Team Niagara ready for Ontario Summer Games
Triathlon competitor Candelaria Gras. Photo: BILL POTRECZ
The Niagara Region will be well represented at the London 2024 Ontario Summer Games which begin Thursday night with the opening ceremonies at Western Alumni Stadium.
Team Niagara is composed of more than 100 athletes and coaches representing the region in eight sports at the event which will feature 3,500 participants (athletes, coaches and officials), with most athletes ranging in age from 12 to 18 years old. The Games run Aug. 1-4 at various locations in London.
“We’re all behind you,” Jay Tredway, Ridley College Assistant Head of School and Co-curricular and Community Connection, told the coaches and athletes at send-off event hosted by Sport Niagara Wednesday evening at Oakes Park in Niagara Falls. “Niagara is behind you. Many of us wish we were you. We’re going to be cheering you from the top of the escarpment for the entire time, so please do us proud.”
Golfer Cole Thompson, a 17-year-old Grimsby native who will be entering Grade 12 at Blessed Trinity in September, is eager to share the experience with golf coach John White and team members Andrew Burciul, Sierra Kowalyshyn, Kian Oelofse, Will Burleigh, Mikayla Lacey, John Kingdon, Michael Martel and Casey Kenney.
“It’s awesome,” Thompson said. “I love all these guys. They’re all my buddies. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m going to try and enjoy it as much as I can. It’s an individual and team event as well and I’m just going to play the best I can and hope it all works out as a team.”
Thompson, who was a regular on the Niagara District Junior Golf Tour last summer, is concentrating on match play this year.
“I just came back from U19 match play in Waterloo and made it to semifinals,” he said. “I played really well and I guess that’s my preparation for this. I’ve been playing lots of tournaments this season. I didn’t have a great start to the season but it’s definitely getting there.
“My game is at a really good point now.”
Thompson is well aware a good performance for Team Niagara could be a stepping stone for a scholarship down the road.
“I’m going to try and not complicate it, and as far as golf goes, just play it like it’s another round and not think of the outcomes and the possibilities,” he said.
Triathlon competitor Candelaria Gras, a 15-year-old Denis Morris student, is eager to see how she stacks up against the competition.
“Honestly, I’m just expecting to go there and do my best and hopefully I can see improvement and push myself and at the same time have fun,” she said. “I’m going to try and do well. I know I’m competing against some athletes that are older.
“It’s like the first big step before doing anything else. I’m really excited to be with my friends there as well. I don’t get to see them as much because we live in all different parts of the province.”
Gras, who is a member of Edge Sports, loves the challenge of the event which involves swimming, cycling and running.
“I started when I was nine or 10 and I just stuck with it. I love the triathlon so much. I love the environment. It’s competitive but everyone loves each other and everyone is super nice and kind,” she said.
Gras said the cycling is her favourite discipline of three.
“I do my best in the bike and my run has been pretty good this year,” she said. “In Grade 9 I was training for cross country and track and I think that’s helped my running.”
Gras would love to find a fit to be able to pursue triathlon at the university level.
“I really do like triathlon. Obviously, there aren’t a lot of opportunities . . . I really want to go somewhere with triathlon. It’s fun and I enjoy it,” she said. “I feel like I really do have an opportunity in the future with this sport.”
Following is a list of Team Niagara coaches and athletes.
Girls Basketball
Coaches
Charles Kissi
Wayne Zarowny
Loris Lucchetta
Athletes
Tessa Bailey
Guilana Di Marcantonio
Evie Haine
Milena Lucchetta
Valencia Sorgini
Mara Sweeney
Brooklyn Zarowny
Gabrielle Kissi
Isabella Delyiannis
Boys Baseball
Coaches
Steve Wiersma
Kyle Davis
Andrew Jubenville
Jason Twardawa
Athletes
Cohen Enzlin
Jack Tredway
Matthew Bullough
Benny Wiersma
Payton Lanteigne
Ben Twardawa
Carson Jubenville
Jack Ruscio
Kaeleb Lyons
Mason Muzzell
Matteo Depetrillo
Ryan McWilliams
Zach Davis
Austyn Ellis
Canoe
Coach
Ozturk Kuru
Athletes
Kathleen Lowry
Kayak
Coach
Ozturk Kuru
Athletes
Jonothan Barrett
Triathlon
Athletes
Candelaria Gras
Jose Gras
U17 Rugby
Athletes
Connor Cavey
Ava Hodgson
Emma Sauer
Renee Engel
Iyeainipekun-Oluwa Ogunkeye
Girls Volleyball
Coach
Kyle Johnson
Athletes
Elizabeth Mcqueen
Jacqueline Galipeau
Maddy Hall
Renae Stefels
Boys Volleyball
Coach
Kyle Johnson
Athletes
Colin Jones
Jaden Hoff
Owen Denbak
Golf
Coach
John White
Athletes
Andrew Burciul
Cole Thompson
Sierra Kowalyshyn
Kian Oelofse
Will Burleigh
Mikayla Lacey
John Kingdon
Michael Martel
Casey Kenney
Para Track & Field
Athlete
Christopher Sabastin
Track & Field
Head Coach
Ron Cuffy
Assistant Coaches
Bruce Burton
Novelette Gordon
Mark Goveia
Team Manager
Daniela Papac
U14 Boys Track & Field
Athletes
Albert Ankomah
Cailin Ali
Calvin Henry
Connor Shaw
Dante Pietrangelo
Noah Latham
Addison Paquette
Akeelah McDonald
Avery Parkes
Danielle Charters
Jabisha Paranitharan
Lylah O’Quinn
Olivia Froemchen
U16 Girls Track & Field
Athletes
Anthony Phinn
Deagen Hallett
Elijah Samuels
Evan Blake
Jamaldeen Adigun
Owen Craddock
Owen Mathieson
Rakesh Rajakulathilakan
Samacki Thomas
Tyrique Woodside
Adele Kushner
Arthana Sangarathas
Crystal Akerele
Frances Vollett
Helena Georgiou
Isla Reinhart
Kaitlyn May
Kirthiga Gumarathas
Lebisa Paranitharan
Maeva Scipio
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