We are excited to announce the Special Olympics BC basketball and figure skating athletes and coaches who will take part in the Kamloops 2018 BC Winter Games being held February 22 to 25.
More than 1,700 participants and another 1,600 volunteers will be in Kamloops as the BC Games celebrate their 40th anniversary.
We’re excited to cheer on the SOBC athletes as they hit the hardwood and the ice competing in Special Olympics events!
Basketball:
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Melissa Andrews |
Penticton |
2 |
athlete |
|
Anton Evans |
Penticton |
2 |
athlete |
|
Troy Schattenkirk |
Penticton |
2 |
athlete |
|
Kent Plettl |
Kamloops |
2 |
athlete |
|
Aaron Lansdowne-Sorenson |
Kamloops |
2 |
athlete |
|
Josh Trudell |
Kamloops |
2 |
athlete |
|
Robert Varcoe |
Kelowna |
2 |
athlete |
|
Ethan Sun |
Kelowna |
2 |
athlete |
|
Aaron Dixon |
Kelowna |
2 |
athlete |
|
Braeden Powley |
Kelowna |
2 |
athlete |
|
Jordynn Denness |
Kamloops |
2 |
Head Coach |
|
Clem Andrews |
Penticton |
2 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Patrick Wilson |
Kelowna |
2 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Evan Curr |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Julia Wood |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Tyler Page |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Rafi Thiele |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Krista Sanders |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Kailyn Potomak |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Trevin Martel |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Alexander Singh |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Jaykob Low |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Andrea Zonneveld |
Langley |
3 |
athlete |
|
Randy Curr |
Langley |
3 |
Head Coach |
|
Lorraine Griffith |
Langley |
3 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Liz Wood |
Langley |
3 |
Adult Supervisor |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Kayla Polege |
Surrey |
4 |
athlete |
|
Jotham Polege |
Surrey |
4 |
athlete |
|
Nitesh Bushnam |
Surrey |
4 |
athlete |
|
Bryce Condon |
Surrey |
4 |
athlete |
|
Nathan McManamna |
Port Moody |
4 |
athlete |
|
Devon Marsland |
Coquitlam |
4 |
athlete |
|
Ben Felling |
Coquitlam |
4 |
athlete |
|
Reid Demelo |
Port Moody |
4 |
athlete |
|
Mandy Manzardo |
Coquitlam |
4 |
athlete |
|
Evan MacNamara |
Surrey |
4 |
athlete |
|
Terralyn Polege |
Surrey |
4 |
Head Coach |
|
David Tellier |
Surrey |
4 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Jenessa Howe |
Langley |
4 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
David Swann |
Richmond |
5 |
athlete |
|
Vincent Li |
Richmond |
5 |
athlete |
|
Cullen Yee |
Richmond |
5 |
athlete |
|
Harjot Deol |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Michael Fraser |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Quintin Martin |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Casey Cochran |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
DJ Gilbert |
North Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Sangeon Yoo |
North Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Nick Kellof |
North Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Zak Klein |
North Vancouver |
5 |
Head Coach |
|
Will Moon |
North Vancouver |
5 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Hamid Khatami |
North Vancouver |
5 |
Assistant Coach |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Jeff Hayes |
Delta |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Brayden Pawer |
Richmond |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Andrew Weale |
Richmond |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Nicky Chow |
Richmond |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Alexander Pang |
Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Rahim Adatia |
Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Ethan Yeung |
Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Stephan Schoeller |
North Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Pierce Burns |
North Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Daniel Gawenda |
North Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
athlete |
|
Donny Gillanders |
Richmond |
5 wildcard |
Head Coach |
|
Kristien Benko |
North Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
Assistant Coach |
|
Keir Martyn |
Vancouver |
5 wildcard |
Assistant Coach |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Clayton Juliette |
Prince George |
8 |
athlete |
|
Chris Zorn |
Prince George |
8 |
athlete |
|
Samuel Russell |
Prince George |
8 |
athlete |
|
Riley Foster |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Brock Terlesky |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Scott Jonasson |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Elizabeth Sherwood |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Josh Tilsner |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Matthew Hender |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Travis Burt |
Quesnel |
8 |
athlete |
|
Brian Cullinane |
Quesnel |
8 |
Head Coach |
|
Kyle Terlesky |
Quesnel |
8 |
Assistant Coach |
Figure skating:
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Stephanie Divin |
Surrey |
4 |
athlete |
|
Jennifer Utendale |
White Rock |
4 |
athlete |
|
Kailee Bowman |
Victoria |
4 |
Head Coach |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Jeff Leung |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Eric Pahima |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Tin Yee Ho |
Vancouver |
5 |
athlete |
|
Matthew Lai |
Richmond |
5 |
athlete |
|
Jessica Chapelski Souza |
Vancouver |
5 |
Head Coach |
|
Name |
Hometown |
Zone |
Role |
|
Emily Walzak |
View Royal |
6 |
athlete |
|
Desiree Grubell |
Victoria |
6 |
athlete |
|
Tess van Straaten |
Victoria |
6 |
Head Coach |
The BC Winter Games provide a competitive multi-sport environment that supports the development of athletes, coaches, and officials as they move on to higher levels of competition.
These BC Games are distinct from Special Olympics BC Games, which are our Provincial Games hosted by SOBC solely for SOBC athletes.
SOBC athletes have been showcasing their skills in the generic BC Games for 16 years, competing in Special Olympics divisions. Prior to 2014, SOBC athletes at BC Games competed in athletics and swimming. Their expansion into BC Winter Games began in 2014 with basketball and continued in 2016 with the addition of figure skating.
These integrated competitive opportunities give SOBC athletes chance to shine in front of their peers from generic sports, says Competition and Youth Coordinator Joanie Hayes.
“The BC Games offer an excellent platform for SOBC athletes and coaches to compete and gain valuable experience on a bigger stage,” says Hayes. “It’s a great place to showcase their skills as they participate alongside the mainstream athletes. The atmosphere at the BC Games is one of inclusion, something we strive for every day with our year-round programs.”
When Special Olympics figure skating made its BC Winter Games debut in 2016, SOBC – Victoria’s Emily Walzak captured a gold medal in the Special Olympics Women Level 3 event.
“The biggest thing is just getting the chance to compete and show your program to the world and getting a chance to just do what you love,” Walzak said in an interview.
Be sure to check results at BC Winter Games and check in to our social media for coverage of our athletes.