A day full of medals and clutch wins highlighted an exciting Day 6 at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games for Team BC, as the province combined for 18 medals.
MEDAL STANDINGS | SCHEDULE + RESULTS | PHOTOS | LIVESTREAM
Day 6 Highlights:
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Wrestling had a strong day on the mat, finishing with ten individual medals (4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze) after picking up the women‘s gold and men‘s silver in the team events yesterday.
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Swimming won six medals to finish the pool portion of their Games with 42 medals.
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Colette Reimer and Daniel Damian doubled up for Triathlon on Thursday, winning their second gold and silver medals of the Games, respectively, in the Supersprint event.
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The mixed tennis team for BC won their quarterfinal tie 5 matches to 1, and will advance to the semifinal tie versus Ontario.
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Softball and Box Lacrosse both booked spots in gold medal games on Friday.
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Basketball (M) won their Quarter Final against Saskatchewan to advance to the Semi-Final on Friday, where they will take on Alberta. Women's basketball fell to
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Beach Volleyball swept their Quarter Finals to move on to their respective Semi-Finals on Friday.
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Soccer (M) beat Yukon to advance to the 5th place game on Friday.
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Basketball
Women’s Basketball fell to Team Ontario 86-70 in their quarterfinal game on Thursday. They will play in the consolation game against Manitoba on Friday at 1 p.m.
On the men’s side, Team BC pulled off a victory against Saskatchewan 117-81 in their quarterfinal game. They will advance to the semifinal game on Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Alberta.
“I feel like it was a game of runs,” said Karan Aujila (Surrey) after their quarterfinal victory. “We felt that we put it away in the second quarter, but Saskatchewan just kept fighting back and then eventually with our bench and with our coaches all getting together keeping each other up and in the fourth quarter we were able to end it on a 32-9 run.”
“When we were preparing for this, we were seeing each other around like once a month on weekends, but in this short time span we’re all together now, we’re hanging out together all day and we’re more than just a team, we're a family now,” added Aujila.
“The goal since we got together in April was to make the medal rounds, the guys knew it was close, and I think what happened today at the start I think we were just a bit anxious, cause they wanted it to happen right away,” said coach Paul Eberhardt. “We really got going in the fourth quarter. Hopefully we’ll take that into what will likely be Quebec tomorrow.”
“[The team] actually came together as a group way earlier than I thought they would,” added Eberhardt. “They really have bought into the concept of playing for each other and for Team BC. I think that’s our biggest strength - I’m really proud of that.”
Results
Basketball (F) vs Ontario - 86-70 loss
Basketball (M) vs Saskatchewan - 117-81 win
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Beach Volleyball
BC’s women’s beach volleyball team remains undefeated at these Canada Summer Games after another straight set victory, this time over Team Saskatchewan in their quarterfinal match. They have earned themselves a spot in the semifinal match against Ontario on Friday at 3 p.m.
On the men’s side, Team BC has yet to lose a set at these Games after an impressive straight set (21-13, 21-12) victory over Saskatchewan. The men’s have also qualified for a spot in the semifinals against Quebec on Friday at 12 p.m.
Results
Beach Volleyball (F) vs Saskatchewan - 2-0 win (21-18, 26-24)
Beach Volleyball (M) vs Saskatchewan - 2-0 win (21-13, 21-12)
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Box Lacrosse (F)
The BC women’s box lacrosse team managed to overcome a 2-0 deficit to defeat Alberta 5-3 in their semifinal game. Alex Paterson (Pitt Meadows) scored the game-winning goal early in the third period to give Team BC the win. They have secured a spot in the gold medal game on Friday at 5 p.m. against Ontario.
Result
Box Lacrosse (F) vs Alberta - 5-3 win
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Soccer (M)
A tightly-contested game went down to the wire on Thursday afternoon before Cole Toupin (Maple Ridge) scored the tie-breaker at the 71 minute mark to give Team BC the victory over the Yukon. With the win, BC will play for 5th place against Saskatchewan on Friday at 1 p.m.
