As the 2014 Winter Olympics kicked off in Sochi, Russia this weekend, eleven young local athletes were competing a little bit closer to home in the 2014 Alberta Winter Games (AWG) held in Banff and Canmore from Feb. 6-9.
Over 2,500 athletes aged 11-17 gathered in the Bow Valley region competing in 19 different sports. Held every two years, the games provide an opportunity for many of Canada’s future elite athletes to enjoy their first taste of competition at a provincial level.
Chestermere was represented by eleven ambitious and dedicated athletes, some of whom have been playing their sport for over half their lives. Congratulations to the following Chestermere athletes for their dedication and commitment toward their sports.
Ford Witt – Wrestling *Won GOLD in the 37-40kg weight class*
Submitted by: Valerie Witt
Ford started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 8 and continued until the age of 13 (receiving his orange belt). His Jiu Jitsu training partner suggested he try wrestling and he immediately loved the sport. Ford trains with the Junior Rebels in Calgary 3 hours a week and leading up to the Alberta Winter Games practiced with the Cochrane Cowboys on Sundays for 2 hours. Ford also does Crossfit three mornings a week and attended a 4 day wrestling camp at the University of Edmonton over the Christmas break, training 4 hours a day.
Ford’s match for the Zone 2 trials at the Winter Games was very close but he lost however because Zone 4 did not have a representative in his weight class, Ford was called up to represent the Wetaskawin area which he proudly accepted knowing that he had a point to prove.
During the AWG’s Ford had 6 matches and went through undefeated not allowing a single point to be scored against him! He sustained his badge of honor (black eye) in the first match but it did not stop him as he went on to win Gold in the 37-40kg weight class.
Going to the games was special to Ford because he realizes that if you work hard and believe in yourself your dreams can come true. Ford said the AWG’s “is the biggest sporting event of my life and I hope there is more to come”.
Russ Mendonca is Head Coach for the Rebels Wrestling Team and has coached Ford for two years. “Ford is a very technical wrestler and a pleasure to coach, his matches are high paced and exciting.”
Madi Tessemaker – Female Hockey *Won GOLD*
Submitted by: Dawn Tessemaker
Madi started playing hockey at the age of 3 for the Chestermere Lakers. She has continued to excel at hockey quite often being on the Tier 1 team for her age group in Chestermere. Madi has always been the only girl on her team until she switched to playing girls hockey in 2013, playing for the Airdrie Bantam Lightening Tier 1 team who are currently in first place in the RMFHL league.
Madi has stepped up her offensive play since moving to girl’s hockey and is 4th in the scoring race on her team with 12 points. The Airdrie Lightening Bantam 1 team is preparing for Provincials in Sherwood Park in March.
In the spring of 2013 Madi played in the Alberta Challenge Cup with her team winning silver.
Madi was excited and honored to be representing Chestermere at the Alberta Winter Games, winning Gold and sees this as stepping stone to eventually playing hockey for Team Alberta.
Blane O’Brien – *Won GOLD in Male Dual Slalom Team Event*
Submitted by: Blais O’Brien
Blane started skiing at 18 months old. He entered a formal program at Snow Valley, in Edmonton at 4 and has been training one snow two plus days per week ever since. Since moving to Chestermere in 2011, he has been skiing with the Banff Alpine Racers out of Mount Norquay. Currently, he trains three days a week in the mountains, as well as one night per week at COP. During the winter, he also trains two to three nights per week with Evolution Football at Edge Fitness in Chestermere.
During the off season, Blane attends a two week summer ski camp in Mount Hood, Oregon and participates in many other sports to develop his overall athleticism. These include volleyball, waterskiing and wakeboarding, (where he is a member of the Alberta Development Team for both sports), and football (where he plays for the bantam Cyclones in Calgary).
Since making the Zone 2 team for AWG, Blane has been very excited about the event. The alpine skiers are eligible when they are 12 and 13. Blane is a 12 year old, so it is a big deal for him to be able to have this experience as one of the younger athletes in his events.
Blane’s current goals include making the Alberta Summer Games team in Football, qualifying for water-ski Nationals this season and being top 10 in U14 ski races. Long-term he would like to play in the NFL, but being a World Cup ski racer is a close second. If he keeps focussed and working hard, either is possible!
Hassan Akl – *Won BRONZE in Male Hockey (Pee Wee)*
Submitted by: Moe Akl
Hassan Akl started his hockey career in Calgary with the PSA association. When he first started playing at 5 years of age, he could barely stay on his feet but by the second year of tykes he was one of the fastest skaters in the city.
