Top volleyballers earn Iwanoczko scholarships
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This article was published 04/03/2026 (207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Top volleyballers earn Iwanoczko scholarships
Transcona
The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association and Volleyball Manitoba announced the 2026 recipients of the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Volleyball Scholarships last week.
Photo by John Kendle
Céleste Pelletier was setter and captain of the Collège Jeanne-Sauvé varsity girls volleyball team, which reached the MHSAA provincial final this season. She’s also a provincial champion in beach volleyball and golf, and plays goalie in hockey. She maintains a 95 per cent average and will attend Toronto Metropolitan University next year, where she will study civil engineering and play volleyball.
Gabriel Beaudin of Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School; Kaitlyn Couckuyt of Vincent Massey High School (Brandon, Man.); Céleste Pelletier of Collège Jeane-Sauvé and Elliot Smith of Miles Macdonnell Collegiate each received $1,000 for exceptional work both on and off the court.
The annual scholarships are awarded in memory of Iwanoczko, a native of Selkirk, Man., who played for the University of Manitoba Bisons and was named the CIAU (USports) most valuable player in 1990. He was also a five-time All-Canadian. Iwanoczko died at the age of 30 after a long fight with Hodgkin’s disease. Funds for the annual scholarship are raised by his friends.
Photo by John Kendle
Elliot Smith of Miles Macdonnell Collegiate was named a graduating all-star by the MHSAA, helped his club team, WinMan Strike, to a provincial championship and also competes in cross-country, track and soccer. He intends to study engineering at the University of Manitoba.
Photo by John Kendle
Gabriel Beaudin is an elite left-side hitter and was MVP of the varsity boys team at Dauphine Regional Comprehensive Secondary School four seasons in a row. He maintains an 88 per cent average and will attend Brandon University in the fall, where he intends to study physical education and play volleyball.
Photo by John Kendle
Kaitlyn Couckuyt was setter and team captain of the Vincent Massey Vikings volleyball team in Brandon for three seasons, winning the provincial AAAA varsity championship in 2024 and 2025. She’s also a member of the national junior racquetball team. She has a 96 per cent average and will enter the faculty of science at Brandon University in the fall, where she will play volleyball and study physics.