Young athletes and coaches from all over northern Saskatchewan are in Estevan this week, competing as Team North in the Saskatchewan Summer Games from July 24 to 30.
Held every four years, the Games offers young athletes a chance to compete against others from across the province in a multi-sport tournament.
In the Team North region, which includes 54 northern Saskatchewan communities, youth will compete in 10 sports: archery, track and field, basketball, canoeing, golf, soccer, tennis, triathlon and volleyball.
Athletes from Creighton and Denare Beach will join teammates from 17 other north Sask communities at the Games.
“Every team has a mixture of athletes from different communities,” explains Ryan Karakochuk, coordinator for Team North.
The distribution creates a unique challenge for Team North players and their families, who must often travel long distances to practise as a team.
“It’s a big commitment,” Karakochuk said.
On Sunday, July 24, the 145 players and coaches that make up Team North met in Prince Albert to head to Estevan.
The Games attract about 2,000 athletes, and players and coaches stay in a section of a large high school that has been set up like an Olympic Village.
Karakochuk said the Games experience is an enriching one for athletes, no matter their skill level.
“For most kids, it’s just exposure to the sport, more experience and learning the game better,” he explained.
“For some of the older kids who are more experienced, it can be a driving point for them to explore their sport professionally down the line.”
Results from the Saskatchewan Summer Games will be posted on saskgames.ca
Players from Creighton & Denare Beach
Basketball
Sarah Gardiner
Hailey Bjarnson
Shannon Williamson
Talia Stewart
Keisha Stewart
JC Bowes
Austin McLean
Blake Alexander
Golf
Chris Reynolds
Lauren Fox
Soccer
Ethan Patterson
Carson Straile
Owen Slugoski
Connor Slugoski
Odin Church
Tennis
Sophie Lengyel
Brianna Alexander
Evan Madarash
Madeline Claveau
Lillian Knutson
Haiden Kanto
