Rastatt's sportswomen and sportsmen of the year 2023 honored / Evening of Sport on 22 March 2024

Every year, athletes from Rastatt sports clubs achieve outstanding successes in Baden-Württemberg, German and international competitions. The city of Rastatt honored the sporting highlights of 2023 in the presence of Lord Mayor Monika Müller and Mayor Mats Tilebein at the "Evening of Sport" on March 22, 2024.

Numerous sportswomen and sportsmen of all ages and from numerous Rastatt clubs accepted the invitation from the Culture and Sports Promotion customer department to the auditorium of the Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium. Awards were presented for 81 individual and 14 team performances in a wide variety of sports. A total of 143 athletes from 13 Rastatt sports clubs and schools were nominated - the oldest 80 years old, the youngest six.

Here are the honorees:

"Sportsman, sportswoman and team of the year" as well as award winners from Hofmann Entsorgung GmbH:

Sonnwin Huidi Franz (born in 2009) from Rastatter Turnverein 1846 e.V. (fencing department) receives the 2023 Young Talent Award from HOFMANN Entsorgung GmbH. In 2023, the epee fencer achieved 6th place with Team Südbaden I at the German Championships (U15). He achieved 1st place as an individual fencer at the South Baden Championships and at the Allstar Germany Challenge in Leverkusen. His sporting record in 2023 was so outstanding that he reached the top of the rankings in his age group and was the first of eight young athletes to be accepted into the German Fencing Federation's national squad.

The special prize from HOFMANN Entsorgung GmbH for special achievements in 2023 goes to Director of Studies and sports teacher Jutta Kuhn-Bittner and two school teams from Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium. In the state finals of Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics, the world's largest school competition, the gymnastics teams achieved 3rd place (apparatus gymnastics boys WK II) and 4th place (apparatus gymnastics girls WK II). Jutta Kuhn-Bittner looks after the LWG gymnastics teams. With her above-average commitment, also outside the classroom, she contributes to the sporting development of the pupils and encourages them in their keen interest in gymnastics. The competitive successes of the two teams are the result of exemplary cooperation between the school and the sports clubs, in which the young people spend a great deal of time. The special prize is a recognition of the outstanding commitment and the special dedication and motivation of all those involved.

Junior athlete of the year 2023 is Jule Sax (born in 2007) from Rastatter Kanu-Club 1925 e.V. At the German Canoe Freestyle Championships, she won the K1 Junior Championship title.

The Junior Athlete of the Year 2023 award goes to Luka Radić (born in 2006) from Taekwondo Club Rastatt e.V. for his outstanding performances last year: he came 2nd in the Taekwondo light contact category at the Baden-Württemberg Championships. At the Kickboxing World Championships, he won bronze in Point Fighting. Luka Radić holds the 2nd Dan in taekwondo and has an orange belt in kickboxing.

Manon Harsch (born 1964) from Baden Hills Golf und Curling Club e.V. receives the Senior Sportswoman of the Year 2023 award. After finishing 6th in the German Championship and 4th in the International Golf Championship, she ended the season in 5th place in the German rankings. This was followed by a call-up to the German national golf team. In spring, Manon Harsch also played as skip for England at the Senior World Curling Championships in Gangneung, South Korea. She and her team achieved 9th place, which was preceded by winning the English Curling Championship in the 2022/23 season.

Jürgen Eiermann (born in 1966) from Ruder-Club Rastatt 1898 e.V. (sailing department) is named Senior Sportsman of the Year 2023. He came 3rd in the Finn Dinghy (one-man sailing boat) class at the International German Championships on Lake Constance, making him the best German to cross the finish line. The highlight of his sporting year in 2023 was winning the runner-up title at the J/22 keelboat (regatta yacht) world championships in the Bay of Lübeck. He competed there as skipper with two experienced sailors from friendly clubs.

