By Adam Eisenbarth
There will be 15 categories of events spread throughout 10 communities in the Peace region, July 19 to 25.
Ponoka is part of zone 4, which will send more athletes than any other zone.
Competitors range from ages 11 to 17 years old and athletes are divided into eight zones. Zone 4 also includes Red Deer, Camrose, Stettler, Wetaskiwin, Rocky Mountain House as well as several smaller communities in the region.
Taylor Hart will busy throughout the week. The Ponoka swimmer will challenge in the 50m, 200m and 400m free swim, as well as the 200m back swim and 200m individual medley.
“I just hope I have fun and swim hard, hopefully I’ll win something.”
The 12-year-old has been swimming for six years and he credits his coach, Kyle Morrow, for his early success in the sport. “He’s a really good coach. He’s been very supportive.”
Hart expects the 50m free to be his strongest event and has lofty goals for his future and his hard work has been a great start.
“I wish I could swim in the Olympics (someday.)”
Along with Hart, Ponoka’s Amy Lank will participate. The softball player will compete in her first Summer Games and is looking forward to the event. Making the team was a challenge in itself.
“There was a tryout last summer and then there were tryouts in May.”
The 15-year-old is hoping the Summer Games team sees the same type of success her club team saw. The team won gold this year and now she’ll move on to the Summer Games.
She says it will help to know some players on the team. “I know about five or six of the girls there.”
Austyn Nagribianko rounds out the group of Ponoka athletes. He will play with the soccer team.
More than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials from throughout the province will participate at the event.