In his first year of Pee Wee, Hassan tried out for the Wheatland Braves. He went through the evaluation process right to the final tournament, but unfortunately was one of the last cut. That made him very determined and hungry to get better. And the next year he made the team and is currently one of the top players on the Wheatland Braves.
Coming into this year he found out about the Alberta Winter Games tryouts and Hassan worked very hard training off and on the ice to try to make that team. And with all the hard work came the reward of being selected to the Zone 2 team.
During the spring Hassan plays spring hockey with the Calgary Jr Hitmen. They are one of the top 2001 age Spring teams in Western Canada, compiled of some of the best players from Calgary and surrounding areas. That team travels to play tournaments in cities like Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Lethbridge and as far as California.
Hassan previously and currently does various training during the year. He does Off/On ice training with Evolution hockey here in Chestermere. He also does Powerskating with Mark Ciaccio and Spartan hockey development as well as with Steve Serdachny.
Hassan’s strongest attributes are his skating, speed, playmaking abilities and hard work ethic.
This weekend he competed in the Alberta Winter Games. It was an amazing experience for him. He was honored and thrilled to play with and against so many amazing players from across the province. And his team came away from that with a Bronze medal.
Now Hassan is looking forward to completing his last two games of the Wheatland Braves regular season and moving on to the playoffs.
Majid Kaddoura – *Won BRONZE in Male Hockey (Pee Wee)*
Submitted by: Kori Kaddoura
Majid has been playing hockey since he was 5 years old. He started out in the city of Calgary and later moved to Chestermere in his second year of atom, playing on the Atom 1 team in the 2011/12 season. Majid started to train with Evolution hockey in the summer of 2012 to prepare for his peewee hockey year.
In his first year of peewee hockey he made the Peewee AA Wheatland Braves as a first year and played with his older brother. This was a huge accomplishment for Majid. His team played a solid year and came out on top. They were the Zone 6 North Division champions and swept the playoffs in 7 games to win the SCAHL championship. Majid is in his second year of peewee and still plays for the Wheatland Braves as a defenseman.
December. 6-8, 2013 was the weekend for tryouts to the Alberta Winter Games. Majid worked hard, played strong defensively and was chosen to play on the Zone 2 hockey team as a defenseman. When he received the phone call that he made the team he couldn’t have been happier!
“Making the Alberta Winter Games Zone 2 team was a huge accomplishment for me. Words cannot express what it means to me to play for this team. The weekend went by way too fast. We played hard, finished first in the round robin and won the bronze medal. It felt good to play with and against the best players in Alberta. I met some good guys, made some new friends and will remember this experience forever”, said Majid.
Tarun Fizer *Won BRONZE in Male Hockey (Pee Wee)*
Submitted by: Wally Fizer
Tarun (aka T) started playing hockey at the age of 5 with Chestermere Minor Hockey Association. Tarun showed a passion for hockey at an early age and that has never changed. He currently plays with the Wheatland Braves AA Peewee team out of Strathmore and for the past 4 years, T has been a member of what has become one of the top 2001 Spring hockey teams, the Jr. Hitmen.
On top of his 1.5 hour practices twice a week, minimum 2 games per week, his off ice Dryland training and his daily shooting practice, he still always tries to fit in Friday afternoon shinny at the Chestermere recreational center when his schedule will allow.
T’s favorite hockey quote is Wayne Gretzky’s: “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
When T was asked about what this experience meant to him he said that being in the AWG was something he was proud of. He stated that this experience gave him the opportunity to play and compete with the best players in Alberta. He built some new friendships during the weekend and he will never forget this experience.
Emily Drake – Ringette
Submitted by: Richard Drake
Emily Drake was selected to play on the Zone 2 Alberta winter games host U16 Ringette team. She presently plays on her home team Nova in the U19 Ringette Calgary league.
Emily is in her 11th year of Ringette and 4 years ago she decided to switch from playing forward/defence positions to between the pipes. Being a goalie allowed her to express her individuality while still experiencing the team concept.
Emily is very active playing basketball for Bishop Carroll High School in addition to being an avid golfer. When not playing sports she is focused on her grade 11 academics and is scheduled to travel to Spain in March on a student exchange program for 10 weeks.
Emily is a very active young lady and although she didn’t have the outcome she was hoping for on the ice this weekend, she still really enjoyed the experience of meeting other top Ringette athlete’s from throughout the province.
