MEDIA RELEASE
Medal Count Reaches 67 as Team Alberta Continues to Persevere
EDMONTON, AB, August 3, 2018- Fans were cheering, athletes were hydrated and Team Alberta kept showing Canada that hard work, talent, and perseverance pays off. On the second day of competition at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, Team Alberta racked up the medals in athletics, powerlifting and swimming adding 18 gold, 20 silver and 6 bronze.
Team Alberta powerlifters have an impressive showing in Antigonish and all four members are taking home medals. Medicine Hat’s Christine Sullivan, a powerlifting veteran, swept all of her event categories and will take home four gold medals in squat, bench press, deadlift, and combo.
Both of our basketball squads bounced back nicely after a few tough outings during divisioning by winning all their games on day 2. Team Alberta Thunder pulled out two victories against New Brunswick and Quebec, while Team Alberta Titans won a nail biter (19-18) over Team Nova Scotia-Halifax and a second win over Team Ontario-Arnprior. The Titan’s below four foot giant, “Wild” Bill Hurley scored his first basket against Team Ontario, and the crowd roared wildly.
The Wolverines, Team Alberta softball, also scored a victory against the mighty Team PEI.
Athletics competitors continued to streak and first time Nationals competitors are taking home gold, silver, and bronze. Eli Bernard earned a gold in the standing long jump (M3 division), David Kwas won the silver in standing long jump (M6 division), and Wade Szanik won bronze in the 200m (M15 division). Team members Kieran Corrigan, Eli Bernard, David Kwas, Jonathan Stel and Chantal Payne all recorded personal bests as well.
Team Alberta swimmers continued to make waves in the pool winning 11 gold, 10 silver, and 5 bronze medals and swept the 200m event winning gold, silver, and bronze.
Bocce is heating up and Team Alberta is hitting the mark with Nikita Williams on a winning streak, adding two more wins on day two.
Full result details for the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, go to: http://www.specialolympics.ca/2018-national-games-results
Team Alberta Medal Count
Gold: 28
Silver: 30
Bronze 9
Athletics
|
Athlete Name |
Event |
Division |
Rank |
|
David Kwas |
Standing Long Jump |
M6 |
2 |
|
Eli Bernard |
Standing Long Jump |
M3 |
1 |
|
Wade Szanik |
200m |
M15 |
3 |
Bocce
|
Athlete Name |
Event |
Division |
Wins/Loss |
Rank |
|
Nikita Williams |
Bocce Singles |
F3 |
2 Wins |
|
|
Byron Baker |
Bocce Singles |
M7 |
1 Loss |
|
|
Erin LeBlanc |
Bocce Singles |
F1 |
1 Loss, 1 Tie |
|
|
Darby Taylor |
Bocce Singles |
M6 |
1 Loss, 1 Win |
|
|
Colin Vircoe |
Bocce Singles |
M5 |
1 Win |
|
Basketball
|
Team |
Division |
Wins |
Losses |
Rank |
|
Thunder |
Red |
2: NB, Quebec |
|
|
|
Titans |
Yellow |
2: NS-Halifax, Ontario-Arnprior |
|
|
Golf
|
Athlete Name |
Event |
Division |
Total Score |
Rank |
|
Josh Engel |
Stroke Play 9 |
M1 |
92 |
4 |
|
Greg Demchuk |
Stroke Play 9 |
M2 |
105 |
Tied 3 |
|
Zach Fox |
Stroke Play 9 |
M3 |
103 |
2 |
|
Paul Oldridge |
Stroke Play 9 |
M5 |
128 |
Tied 1 |
|
Toryn Holden |
Stroke Play 9 |
M5 |
128 |
Tied 1 |
|
Allie Price |
Stroke Play 9 |
F2 |
127 |
3 |
|
Emma Bittorf |
Stroke Play 9 |
F2 |
117 |
1 |
Powerlifting
|
Athlete Names |
Event |
Division |
Score |
Rank |
|
David Nicholson |
Squat |
M5 |
155 |
1 |
|
|
Benchpress |
M5 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
Deadlift |
M5 |
172.5 |
2 |
|
|
Combo |
M5 |
412.5 |
2 |
|
Vaughn Lang |
Squat |
M7 |
175 |
2 |
|
|
Benchpress |
M7 |
102.5 |
2 |
|
|
Deadlift |
M7 |
182.5 |
2 |
|
|
Combo |
M7 |
460 |
2 |
|
Christine Sullivan |
Squat |
F2 |
70 |
1 |
|
|
Benchpress |
F3 |
57.5 |
1 |
|
|
Deadlift |
F3 |
122.5 |
1 |
|
|
Combo |
F2 |
250 |
1 |
|
Scott Pagenkopf |
Squat |
M8 |
185 |
1 |
|
|
Benchpress |
M8 |
125 |
2 |
|
|
Deadlift |
M8 |
217.5 |
2 |
|
|
Combo |
M8 |
527.5 |
1 |
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Divisioning completed, competition begins August 3
Soccer
|
Team |
Division |
Wins |
Losses |
Rank |
|
Alberta |
Red |
|
2: BC, Saskatchewan |
|
Softball
|
Team |
Division |
Wins |
Losses |
Rank |
|
Wolverines |
Yellow |
1: PEI |
|
|
Swimming
|
Athlete Name |
Event |
Division |
Rank |
|
Elliott Moskowy |
50m Breaststroke |
M1 |
3 |
|
Victor Lewis |
50m Breaststroke |
M3 |
2 |
|
Candice Bagan |
