This year’s BC Summer Games will feature nine Creston athletes.
Racquel Brown, Owen Davidson, Olexa Felitsyn, Ashlynn Friesen, Colby Kidd, Ashlyn Rejman, Curtis Stankevich, Simon Stanley, and Tiang Tanapima will represent Creston in the games set for July 17 to 21.
Stanley, who will represent Creston in basketball, says he loves the sport.
“I just like basketball a lot. It was a fun sport I could do. I used to play soccer, but basketball was the sport I liked. So, I progressed through it, got a bit better, and now I’m playing in the BC Summer Games.”
Felitsyn also will be playing basketball.
“I started playing basketball at a pretty young age and I really enjoyed it. So I kept playing until now and I’m going to the Summer Games.”
Stankevich, who will be playing volleyball, says he started playing the sport in the eighth grade.
“Then, I ended up liking it a lot and got pretty good.”
Kidd also started playing volleyball in Grade 8 because a friend suggested it.
“Then, I found I could jump high and I liked hitting a ball really hard. So, I will be playing in the Summer Games.”
Tanapima has participated in the Winter Games before and looks forward to his Summer Games showing.
“I started doing track this year because my mom made me. And I’m like, I’m pretty athletic, so yeah.”
Friesen and Brown will both be competing in soccer.
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was seven years old,” says Friesen. “Now, I’m really excited to have made it to the BC Summer Games.
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was five,” adds Brown. “I like the sport because it’s physical.”
Rejman says this will be her second time representing Creston in the Summer Games and she is excited for the opportunity.
“I started golfing when I was five years old. I love it a lot because it’s a lot different than other sports. You have to be very mentally strong and it is an individual sport.”
Coach, chaperone, and mother Melanie Lankhaar-Reiman says seeing so many athletes represent the Creston Valley makes her proud.
“It’s quite the representation and an experience. It’s like a mini Olympics as you go there. It’s great to see this much.”
She adds, in years past, she only saw three athletes representing Creston.
“So, this time around, it’s great to see this many athletes.”
She says, as a parent and coach, it’s been a privilege to see the athletes grow both as competitors and as people.
“It’s nice to see that all these athletes take their sport very seriously, and they’re dedicated, and they show the love of the game.”
The BC Summer Games will be held in Maple Ridge this year.
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