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ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Rick Haacke of White Bear Lake recently received a prestigious award through the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association (SHSAA).
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ The Award of Merit was presented to Haacke for his efforts over the years in high school athletics. As a youth he participated in golf, badminton, baseball, football, and volleyball; it was during this time that he discovered sport offered more to young people than just an activity to participate in. Sport is character building and allows kids to develop lifelong skills.
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Haacke graduated in 1973 from Yorkton Regional High School and would go on to earn degrees in Physical Education and Education from the University of Saskatchewan. Out of university he began teaching and coaching in Nokomis β βHis commitment as a coach and time spent fundraising for extra-curricular activities changed the culture of the school,β the SHSAA Citation states regarding Haackeβs award. He also began coaching club volleyball, taught community college golf lessons, and played senior hockey.
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Haacke took a position as vice-principal in Porcupine Plain where he helped to revive the football program there βto an era in which the team was the NESSAC champ for five straight years,β the SHSAA stated. β[Haacke] remained heavily involved in the schoolβs athletic programs, coaching basketball, golf, badminton; and also officiating. [Haackeβs] passion for sports was evident in the community as he was on the curling club executive and player-coach of the baseball and basketball teams.β
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ ΜύHaacke and his family then moved to Oxbow in 1988 where he took on the role of principal: β[He] is very proud of the people he brought on board and the impact they had on the school sport culture. The students loved playing for coaches like Pat Jeannot, Bill Hook, Cal Rosenthal, Don Morrison, and Jason Petlak.β
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ βDuring his time in Oxbow, Rick had a tremendous impact on the schoolβs sports programs,β Bill Hook told the SHSAA. βHe was an active coach with the golf, curling, and badminton teams. He spent countless hours as a basketball and volleyball official. But, probably his most significant contribution was the way he supported other coaches.β
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Haacke then moved to Melville where he continued coaching golf, badminton, junior volleyball, junior basketball, and senior basketball. Throughout the years he has also supported bids to host provincial championship golf, badminton, and curling; while he has also been involved in the organization and planning of the AGM, and has attended as both an observer and voting delegate.
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ In addition to school sports, Haacke has also been involved in minor hockey programs.
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ βHe made it a priority to support and encourage coaches to do their very best for student athletes to enjoy a successful experience in high school sport,β Court Vaudner, a teacher and coach of 45 years, told SHSAA about Haacke. βRick is more than deserving of the recognition that comes with receiving an SHSAA Merit Award.β
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ In Haackeβs own words, βI spent my whole life coaching. This is a very prestigious award in high school athletics and itβs really the culmination of many years of working with kids. Coaching has been a passion of mine; I didnβt mind the administrative roles Iβve held and I really enjoyed teaching Phys. Ed., but coaching was my passion.β
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Haacke continues to officiate both basketball and volleyball, and has over 40 years experience in this capacity as well.