The prize for Team of the Year 2023 goes to Alina Vydruchenko (born in 2003), Caterina Kiziuk (born in 1997), Elisabeth Wormuth (born in 1990), Chantal Graversen (born in 1995) and Susanne Gibs (born in 1978) from Tischtennisfreunde Rastatt e.V. The women's team finished 2nd in the Regionalliga Südwest, the fourth highest league in Germany, in the 2022/23 season.

Sportswoman of the Year 2023 is Jenny Dahlström (born 1994) from Taekwondo-Club Rastatt e.V. She stood at the top of the winners' podium four times in 2023: she became two-time Baden-Württemberg champion (pointfighting and light contact) and German champion and world champion in pointfighting. Jenny Dahlström holds the 2nd Dan in taekwondo and kickboxing and is involved in both sports as a trainer at the Taekwondo Club Rastatt.

Athlete of the Year 2023 is Daniel Zmeev (born in 2001) from the Jiu-Jitsu Kampfsportverein Rastatt e.V. He receives the award for his 1st place at the Southern German Championships, 3rd place at the German Open, 1st place at the Grand Prix Paris Open and 2nd place at the World Ju-Jutsu Fighting Championships.

Further honors:

The following holders of the German Sports Badge were honored at the Evening of Sports: Bianca Käshammer (25x sports badge in gold), Walter Fischer (25x sports badge in gold), Peter Sallinger (35x sports badge in gold) and Brigitte Moritz (40x sports badge in gold) from the Rastatt-Rheinau gymnastics club; Werner Kastner (45x sports badge in gold) from the Niederbühl sports club and Hans-Jürgen Maier (25x sports badge in gold) and Eva-Maria Schmid (50x sports badge in silver or gold) from the Rastatt gymnastics club.

