As the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec plans to host the 2013 Canada Summer Games, Aug. 2-17, Tiana Dykstra of 108 Mile Ranch prepares to join Team BC as one of its 360 young athletes who will compete at the huge sporting event.
Dykstra, who is going into Grade 9 at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, has qualified to represent British Columbia in the female wrestling, up to 43-kilogram event.
She was a silver-medallist at the Canadian nationals in April.
Dykstra will be up against the country’s best between the ages of 15-18, and while she’ll be among the youngest, she feels up to the task and is excited to compete.
“It’s going to be different. There will be more competition than usual, but I’ll try my hardest and try and place in the top 5.”
To help prepare, Dykstra participated in an elite wrestling camp in Lake Arrowhead, California, at the end of June. She says it was hard, but she learned several different techniques which she anticipates will help her.
She will be competing for both team and individual medals.
The Canada Summer Games are held every four years, alternating with the Winter Games, and athletes competing in the 17 sports represent the next generation of Canadian national and international champions.
For more information about the Canada Games, visit its website at www.jeuxducanada2013.ca.