Cameron Copeland – Speed Skating
Submitted by: Cameron Copeland
My name is Cameron Copeland and I am a grade 9 student attending Chestermere Lake Middle School. In 2007 I completed the Learn to Skate programs and then decided to take up speed skating in 2010. I joined The Calgary Speed Skating Association and have been skating and competing ever since. We train on both short track and long track and later will decide which one we would like to stick with.
As a group we have about 6 hours of ice time and 3 hours of dry land training per week. In the summer I attend speed skating camps and dry land training.
Competing in the Alberta Winter Games was my athlete goal for this year. I am excited for myself and fellow team mates to have the opportunity to compete. My ultimate goal in the future would be the Olympics but for now I am happy with achieving personal bests and my goals.
Jordyn Vlaar – Speed Skating
Submitted by: Jordyn Vlaar
This is my third year speed skating, I do both short track and long track, but prefer long track. I train four times a week, two short track, two long track, and for about six hours of ice time total, per week. I also train off ice before practices and soon in spring camps.
I started speed skating after my Opa had passed away from Lung Cancer, and decided to carry on his legacy, considering he was a long distance speed skater In Holland.
Making it to Alberta Winter Games gives me some hope that I’m doing something right and that I’m one step in the right direction to my goal of being in the Olympics one day.
I hope to skate my very best, and represent our club, Calgary Speed Skating Association, along with my close friends who made it too.
Austin Bercier – Wrestling
Submitted by: Evonna Bercier
Austin started wrestling in Feb 2012 at the age of 11, with the Jr. Rebels Wrestling club. In the following year, 2013 Austin competed in tournaments and won a Gold Medal at Cities and a Silver Medal at Provincials.
Austin trains twice a week with the Jr. Rebels and trains an additional 12-14 hours per week which includes cardio, cross-fit and weight training.
In December 2013 he tried out for the Alberta Winter Games and placed himself as an alternate in the 60 kg weight category. He continued to train hard and wrestle with the Zone 2 winter games team ready for an opportunity to fill in for an injury.
Austin plans to continue wrestling and training with the Jr. Rebels Wrestling club throughout high school and possibly earn a wrestling scholarship for University. He is also training for the cross country team at St. Gabriel the Archangel.
According to Russ Mendonca, the Head Coach for Rebels Wrestling, 13 year old Austin Bercier has undergone quite an amazing change in the past 2 years since he started wrestling. “He has committed himself to the sport and is taking his wrestling to the next level. Austin is able to compete with athletes that have twice his experience and he is improving daily, always challenging himself by training with athletes that are 3 – 4 years older than him.”
Shaelyn Peters – Women’s Volleyball
Submitted by: Genevieve Peters
Shaelyn Peters started learning how to play volleyball through a skills volleyball program provided at the Rainbow Elementary School when she was in Grade 5. It was a great experience for her and the doorway to a great start and love for the sport. In grade 7 the opportunity to try out for other sports was provided at the Chestermere Lake Middle School, where Shaelyn attends, so she indulged in Track & Field, Basketball, Volleyball and Badminton. She was accepted to play with the Grade 8A team and had an awesome coach to show her invaluable techniques in all aspects of volleyball. The following year due to homework and commitments Shaelyn decided to stick with Volleyball and eliminate the rest of the sports for the time being.
In grade 8 and continuing with the Grade 8A Volleyball Team, Shaelyn’s school coach was approached by Rally Pointe, (a Calgary Volleyball Club) to have Shaelyn go to their evaluations, eventually being offered a spot on the U14 Canada West Team. The team practiced 4 days a week from December to May. That year was an amazing experience where the team had grown leaps and bounds. They won Gold in local tournaments, only to move on and receive Silver in Provincials. This allowed them as spot to be in the Nationals, in Abbotsord, B.C.
Now in Grade 9, Shaelyn played in the beginning of the school year with the Chestermere High School Junior Varsity Team. This is Shaelyn’s second year with Canada West and they have already proved great success by winning Gold twice and now have earned a banner in their club facility. Through the recommendation of her Canada West coach, Shaelyn was privileged to receive a spot on the Alberta Winter Games.
Between both the Alberta Winter Games and Canada West, Shaelyn was committed to 4 days of volleyball practice. The Alberta Winter Games Girls volleyball team had their tournaments in Canmore this past weekend. Although they didn’t place in the top three, it is still something to be very proud for Shaelyn to be the only one from Chestermere to represent Zone 2 in her sport and have her team of to be one of the top eight teams of all of Alberta to compete in the Alberta Winter Games.