The following were honored for outstanding individual performances: Sonnwin Huidi Franz (including 6th place in the German Championships, 1st place in the Allstar Deutschland Challenge Leverkusen Men's Epee U15) from the Rastatter Turnverein (fencing department); Annika Jakubik (including 2 x 1st place in the Baden-Württemberg Year Group Championships), Elias Engelhardt (including 5 x 2nd place in the Baden-Württemberg Year Group Championships, 2 x 2nd place in the Baden-Württemberg Short Course Championships) and Britta Schlageter (including 2nd place in the Baden-Württemberg Open Water Championships) from the Rastatter Turnverein (swimming department); Joachim Weber (including 25th place at the World Indoor Championships, 3rd place in the Baden-Württemberg Open Water Championships) from the Rastatter Turnverein (swimming department).a. 2. Platz Baden-Württembergische Meisterschaften Freiwasser) vom Rastatter Turnverein (Abteilung Schwimmen); Joachim Weber (u.a. Platz 25 bei der Hallen-Weltmeisterschaft, 3. Platz Deutsche Meisterschaften, 1. Platz Baden-Württembergische Hallenmeisterschaften über 400 m) vom Rastatter Turnverein (Abteilung Leichtathletik); Frieda Hoch (1. Platz Badische Mehrkampfmeisterschaften Deutscher Sechskampf W12/13), Marie Hundert (2. Place Badische Mehrkampfmeisterschaften Deutscher Sechskampf W14/15), Laura Olajos (3rd place Badische Mehrkampfmeisterschaften Deutscher Sechskampf W16/17) from Turnverein Rastatt-Rheinau; Robin Hatzenbühler (2nd place Baden-Württembergische Meisterschaft Taekwondo Leichtkontakt -24 kg), Daria Piewen (1st place Baden-Württembergische Meisterschaft Taekwondo Leichtkontakt -35 kg), Marwin Hatzenbühler (1st place Baden-Württembergische Meisterschaft Taekwondo Leichtkontakt -35 kg). Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -30 kg), Marcel Schwamm (1st Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -50 kg), Jean Schneid (2nd Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -45 kg), Ilija Radić (1st Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -33 kg), Kevin Hatzenbühler (1st Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -56 kg), Nick Gretz (3rd Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -56 kg). Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -72 kg), Aleksandra Kurleto (2nd Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship), Markus Deißler (3rd Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -64 kg), Johann Hatzenbühler (1st Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -83 kg) from the Taekwondo Club Rastatt; Hanna Laukart (3rd Place State Championship Minimes), Maila Pinnekamp (3rd Place State Championship Minimes), Markus Deißler (3rd Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -64 kg), Johann Hatzenbühler (1st Place Baden-Württemberg Taekwondo Light Contact Championship -83 kg) from the Taekwondo Club Rastatt. Place Landesmeisterschaft Minimes), Noea Hamion (5th place German Championship, 1st place Landesmeisterschaft Minimes), Jan Laukart (5th place German Championship, 1st place Landesmeisterschaft Minimes), Alisa Pinnekamp (3rd place Landesmeisterschaft Minimes), Simon Jobelius (3rd place Landesmeisterschaft Cadets), Leif Nippraschk (3rd place Landesmeisterschaft Juniors), Sarah Caliebe (5th place German Championship, 3rd place Landesmeisterschaft Espoirs). Platz Landesmeisterschaft Espoirs), Anya Caliebe (3rd place Deutsche Meisterschaft Doublette Mixte), Sekou Camara (1st place Bezirksmeisterschaften Doublette); Mykyta Buriak (i.a. 2nd place Internationaler Adler Cup U16 -46 kg, 2nd place Internationales Turnier am Glaspalast U15 -43 kg, 2nd place Süddeutsche Meisterschaft U15 -46 kg) and Renat Spinu (i.a. 2nd place Internationales Turnier am Glaspalast U15 +66 kg, 1. Place Open Baden-Württemberg Individual Championship U15 +66 kg) from the Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts Club Rastatt (Judo Department); Hannes Wittmann (3rd place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U10 -30 kg), Roman Rose (1st place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U10 -30 kg), Damian Sick (2nd place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U10 -30 kg), Maximilian Rogge (2nd place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U10 -42 kg), Victoria Rose (1st place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U10 -42 kg) and Renat Spinu (2nd place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U10 -30 kg). Place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U10 -42 kg), Arthur Wasala (3rd place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U12 -34 kg), Adrian Luis Kloschinski (2nd place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U12 -34 kg), Anakin Lott (1st place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U12 -34 kg), Daniel Andros (2nd place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U12 -38 kg), Denis Schmidtke (1st place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U12 -38 kg), Noah Latinovic (5th place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U12 -38 kg). Place German School Championship U14 -46 kg, 4th place South German Championship U14 -42 kg), Deniz Dauer (5th place German School Championship U14 -46 kg, 3rd place South German Championship U14 -46 kg), Philipp Ihl (i.a. 3rd place German School Championship U14 -42 kg, 3rd place South German Championship U14 -42 kg), Lilith Latinovic (i.a. 3rd place German School Championship U14 -48 kg, 2nd place South German Championship U14 -42 kg), Lilith Latinovic (i.a. 3rd place South German Championship U14 -48 kg, 3rd place South German Championship U14 -42 kg), Philipp Ihl (i.a. 3rd place South German Championship U14 -42 kg, 3rd place South German Championship U14 -42 kg). Place South German Championship U14 -44 Kg), Anastasia Zmeev (i.a. 3rd place German School Championship U14 -52 Kg, 1st place South German Championship U14 -52 Kg), Aaron Kijas (2nd place South German Championship U14 -46 kg, 3rd place South German Championship Baden-Württemberg U14 -46 kg, 3rd place South German Championship Baden-Württemberg U14 -52 Kg). Place Baden-Württemberg State Championship U14 -42 kg), Philipp Balun (i.a. 3rd place German Pupils Championship U14 -46 kg, 1st place South German Championship U14 -42 kg), Alice Schäfer (i.a. 5th place German Pupils Championship U16 -42 kg). German Pupils' Championship U16 -63 kg, 4th place South German Championship U16 -63 kg), Maxim Gasarov (13th place World Championship U18 -60 kg, 5th place European Championship U18 -60 kg, 2nd place German Open U21 -56 kg), Constantin Kochan (9th place World Championship U18 -60 kg, 2nd place German Open U21 -56 kg).9th place World Championship U18 -73 kg, 9th place European Championship U18 -73 kg, 3rd place German Open U21 -69 kg), Yannick Enzo Makuissie Kamguia (2 x 2nd place German Championship U21 -77 kg, 2 x 1st place South German Championship U21 -69 kg). Platz Süddeutsche Meisterschaft U21 -77 kg), Torben Gessner (3rd place Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg U21 -94 kg), Simon Kijas (i.a. 3rd place German Open U21 -77 kg, 3rd place Deutsche Meisterschaft U21 -77 kg), Michael Kunz (2. Platz Landesmeisterschaft Baden-Württemberg Sen -85 kg) and Dimitri Giss (e.g. 3rd place German Championship Sen Fighting -85 kg, 5th place German Championship Sen Ne Waza -85 kg) from the Jiu-Jitsu Kampfsportverein Rastatt; Silja Reinelt (2. Place Baden-Württemberg Championships MX U19), Hai Ha Nguyen (1st place Baden-Württemberg Championships HD 40, 3rd place Baden-Württemberg Championships MX 35), Björn Strauß (1st place Baden-Württemberg Championships HD 40), Marco Köhler (3rd place Southeast German Championships HD 45, 3rd place Baden-Württemberg Championships MX 45), Marion Grimm (i.a. 3rd place Southeast German Championships DE 55, 3rd place Southeast German Championships DE 55, 3rd place Southeast German Championships MX 45). Place Southeast German Championships DD 55) and Manfred Hornung (i.a. 2nd place German Championships HD 70, 2nd place Southeast German Championships HD 70) from Badmintonverein Rastatt; Oliver Merkel (3rd place Baden-Württemberg Championships Freestyle Teens M U14) and Jule Sax (1st place German Championships JRWK1 Female Youth Class) from Rastatter Kanu-Club; Jonas Vetter (3rd place German Championships U13), Ainhoa Aniculesei (2nd place German Championships U13), Ainhoa Aniculesei (2nd place German Championships U13), Ainhoa Aniculesei (2nd place German Championships U13), Ainhoa Aniculesei (2nd place German Championships U13), Ainhoa Aniculesei (2nd place German Championships U13) from Rastatt Canoe Club. Place German Championship U13), Dominic Hinz (2nd place Baden-Württemberg Championship AK 30), Klaudius Harsch (1st place German Championship Mixed Doubles, 23rd place World Championship Mixed Doubles) and Manon Harsch (including 4th place International German Golf Championship AK 50 Ladies, 1st place English Curling Championship Senior Women, appointment to the national golf team) from Baden Hills Golf and Curling Club.

