REGINA, SK (February 24, 2023): Friday brought good luck as every sport was in contention at the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games. Athletes continued to accumulate medals and memories on their second last day of the Games. With one more night at the Athletes’ Village, participants were found all across campus taking in all the multi-sport games experience has to offer -- including a visit from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the University of Regina Cougars Women’s Basketball CanWest semifinal, therapy dogs, a movie night, game rooms, and more. The energy at the cross-country and para-nordic course was electric on Friday, with an incredible turnout of supporters and family despite the bitter cold. Team Lakeland mission staff described their cross-country and para-nordic squad’s journey to the Games. Up until recently, the team was being coached by 10x Paralympian Colette Bourgonje. When Bourgonje was unable to attend the Games, Saskatchewan Games and Canada Games alumni Kryztle Shewchuk, took on coaching the team. Shewchuk was named to Team Sask, who is currently competing at the Canada Winter Games in PEI, 17-year-old Jessica Gill -- herself a 2018 Saskatchewan Games and 2019 Canada Games alumni -- stepped in to coach the eight-person para-nordic and cross-country squad. After five incredible days of celebrating excellence in Saskatchewan sport and culture, the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games are set to conclude after a morning of final competition. Closing Ceremony will take place this Saturday at 4:00 PM at the Vitera International Trade Centre. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at universe.com/saskgames or at the door. SPORT SPOTLIGHT: Figure Skating: Competition in Figure Skating wrapped up on Friday. In the Female Pre-Juvenile Free Skate, Saskatoon’s Lauren Bildfell, South East’s Vaida Maas, and Prairie Central’s Addison Hall went 1-3; in the Male Pre-Juvenile Free Skate, Saskatoon’s Alex Sun and South West’s Brayden Bader earned gold and silver. South East swept the podium in the Female Juvenile Free Skate: Abby Haas, Rachel Duncan, Sydney Brooks taking home medals. In the Male event, Rivers West’s Simeon Bakanec, South West’s Seann Terry, and South East’s Nate Greenbank went 1-3. Futsal: In the Female Futsal tournament, Parkland Valley will compete for gold tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM. Regina #1 will compete for bronze at 10:45. In the Male tournament, Parkland Valley and South West will compete for the bronze medal, while Regina and Saskatoon will face off for gold at 9:15 AM. Judo: Numerous medals were awarded after a busy day on the mat for Saskatchewan’s judokas competing in the individual and team Newaza events. Click here for the full story. Target Shooting: After the morning’s individual air pistol and air rifle events, the evening saw another rambunctious Super Final competition, this time in the Air Rifle. In the female event, South East’s Kerri Gyoerick took gold, while Saskatoon’s Emma Molberg and Parkland Valley’s Willow Fayant-Velychko rounded out the podium. In the male event, Saskatoon’s Joshua Norman earned gold while Prairie Central’s Ethan Robinson and Danny Strauss took silver and bronze. Wrestling: The Team Dual semi-finals and finals took place today. In the end, it was Regina who prevailed, with Saskatoon and Prairie Central also taking home medals. Para Nordic and Cross Country Skiing: In the Para Nordic Sit Ski race, Team Lakeland came home with a pair of gold medals after Cherish Nontell and Aren Eli Painter’s performances. In the Interval Classic Jr. Girls 1500m race, Prairie Central’s Milla Niefer, Saskatoon’s Emma Storey, and Regina’s Laurel Brock went 1-3; in the Jr. Boys’ race, Saskatoon’s Tyson Miller, Parkland Valley’s Levi Maier, and Oliver Bourassa, also of Saskatoon, made the podium. In the Sr. Girls’ 3000m race, Regina’s Lorence Bourque earned gold. Saskatoon’s Natalie Meinert and Abbey Jane Zimmer were close behind. In the Sr. Boys’ division, Parkland Valley’s Hudson Maier came in first, with Saskatoon’s Jamie Farthing and Pano McCartney rounding out the podium. COMING UP NEXT: The Day 6 Sport Schedule will include competition in Futsal, Target Shooting, Judo, Wrestling, and Para Nordic and Cross Country Skiing. The 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games in Regina will conclude with Saturday’s Closing Ceremony, taking place at 4:00 PM at the Viterra International Trade Centre. Following the ceremony, the participants will board their buses for home. QUOTES OF THE DAY: “One of my major Games highlights is hearing from parents that the experience has been life-changing for some of the athletes that have attended. It hasn’t been about the sport -- it’s been about the experience.” -- Jacquie Van De Woestyne, Team South East Mission Staff. “I’ve been doing Judo for 10+ years and the reason I started officiating is mainly because I wanted to give back to the Judo community and to always have a seat watching Judo live.” -- Eldon Li, Judo Major Official “The companionship that the Games brings is really great for the younger athletes that haven’t been exposed to big tournaments before. Being around different athletes and coaches is a great opportunity for athletes because they get to interact and learn new skills that help them in their day-to-day lives.” -- Greg Cooper, Team Saskatoon Judo Manager. “I want to make it to the Canada Winter Games, that’s my next big goal!” -- said Milla Niefer, Team Prairie Central Athlete. “The athletes have such good energy. Figure skating is such an individual sport, but the girls are such a team. I’ve never seen that before. The Games brought this team energy to them.” -- Sydney Kotzer, Team Parkland Valley Figure Skating Team Manager. “ CONTENT: Photos and video highlights of the Games are available for download at this link. Photographers’ names are listed on each subfolder for photographer credit. Thank you to our volunteer photographers for helping us to capture all the moments and memories! LIVESTREAM: The 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games is proud to partner with HomeTeam Live to stream every sport at the Games at app.hometeamlive.com. The stream is free and easy to access, with instructions here. WEBSITE: saskgames.ca The 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram The Saskatchewan Games Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram ### About the Saskatchewan Games: First established in 1972, the purpose of the Saskatchewan Games is to provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to participate in an exciting multi-sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition. Countless Saskatchewan Games alumni have advanced to competition at the national level and beyond, with Olympians such as Sandra Schmirler, Colleen Sostorics, Emily Clarke, and Lucas Makowsky counting the Saskatchewan Winter Games as a key step in their journey to the highest levels of sport. The Saskatchewan Games also leave behind valuable legacies that benefit each host community for years to come. To learn more, visit http://www.saskgames.ca. MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Dennison, Communications Lead Saskatchewan Games Council E: adennison@saskgames.ca
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DAY 5 AT THE 2023 SASKATCHEWAN WINTER GAMES IN REGINA, PRESENTED BY TEINE ENERGY
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