski will start.

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Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES
Manitoba Bisons quarterback Jackson Tachinski (centre) didn’t return to the Sept. 20 game against the Alberta Golden Bears. Backup pivot Cole Anseeuw might be tasked with a second start this Saturday.

Thunderbirds finally have a home court advantage

Thomas Friesen 6 minute read Preview

Thunderbirds finally have a home court advantage

Thomas Friesen 6 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

The court is far from the Field of Dreams, but it’s a court that kept dreams alive.

When Ebb and Flow First Nation started a complete renovation of its school a couple of years ago, it left the Thunderbirds varsity teams without a home gymnasium to train and play in.

But head coach Tyrone Desjarlais was determined to give his athletes the opportunity they’ve worked tirelessly for, so he took matters into his own hands — and his own property.

Desjarlais secured an old volleyball net from the school and pounded wooden posts into the ground, assembling a makeshift grass court to hold practices on in the community located 200 kilometres north of Brandon, due east of Ste. Rose.

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Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun
From left: Carson Spence, Leyton Racette and Conner Hunter react to a big point against the Carberry Cougars on Friday.

Penner a rising star with the Rifles

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Penner a rising star with the Rifles

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

For Jarome Penner, it was about embracing the good and letting go of the bad.

The Winnipeg Rifles receiver, admittedly, grew up a perfectionist, harping on the things he failed at and not giving himself enough credit for what he did well.

“At the end of the day, sometimes that’s going to haunt you more than it’s going to help you,” Penner said Tuesday.

When he arrived at the Rifles as a highly touted recruit from Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, those traits reared their ugly heads more than once as he acclimated to playing with bigger and stronger players.

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Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

Matt Hamilton Photo / Winnipeg Rifles
Winnipeg Rifles receiver Jarome Penner consistently punches well above his weight, racking up a career-high 15 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s contest against the Regina Thunder.

Bisons trample Golden Bears in blowout victory

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Bisons trample Golden Bears in blowout victory

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Monday, Sep. 22, 2025

The Manitoba Bisons ran the Alberta Golden Bears out of town Saturday.

The U of M’s football team rushed for 315 yards in a 34-7 beatdown over Alberta at Princess Auto Stadium in their annual homecoming game.

The win improved the Herd to 2-2 on the year, while the Bears remain winless at 0-4.

“It’s a special feeling to control the ground game like that,” said Bisons centre Mark Rauhaus. “That was kind of an identity game for our group. The guys around me and our running backs played really well. It was a big confidence building game.”

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Monday, Sep. 22, 2025

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