The following were honored for their outstanding successes at European and World Championships: Laura Caliebe (including 2nd place European Championship Espoirs Triplette, 2nd place German Championship Pointeur Espoirs) from the Boule-Club Rastatt; Luka Radić (3rd place World Championship Kickboxing Pointfighting Cadets Boys -60 kg, 2nd place Baden-Württemberg Championship Taekwondo Light Contact -60 kg) from the Taekwondo Club Rastatt; Daniel Zmeev (including 2nd place World Championship Sen -85 kg, 1st place Grand Prix Paris Open Sen -85 kg) from the Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts Club Rastatt; Jürgen Eiermann (2nd place World Championship Boat Class J/22 -85 kg, 2nd place Grand Prix Paris Open Sen -85 kg) from the Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts Club Rastatt; Jürgen Eiermann (2nd place World Championship Boat Class J/22 -85 kg, 2nd place Grand Prix Paris Open Sen -85 kg) from the Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts Club Rastatt. Place World Championship Sen -85 kg, 1st place Grand Prix Paris Open Sen -85 kg) from Jiu-Jitsu Kampfsportverein Rastatt; Jürgen Eiermann (2nd place World Championship Boat Class J/22, 3rd place International German Championship Boat Class Finn Dinghy) from Ruder-Club Rastatt (Sailing Department) and Jenny Dahlström (1st place World Championship Pointfighting Women +65 kg, 1st place German Championship Pointfighting Women -70 kg) from Taekwondo Club Rastatt.

