Medal Count Reaches 67 as Team Alberta Continues to Persevere

Team Alberta Powerlifter, David Nicholson receiving his silver medal
Team Alberta Powerlifter, David Nicholson receiving his silver medal

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.

-30-

Media Contact

Kiefer Sutherland
Marketing and Communications
Special Olympics Alberta
P: 780-422-5505
office@specialolympics.ab.ca