25m Breaststroke |
F4 |
1 |
|
|
25m Backstroke |
F4 |
1 |
|
Michelle Tschetter |
25m Butterfly |
F1 |
2 |
|
Douglas Bailey |
25m Backstroke |
M5 |
2 |
|
Marianne Collinge |
25m Backstroke |
F7 |
2 |
|
April Lam |
200m Backstroke |
F3 |
1 |
|
|
50m Breaststroke |
F4 |
1 |
|
Justin Thompson |
25m Backstroke |
M2 |
1 |
|
Ian Lowther |
100m Backstroke |
M2 |
2 |
|
Connor Bissett |
50m Breaststroke |
M4 |
2 |
|
|
100m Butterfly |
M2 |
2 |
|
Patrick Weaver |
100m Backstroke |
M2 |
3 |
|
Sarah Schmick |
200m Backstroke |
F3 |
2 |
|
|
100m Butterfly |
F1 |
2 |
|
|
25m Butterfly |
F4 |
3 |
|
Hidde Geurts |
200m Backstroke |
M2 |
1 |
|
Wesley Wilks |
200m Breaststroke |
M2 |
1 |
|
|
200m Backstroke |
M2 |
3 |
|
Angela Lowther |
200m Breaststroke |
F3 |
1 |
|
|
50m Breaststroke |
F6 |
1 |
|
Jordan Macleod |
200m Backstroke |
F2 |
1 |
|
|
100m Backstroke |
F3 |
1 |
|
Johanna Dias |
25m Butterfly |
F1 |
2 |
Find daily competition photos on the Special Olympics Alberta Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/122783544@N05/albums and the Special Olympics Canada Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/92082000@N03/albums
You can follow the action of the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games at www.so2018.specialolympicsns.ca and on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @SpecialO2018, #SpecialO2018 and #SO2018. For Team Alberta results and stories, go to www.specialolympics.ca/2018-team-alberta. Photos and videos can be found on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @SpecialOAlberta #SOTeamAB18.
Special Olympics Team Alberta
Team Alberta is represented by 148 athletes and 54 coaches and mission staff who will be competing at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Bowling Championships in P.E.I and 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Team Alberta bowlers completed their competition in P.E.I. May 15 to 20 and came home with 13 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze. Team Alberta members competing in athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball, and swimming will take part in the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games from July 31 to August 4.
Team Alberta represents 27 communities across the province, with athletes who are as young as 14 and as old as 62. Team Alberta is built on the values of ability, courage, humility, integrity, empowerment, value and effort. Each member has committed to train to the best of their abilities and to perform their personal best.
For more information and a full rooster of Team Alberta members, go to www.specialolympics.ca/2018-team-alberta
2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games
The Special Olympics Canada Summer and Winter Games started in 1974 and are national multi-sport Games for athletes with an intellectual disability. Over 45,000 athletes compete in training and competitions all across Canada supported by over 21,000 volunteers. It is the country’s largest multi-sport event for people with intellectual disabilities and provides our athletes with a development and competitive opportunity that prepares and qualifies them for Special Olympics World Games. The Summer Games are SOC’s largest National Games and they are a qualifying event for Team Canada selection for 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. Find more information on the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games https://so2018.specialolympicsns.ca/
Special Olympics Alberta
Special Olympics Alberta is dedicated to enriching the lives of Albertans with intellectual disabilities through the transformative power and joy of sport. Our vision is that sport will open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create inclusive communities.
Special Olympics Alberta’s programs cater to all ages and a wide range of abilities to over 3,300 athletes in more than 140 communities. We provide world class sports programs that are run daily by over 1,300 volunteers. For more information on Special Olympics Alberta, visit, www.specialolympics.ca/alberta and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr and YouTube.
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Media Contact
Kiefer Sutherland
Marketing and Communications
Special Olympics Alberta
P: 780-422-5505
office@specialolympics.ab.ca