The following were recognized for outstanding team performances: Antonia Rosenhahn, Jule Gerstner, Sophie Melcher and Marie Hundert (4th place in the state finals of Youth Trained for Olympics & Paralympics apparatus gymnastics girls WK II) as well as Raoul Schumacher, Lennart Thöne, Vincent Thöne and Benjamin Kriese (3rd place in the state finals of Youth Trained for Olympics & Paralympics apparatus gymnastics boys WK II) from Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium. Place in the state finals of Youth Trained for Olympia & Paralympics apparatus gymnastics for boys WK II) from Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium; Niels Fritzler and Kira Knorr (2nd place in the state championships for children D Latin, 6th place in the state championships for children C Latin), Alexander Wagner and Julina Gerter (2nd place in the state championships for youth B Latin), Gleb Tkachenko and Arina Portniahina (including 5th place in the German championships for children B Latin), Gleb Tkachenko and Arina Portniahina (5th place in the German championships for boys WK II).5th place German Junior II B Latin Championships, 1st place State Junior II B Latin Championships) from the 1st Tanzsportclub Rastatt; Henry Hetzel, Sarina Schwoll, Emily Schuler, Fabrice Vetter and Jonas Vetter (3rd place German U13 Championships) from the 1st Tanzsportclub Rastatt. Place German Championship U13) and Evelin Bilitz, Melanie Weisert, Ainhoa Aniculesei, Celine Vetter and Nina Schreiber (2nd place German Championship U13) from Baden Hills Golf and Curling Club (Curling Department); Amelie Fröhlich and Julius Neubert (3rd place German School Championship Duo Mixed U14, 2nd place South German Championship Duo Mixed U14) from the Baden Hills Golf and Curling Club (Curling Department). Place South German Championships Duo Mixed U14) from the Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts Club Rastatt; David Blümke, Adrian Orlemann, Alexander Sergin and Tim Stucke (1st place Baden Championships over 4x100m medley) as well as Max Böhmer, Alexander Sergin, David Blümke and Adrian Orlemann (1st place Baden Championships over 4x100m medley). Badische Meisterschaften über 4x100m Freistil) from the Rastatter Turnverein (swimming department); Frieda Hoch, Marie Hundert, Laura Olajos and Maria Kontra (1st place Bezirksliga Staffel Nord 2023 with promotion to the Landesliga) from the Turnverein Rastatt-Rheinau; Alina Vydruchenko, Caterina Kiziuk, Elisabeth Wormuth, Chantal Graversen and Susanne Gibs (2nd place Regionalliga Damen Südwest) from the Turnverein Rastatt-Rheinau. Place Regionalliga Damen Südwest) from Tischtennisfreunde Rastatt; Markus Kexel, Pascal Dohms, Björn Strauß, Julian Bell, Sina Weber, Marion Grimm and Isabel Veres (1. Place Verbandsliga Bezirk Nordbaden with promotion to the Badenliga) from Badmintonverein Rastatt and Herbert Schleder, Erich Blum, Reinhard Hanowski, Helmut Kaiser, Bruno Knobloch, Artur Knoll, Dieter Lauther, Wilhelm Marx, Peter Milde, Klaus Pfeifer, Dr. Detlef Sodenkamp and Dr. Klaus Unterstab (1st place 2nd league group C AK 65 men with promotion to the 1st league) from Baden Hills Golf und Curling Club (golf department).