Richmond athletes did their part to help Team B.C. produce an impressive medal haul at the Western Canada Summer Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta.
B.C. topped the medal standings to take home the Games’ aggregate trophy with 280 medals, including 134 gold.
It’s proved to be quite the summer for softball players Sierra Sherritt and Jordan Britten-Yung.
The pair helped the Delta ’97 Heat cap a memorable final season by winning the U18A Nationals back east in convincing fashion — then immediately headed West to produce more golden memories with Team B.C.
A dominant run on the diamond was capped by an 11-0 victory over Alberta in Sunday’s championship final. B.C. dropped just one game and beat its final three opponents by a combined score of 30-2.
“Everything was super! Winning the Gold medal game, great accommodations and food, as well as the volunteers in Fort.McMurray,” said BC head coach Roger Boily.
Sherritt will be continuing her career at SFU this fall while Britten-Young is part of the Douglas College 2015 recruiting class.
In men’s baseball, catcher Noah Or helped B.C. reach the top of the podium with a 7-3 win over Saskatchewan in the gold medal game. B.C. won five of six games and avenged its only defeat with a 7-4 triumph over Alberta in the semi-finals.
Or played this past season in the B.C. Premier Baseball League with the North Delta Blue Jays after coming through Richmond City Baseball’s program. The McRoberts student was a solid defensively and also a force at the plate throughout the tournament.
On the basketball court, 6-foot-8 post standout Fardaws Aimaq showed why the Steveston-London Sharks will likely be the team to beat in the city at the senior boys level next season after helping B.C. capture gold. A
n unbeaten run was capped by a hard-fought 66-60 win over Manitoba in the final.
On the mats, Steveston Judo Club member Ario Nishimura continued his outstanding 2015 campaign by capturing a pair of gold medals.
He dominated his 73-81 kilo division, winning every match — twice against Saskatchewan’s Maxx Karaim, including the final. He then helped B.C. capture the team event.
Earlier this year, Nishimura won silver at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George and added a bronze at the U18 Nationals in Montreal.
In rowing, James Houston also won a pair of gold as the St George’s student was a member of the B.C. eight and four crews that produced decisive victories in each race.
On the tennis court, Jessie Gong helped B.C. capture gold in the Team Mixed event. The McRoberts student also came close to adding a second medal in the singles competition, losing the bronze medal match in three sets to B.C. teammate Oleksandra Gorchanyuk.
It was a productive games in the water for Richmond Rapids swimmer Kevin Ye as the 16-year-old was a member B.C.’s 4x50 free, 4x50 medley and 4x100 medley relay teams that all won silver.
In athletics, Richmond Kajaks member Camyrn Rogers captured silver in the women’s hammer throw with a best toss of 54.14 metres, finishing second to B.C. teammate Natasha Akbarizadel of Maple Ridge.
Rogers also added fourth place finishes in the shot put and discus events.
In men’s soccer, Liam Robinson helped B.C. earn silver after a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Alberta in the final. Robinson played this past season for U16 Surrey United of the B.C. Premier Soccer League.
On the links, standout Alisha Lau continued her busy summer schedule by earning bronze in individual stroke play as B.C. swept the medal positions. The Burnett secondary student and National Development Team member fired rounds of 73-78-73.
The 10-day competition featured over 2500 athletes from Canada’s four western provinces and three northern territories, participating in 18 different sports.
