EAST CENTRAL — Nineteen athletes from east central Saskatchewan will be among the 346 athletes of Team Saskatchewan at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current.
The games start Aug. 9 and run until Aug. 18.
Sam Fischer of Humboldt is on the swimming team.
Erin Kirkland of Tisdale and Takoda Morris of Punnichy are on the women's softball team.
On the women's U16 Volleyball from our region is Madison Krieger of Lanigan and Rosetta Cyr of Punnichy. Cyr said her goal at the games is “to play high competition volleyball and represent my province and all First Nations female athletes.”
Skyler Varga of Muenster and Noah Opseth of Birch Hills are on the men's U16 volleyball team.
Included on the women's U16 basketball team is Claire Daubenfeld of St. Brieux.
On the althetics team are Landon Kohle of Cudworth, Kaylee Ilnisky of Kinistino and Connor Tetzlaff of Viscount.
A strong contingent from Wadena are on the men's U16 softball team. They incude Koby Faubert, Griffen Helberg and Joshua Ochitwa, as well as coaches Darin Faubert and Elden Helberg. Also on the team is Austin Paquachan of Fishing Lake First Nation and Luke Scutchings of Kelvington. Ochitwa sais his goal at the games was “to win gold and enjoy a new experience.”
Representing Saskatchewan on the men's U19 softball team are Caleb Hamilton of Rose Valley, Keenan Sowa of Wadena and Logan Schultz of Kelvington.
Additionally, Team Sask has named Regina canoe kayak athlete Christian Patterson as flag bearer who will lead Saskatchewan into the opening ceremony.
The full contingent named to represent Team Sask at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games is comprised of 346 athletes, 69 coaches, managers and technical staff, and 19 mission staff. Athletes will compete in 16 different sports. There are 82 communities across Saskatchewan represented by Team Sask participants.
With strong medal contenders in many disciplines, and national and provincial champions in their respective sports found among the team’s ranks, Team Sask will aim to improve upon its fourth-place overall finish and medal count of 127 at the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. Approximately 1,600 of Canada’s top amateur athletes from Saskatchewan, Alberta,
Manitoba, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories will compete at the games.
At a media conference on July 30 at Regina's Sportplex-Fieldhouse, Team Sask Chef de Mission Mark Bracken formally announced Team Sask's full contingent to media and addressed the crowd of over 100 athletes, coaches, staff and parents in attendance.
“Every one of our teams has put in a tremendous amount of preparation to get ready for their moment on this major stage,” Bracken said. “These games will be an opportunity to build lifelong memories, meet new friends from across the western provinces and northern territories, and enjoy the incredible experience that only a major multi-sport games can offer.”
