The local athletes who traveled to the BC WInter Games in Mission have gained some experience and some came home with medals.
Speed skaters Emily Sulyma and Morgan Bennison both raced in the mixed relay and their team ended up with bronze after two teams were disqualified.
Emily Sulyma skated a personal best time in the 500 m with 57.73 seconds, Jessica Sewell of Vanderhoof also skated a personal best time in the 500 m, clocking 1 min 2.72 sec.
Morgan Bennison and Matthew Ebert of Vanderhoof both pushed themselves very hard to make the primary final, according to their coach Alison Leach.
“They both had multiple wipe outs but had great recoveries from getting back up on their feet very quickly and racing very well,” said Leach in an email.
Emily Prestmo of Vanderhoof also made a personal best time while she skated the 400 m in the Under 14 category, clocking in at 49.61 sec.
Connor Ebert of Vanderhoof skated in the Under 14 males and also clocked a personal best in the 400 m of 47.7.
The Under 16 relay team was Emily Sulyma, Morgon Bennison, Jessica Sewell and Matthew Ebert, the team bringing home the bronze medal.
“I thoroughly enjoyed attending the BC Winter Games with this group of skaters,” said Leach. “They were a pleasure to work with and coach, they responded well to my coaching and were willing to listen and learn.
“These guys once again gave me a positive experience at the games and I would be happy to coach again at the games.”
Leach said the support of both the Fort St. James and Vanderhoof communities was greatly appreciated by the skaters.
“They made our community proud with the great attitude and their dedication to their sport to do their best,” she said.
Their were a number of other local athletes who traveled to Mission to compete in their respective sports.
Harry Goerz shot a compound bow in archery and came in seventh. Daniel Crook shot a recurve bow in archery and came in sixth.
The Northwest Under 16 female hockey team had two Fort St. James players: Hannah Olinek and Sophie Davis. The team came in eighth place overall.
The northwest wheelchair basketball team placed sixth, with four players from Fort St. James: David Goerz, Cole Taylor, Bryan Caldwell and Will Bennison.
