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INDUCTEE 2006 - ATHLETE - Sandy (Kirstein) Wright


 


First female athlete from Wetaskiwin to be inducted in U of A Sports Hall of Fame


Sandy has been recognized for her outstanding athletic talent and strong leadership qualities.  A graduate of Wetaskiwin Composite High School and the University of Alberta, her participation  and achievements have been in several sports and on a variety of levels, as an athlete and coach as well as serving in several executive capacities. She made exceptional contributions to sport at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, in the County of Wetaskiwin, the Province of Alberta and in Canada.

Basketball

Her skills on the basketball court helped the Wetaskiwin Composite High School Girls Team to win League Championships in 1958 - 1959, 1959 - 1960.  She made the Pandas Basketball team in her freshman year. The Pandas won co-championships in WCIAA in 1961-62 and 1962-63.  and the Edmonton City Ladies Basketball Championships in 1961-62.  In her fourth year with the Pandas she was selected as co-captain. 

Upon graduation from the U of A Sandy joined the Jasperettes Senior Ladies Basketball team and helped them to win the Provincial Championship and a fourth place finish in Canadian competition in the 1964-65 season.  Another Provincial Championship in 1967 earned them the right to represent Alberta at the first Canada Winter Games.

Golf

Sandy’s parents encouraged her participation in golf at an early age and she has excelled in this sport throughout her lifetime.  She was the Wetaskiwin Ladies Golf Club champion 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, the Open Ladies champion at Wetaskiwin in 1963, then at Ponoka and Lacombe in 1964. At the U of A, Sandy was on the University’s Women/Men’s Golf team during 1960 - 1961, 1962 - 1963, and 1963 –1964 seasons. In 1964 she was a member of the Alberta Ladies Golf Team. In all, Sandy has won 20 golf championships.  She has been coaching junior golfers from Wetaskiwin and County at Black Bull Golf Resort since 1989 where she has also been volunteer Director of the Junior Golf Program, a statement about her commitment to and love of golf.

Swimming & Diving

Her skills in the water started with programs in Wetaskiwin and during her first year at the U of A she made the U of A Panda Diving Team.  Sandy was awarded the Royal Life Saving Society Diploma Award for Excellence in Swimming in 1964, and a Royal Life Saving Service Award in 1968.

Curling

Sandy excelled in curling as well.  Her Royal Glenora Ladies team represented the Edmonton area in the Northern Alberta Championships and then in 1981, Sandy was club champion at the Balmoral Curling Club as well as Edmonton City Champion. She was a winner at the Northern Alberta Ladies Curling Association Ladies Bonspiel in 1982.

Coaching

After receiving her B.Ed. in Physical Education Sandy began teaching in Edmonton Public Schools.  She became very involved in coaching at both High School and Community levels.  Her teams won City of Edmonton Championships in volleyball, diving, and track and field athletics.  and while coaching at M.E. LaZerte her Girls' Basketball teams won both the City and Provincial Championships in 1973-74 and they won the City Championships again in 1974 -1975.

Executive Positions

For her substantial involvement she won the University’s WAA Major Executive Award.

A steadfast love of sports lead Sandy to make a significant contribution to sport at executive levels within several sports organizations and clubs.  To name just a few:  President of the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) while at the U of A; the U of A  Athletic Board and the Student’s Union; President of Alberta Gymnastics Federation; the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS

Besides her induction into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame in March of 2006 Sandy has also received the following awards:

1963 - Women’s Athletic Association Major Athletic award

1964 - U of A Bakewall Trophy - Most Outstanding Female Athlete

1964 - Royal Life Saving Society Diploma

1968 - Royal Life Saving Society - Service Award

1986 - Order of the Voyageurs for outstanding contributions to M.E. LaZerte High School.

2004 - Certification of Golf Teaching Professional from Canadian Teachers Federation

2006 - U of A - Sports Wall of Fame
 

 









 
 

 

 

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