Indiana Water Ski  Association

2007  Awards Dinner and Fall Banquet

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The 2007 IWSA Awards Dinner was held November 10th, at the Primo West Banquet Facility in Plainfield just west of Indianapolis.
 

The event was attended by 94 members of  IWSA and awards were presented to the following skiers.

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The Barb Miller Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Matthew McCain

Hall of Fame Inductee, Dick West

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Sponsors Awards

IWSA can never thank their sponsors enough. They are very dedicated to the sport and without their help IWSA certainly wouldn't be as successful as they are today. Accepting awards were Steve Plummer - Bart's Water Sports, Mike Gross - PineCrest Marine, Mark Qualkinbush - MD Boats, Andrew Cox - Skiers Edge. Other sponsors recognized were Methodist Sports, Morse Lake Inboards, and Aqua Marine of Anderson

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All pictures to the left can be enlarged from the picture this link Pictures Here

Presidents Award

        Dan Custer - Dan Custer has served IWSA for many many years in the past and we were grateful for his services over the years specially his last three as President and Vise Pres. His three hour drive to Indy for meetings never stopped Dan from getting the job done.

Most Improved Female Skier of the Year       

        Cheryl Schmitt - Cheryl went all the way in Women's 5 this year, 2nd at state in slalom, tricks, jump and overall, 2nd at Regionals in slalom, tricks, jump and overall, and the best finish ever at Nationals, 10th in slalom, 8th in tricks, 3rd in jump and 4th overall. No this isn't Cheryl's back side, her husband Sam receives the award for the absent Schmitt

Most Improved Men's 55K Slalom Skier

        Chris Clark - Chris has been knocking on the door of his rivals for the last few seasons in the slalom event just waiting for his good fortune to count at a big tournament. Finally at the in the so talented event at Nationals in Bakersfield he ran an incredible 5 buoys at 39 off for 3rd place.

Most Improved Skier of the Year

        Sam Jackson - Sam has had an incredible season. He went from running his 32 off's and a buoy or two and 35 off at the beginning of the season, to getting deep into 35 off toward the  end of the season breaking the regional boys 2 record three different times. 

Club of the Year

        Hawthorn Lake - Hawthorn Lake always does a great share of their events. They host all the Jr. Development events, disabled advanced clinics, Big Rig jump clinics, they hold their 3 event record tournaments, they did an incredible amount of site work to host one of the most memerable Disabled Nationals to date, and don't forget about the growing attention of the Purdue Alumni Tournament. When ever there's an event that's looking for a site, Hawthorn seams to step up when in need.

NSL Volunteer of the Year

        Mark Qualkinbush - Mark was a big host to the NSL events in the Fairland and the Indy area. Always there to drive for the events, if not driving he'd provide instruction to skiers, provide boats from MD Boats, He provided the awards and even presented the to the recipients after the events. Not only just this year, but Mark has provided his unselfish help to the NSL events for the last 3 years running.

Adaptive Skier of the Year

        Lance Black -  Lance has always skied his divisional speed which has been at 34 for quite a while. So you can imagine his surprise when he gets to the Disabled Nationals and finds out he has to ski at 36 MPH. He hasn't done that in years. But it doesn't stop Lance from representing Indiana well with a win in his slalom event.

Big Rig Jumper of the Year

         Briant Detty - B'ster finished 1st in slalom at state with 2 @ 35 off. Then he missed a 30 year old standing jump record of 100 feet by just one foot. (would you replot that please?). Then set a new NOPS record score of 2826. Goes to regionals and places 3rd in jump. Goes to Nationals and after a disappointing finish in slalom with only 2 at 32 off. He put together a stand up trick run and finally jumped a PB, and a new century club member at 100 feet and finished 3rd in Overall. Just 7 points from the runner up position. B'ster goes into the 2008 season with a #1 National Ranking in Boys 2 jump

Jr. Male Skiers of the Year    

       Andrew Schmitt - Andy Set 3 new state records - jumped 101, tricked 3010 breaking his own record from last year and a new overall record, leaving B'sters current record short lived. He placed in all three events and overall at regionals, was 6th in tricks, 5th in jump and 4th overall at Nationals.

Official of the Year

         Sam Schmitt - Sam was busy this season at 11 tournaments in 5 different states. Tournament Director for 2 at Timberlake, Indiana State Tournament Official, DuQuoin Ill. P&C, Disabled Nationals judge, Appointed Judge at Regioanls, Assigned judge at Nationals, Judged the Purdue Alumni, Judged the Collegiate Regionals and 2 tournaments in Kentucky.

Slalom Skier of the Year

         Nate Smith - Beside winning state and regionals, Nate went on to tie the Boys 3 Mid West All Tournaments Record of 2 at 39 off, and then the Boys 3 Mid West Tournament record of 2 at 39 off. Nate was the only competitor of 77 skiers in Boys 3 slalom to run 38 off at Nationals and finished with 2 at 39 off for first place. Nate also became an Assistant Judge in slalom and an Assistant Driver in slalom and trick and drove for the Jr. Development clinic...

Female Skier of the Year

        Prissy Edwards - 2 new state records in Women's 5 , 2 and a half at 28 off in slalom, and an 80 footer in jump. Swept 1st places in reginals and was 3rd in slalom and trick and 2nd in jump and overall at Nationals. Prissy continues to improve year after year..

Outstanding Achievement

         Carl Truesdale and John Kniesley - You will see one of these two at every event in the Indy area, but that's not all they do. Through their Sponsorship recruitment allows IWSA to work at the level of success it has for years and for them the sponsors we are grateful. John has worked second to non with the disabled events for many years and with their promotion and organization skills brought the Disabled Nationals to Indy.  They work as Instructor's, drivers, at Jr. development, and clinics of every kind. They beat the drums of success through out the whole state. They brought the Lake Indy site back to life and started a new club to provide a place to ski for those that need a place to ski and a place and made it accessible for disabled skiers as well. These two have provided their unselfishness for many years and have no signs of letting up.

Skier of the Year

         Cale Burdick - Cale was selected to the 17 to 21 US Water Ski Team, competed in the Can Am Challenge wining the slalom event. At Nationals in Open Men's he finished 3rd in slalom and 3rd in jump, landed a cover on the Water Skier Magazine, was chief instructor at the Jr. Development program. He was 2nd in Slalom at Collegiate Nationals 10th in tricks and 9th in jump and 5th overall and helped Purdue finish their best ever 4th in the Collegiate Nationals.

Worth Mentioning

        Charlie the son-in-law  of our Hall of Fame inductee Dick West won the last door prize of the night which was a HO Truth slalom ski provided by PineCrest. We couldn't think of a better winner for the ski which he said he hoped to get his daughter on it when she gets a little older.