Nine Revelstoke athletes are off to Abbotsford this week to compete at the BC Summer Games. The games pit the best young athletes against each other in a wide variety of sports.
From Revelstoke, Jacon Ancell, Logan Ancell, Matthew Arnold, Shea Bibby, Simon Blackie, Hayden Mallett, Miika Park and Riley Wallach, are all competing in athletics, while Aleks Klassen is on the Thompson-Okanagan volleyball team.
We sent them a few questions to learn more about these young athletes. Six of them responded.
Aleks Klassen
Age: 15
Sport: Volleyball
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
I like how fast volleyball is. It is a very dynamic game that involves all six players on the court, meaning everyone on the team always has a job to do. To play the game well you really need to gel with your teammates so everyone knows each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Who's your hero in your sport? Why?
Sheena Bell has been my greatest mentor throughout my volleyball career. She was my first high school coach and she's been with me the entire way. I hope that she continues to help me to get even better as a player, and as a better person all around.
What are you most looking forward to at the B.C Summer Games?
I'm mainly looking forward to playing more competitive volleyball, and seeing all my friends that I've made playing throughout the province over the past few years.
What is your goal for the games?
Obviously my goal is to win, but also for my team to be sportsmanlike.
Jacob Ancell
Age: 15
Sport: Shot put, 300 Metres
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
I love the way my weight lifting has helped me to constantly improve in the shot put. It is a great feeling seeing all you hard work and training pay off with a good throw or run. I love to compete against great athletes because it makes you push yourself to reach goals you wouldn't be able to achieve otherwise.
Who is your hero in sports? Why?
Alex Ovechkin. He is an incredibly talented and gifted hockey player but also donates a lot of his time with The Make a Wish Foundation and many orphanages in Russia.
What are you most looking forward to in summer games?
I can't wait to compete against the top athletes in B.C. in my sport and I am looking forward to making lots of new friends.
What is your goal for the games?
I hope to break the 12 metre distance mark in shot put and to finish strong in the 300 metre
Do you have any pre-race superstitions? What are they?
I love listening to my music before I throw to get me fired up.
Logan Ancell
Age: 13
Sport: Discus and Javelin
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
I love the throwing events because it's an awesome feeling when you beat your own personal best distance. I love to compete because it makes you push yourself out of your comfort zone and forces you to break through physical and psychological barriers.
Who is your hero in Sports? Why?
A few of my heroes are Manny Pacquiao, Trevor Linden, and Gordie Howe because they were all great in their sport, but cared a lot about people and helped many charities.
What are you most looking forward to in summer games?
Traveling to somewhere new, making new friends and competing against some of the best athletes in B.C.
What is your goal for the games?
I hope to finish well in my events, but this is just my first year competing in track and field, so I am just grateful for the chance to even be here.
Do you have any pre-race superstitions? What are they?
No pre-event rituals. Just warm-up and go.
Hayden Mallett
Age: 14
Sport: Track
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
I like my sport because it challenges me and at the end of it I feel very accomplished. I like to compete because it gives you a competitor edge that you would never get in practice.
Who's your hero in your sport? Why?
I don't have a hero in my sport.
What are you most looking forward too at the B.C Summer Games?
I'm looking forward to meeting new people and having fun while competing.
What is your goal for the games?
My goal in the games is to run a new personal best.
Matthew Arnold
Age: 14
Sport: Hammer and shot put
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
What I like most about my sport is that they are fun and I enjoy learning new techniques that allow me to throw farther and farther. I like to compete because I enjoy winning and getting new personal bests.
Who is your hero in Sports? Why?
I don't really have a hero, I would say that I do look up to Peter Behncke. I know he did very well competing in high school and was scouted out by universities. I would like to achieve the same.
What are you most looking forward to in summer games?
I am looking forward to travelling to the BC Summer Games. It will be fun to meet new people and experience new things. I'm looking forward to gaining more competition experience as well.
What is your goal for the games?
My goals for the games are to do my best, have fun and bring home the gold!
Simon Blackie
Age: 15
Sport: Track — 800 metre, steeple chase, and the 2000 metre
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
I like the fact that running has a technical aspect and is not only a question of who is the fittest. I like to compete to keep my fitness up
Who's your hero in your sport? Why?
My brother, Daniel Blackie. He pushes me to strive for excellence and is a great role model
What are you most looking forward too at the B.C Summer Games?
I am looking first to seeing my friends and meeting other athletes
What is your goal for the games?
My goal for the games is to have the best race I can.
Riley Wallach
Age: 14
Sport: Track — 800 metre, 300 metre, long jump
What do you like about your sport? Why do you like to compete?
It's a competitive, individual sport. I'm always trying to beat my own best time.
What are you most looking forward too at the B.C Summer Games?
Meeting new people, competing against other athletes that I already know and ones I will meet.
What is your goal for the games?
Enjoy myself, do my best and have a good weekend.w