Next stop provincials, tomorrow the world.
That's what could be in store on the competitive stage for a group of Prince George athletes who have qualified for this weekend's Special Olympics B.C. Summer Games. After taking the first step at the regional event last summer, starting Friday in Langley they'll try to continue that climb to provincial-team status in the three-day provincial Summer Games.
"They know what they're aiming for, and they do realize if they do well they can progress on," said Wilma Van Hage, coach of the Prince George Special Olympics soccer team.
"It's a four-year cycle, so the ones who did well last year at regionals are going to provincials, and if you do well at provincials you go to nationals [in Vancouver in 2014]. From nationals you can make it up to worlds, which will be in Los Angeles in 2015."
The soccer team started dryland training in an indoor gym in April and has been practising twice a week outdoors since May. Last weekend the local squad earned a bronze medal at the boys Provincial B Cup championships at Rotary Field in the Special Olympics division, finishing just behind a pair of Quesnel teams.
The Prince George soccer roster includes goalie Chris Zorn, Tegan Raines, Latoria Isaac, Marinka VanHage, Robyn Lutz, Ryan Vis, Sam Russell, Tracey Robinson and Daniel Lafreniere. Harjas Grewal and Jason Lewis will also coach the team. Michael Harris and Amos Kamm of Prince George will also compete in soccer, playing for the team from Terrace.
Each team in Langley is guaranteed three games. The first two games will be used to seed the teams according to ability in either A, B or C divisions.
In total, 45 athletes from Prince George are entered in the Games. That list also includes power lifters Diana Bramble and James Nikal; swimmers Brian Whitfield, Carla Caputo, David Dunn, Jasmyne Morgan, Josh Pudney, Kathleen Mitchell, and Kim Erickson; golfers Barbie Conway and Greg Eveneshen; rhythmic gymnasts Angela Hills, Darcie Muzychka, Emily Paterson, Michaela Samsonoff, Nikki George, Rose Bradley, and Stephanie Tremblay.
In 10-pin bowling are Jennifer Germann, Cindy Komoski, Michelle Baxter, Leif Skuggedal, Greg Cole, Chantal Chan, Linda Renner, Dustin Olson, Kelly Hein and Adrian Rosen, while Mathew Brewer, Emilie Snyders, Debbie Bileck, Joseph Mitchell, Yvonne LeRuyet and Jordon Korum will compete in five-pin bowling.
Fifteen coaches and support staff will make the trip. The Prince George contingent is scheduled for a morning flight and will be travelling with a group of about 20 athletes from Quesnel. The opening ceremony is set for tonight at Langley Events Centre.
