by Giselle Lussier
GAZETTE STAFF
The Glenboro Panthers Boys Basketball Team (2008–2016) was officially inducted into the Manitoba High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 24, during a ceremony held at The Leaf – a stunning botanical garden in Winnipeg.
The Panthers became the 11th team to receive this honour, recognizing nearly a decade of excellence and dedication to high school basketball. The event was well attended by former players, coaches and proud parents who gathered to celebrate the team’s legacy and impressive achievements.
Glenboro School Principal and Panthers coach Ryan Diehl spoke on behalf of the team, expressing gratitude to the parents, school staff, and – most importantly – the players for their unwavering commitment to the program. “This is a very prestigious honour and we are certainly humbled to be recognized when you consider all of the great teams and programs in the history of high school sports. I am so proud of the accomplishments of these former players and am grateful to have been a part of this.”
From 2008 to 2016, under Coach Diehl’s leadership, the Panthers reached the Provincial “A” Finals for nine consecutive seasons, capturing championship titles in 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016. During that span, they amassed a remarkable overall record of 206–39, including an outstanding 140–9 record against “A” schools and a dominant 56–2 record at home.
The Panthers also dominated their region, winning 19 straight Zone 6 Championships from 1998 to 2016.
Bryce Watson, Glenboro teacher and coach of volleyball, baseball, and hockey and former Panther reflected on the honour of the Hall of Fame induction, saying, “When you’re in the moment, you don’t think about Hall of Fame recognition. You’re focused on reaching your goal each season. Now, years later, you realize just how unprecedented that run was – what Mr. Diehl accomplished with those teams was truly remarkable. To have played even a small part in that is pretty special.”
Watson, who now coaches multiple school teams, does so not only out of a love for the game but also as a way to pay it forward to the next generation of athletes.
Kirby Wallis, who played from 2005 to 2008 and was among the inductees present, reflected on the significance of the moment. “It was a huge honour for the team and a testament to Mr. Diehl’s dedication and the thousands of volunteer hours he put in over the years through practices and games,” said Wallis. “It was great to catch up with some old teammates and chat with the younger players who came after I graduated. There were plenty of great memories and stories shared about that nine-year run – maybe a few became exaggerated over the years (but not mine),” he laughed.
While several players couldn’t attend in person, their thoughts were with the team – especially with Coach Diehl. Dylan Thornborough, a former All-Star now living in Lethbridge, said he was sorry to miss the event. “I’m very proud to be a Panther and was lucky to be a part of those teams and win a couple of gold medals. A huge congratulations to Ryan Diehl – this is a great testament to the amount of hard work and effort he put into basketball in Glenboro over the years. I feel very fortunate that I was able to play with some amazing players and people.”
Though the former players were quick to praise their coach, Diehl turned the spotlight back to them: “This is a very prestigious honour, and we are certainly humbled to be recognized when you consider all the great teams and programs in the history of high school sports. I am so proud of the accomplishments of these former players and am grateful to have been a part of it.”
The era also produced a long list of standout athletes. Provincial All-Stars during this time included: Jared Haasbeek, Dylan Thornborough, Travis Strain (3x), Bryce Watson (2x), Tyler Sjolander, Matt Klassen (2x), Riley Rutherford (2x), Reid Gillis (2x), Mitch Jefferies, and Riley Nicholson.
Most Valuable Player honours went to: John Swanepoel, Carson Rogers, and Matt Klassen (2x).
Travis Strain, who was named a Provincial All-Star for three consecutive years, reflected on what an honour the induction was and how special it felt to attend the ceremony alongside former teammates and Coach Diehl.
“The one big thing I took from the experience – and from all the speeches – was that sports brings so much more to a person than just being part of a team. It was best friends, new friends, and, to some extent, family,” Strain said. “Right from the start, our motto was ‘Basketball is a brotherhood,’ and that was a big part of our team’s identity, thanks to Carson Rogers and, of course, Mr. Diehl. Whether it was staying after practice giving us scouting reports , or just goofing around he made it something special. I think that motto has been passed down, it gave us more than just success on the court – it gave us lasting connections.”