Result
Soccer (M) vs Yukon - 1-0 win
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Softball (F)
The women’s softball team for BC won their second qualification game today, sweeping Team Quebec 7-0 in five innings. The team has earned their ticket to the gold medal game on Friday at 1:30 p.m. versus the winner of the game between Ontario and Quebec.
Camryn Milley (Delta) and Madelyn McKinnon (Surrey) hit home runs to help lead BC’s victory while Morgan Reimer (Langley) pitched a shutout.
“It’s exciting obviously – it’s been a long three years to get to this point,” said Head Coach Mark Dunlop. “Special for the kids of course. Obviously those are the top 15 kids in BC and we’re really proud of them.”
On how close the team is: “As a coaching staff that’s something that impresses us the most. We went into the Canada Cup – we won Canada Cup with a new group of kids who we obviously selected onto the team, but hadn’t had a chance to play with together. There are no egos on this team and everyone has accepted their role and are very close. That’s probably the most impressive part of this situation is that they’re all starters and they all play a role on this team. We’re proud of them.”
On the Final tomorrow: “We’ve done our scouting. We’ve scouted through the Canada Cup, we’ve scouted here, and we’re going to scout again today. We’ve got to stick with the game plan and enjoy ourselves and enjoy the moment.”
On the team chemistry: “It’s pretty surreal – this group of girls is just awesome,” said Camryn Miller. “We play for one another and that makes a really big difference.”
On playing in multisport Games: “It’s really cool to see all the different athletes around here and to be able to watch other games and see other provinces.
On her homerun: “I kind of started jogging a little bit but yeah it felt really good off the bat.”
Result
Softball (F) vs Quebec - 7-0 win (5 innings)
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Swimming
BC concluded Day 6 with another six medals at the pool including a key performance by Laon Kim. Kim won two medals including Gold in the Men’s 50m Freestyle. BC has tallied 42 swimming medals in 2022 with one more day left as it concludes with the open water swim on Friday, eight of which have come from Leila Fack (Langley).
Results
Men’s 50m Backstroke - Tristan Govier - BRONZE - 27.45
Men’s 50m Freestyle Para - Cameron Chambers - BRONZE - 605 points
Men’s 200m (SM5-14) IM Para - Cameron Chambers - BRONZE - 609 points
Men’s 50m Freestyle - Laon Kim - GOLD - 24.04
Women’s 50m Freestyle - Leila Fack - SILVER - 26.60
Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Bill Dongfang, Leilani Fack, Sienna Angove, Laon Kim
SILVER - 3:39.74
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Tennis
The mixed tennis team for BC won their quarterfinal tie 5 matches to 1, and will advance to the semifinal tie versus Ontario on Friday at 3 p.m.
Result
Tennis (mixed) vs New Brunswick - 5-1 win
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Triathlon
In the Men’s Supersprint event, Daniel Damian (Victoria) picked up his second silver medal for Team BC, after finishing just one second behind the gold medalist from Quebec. Colette Reimer (Victoria) won her second gold medal of the Games in the women’s supersprint event with a time of 25:54.
Results
Triathlon Men’s Supersprint - Daniel Damian - SILVER - 22:54
Triathlon Women’s Supersprint - Colette Reimer - GOLD - 25:54
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Wrestling
BC wrestling’s strong showing in the team competition set them up for a successful day of individual bouts on Thursday.
Team BC brought home 10 medals in wrestling today, including 4 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze.
“I knew this was going to be a tough match going in,” said Paige Maher (Port Alberni) after winning her gold medal match in the 74 kg category against Shelby Guerin-Daniels (Saskatchewan) 4-0 by technical superiority. “I just had to stick to my gameplan, do what I know how to do, and everything worked out.”
“This has been a super cool experience so far, especially coming from a sport like wrestling where everything is normally an individual tournament,” added Maher. “Getting to be with all the other sports and meeting cool people and doing things like the Opening Ceremonies - it’s been really cool, it’s nothing [like] I’ve ever experienced before.”
“I think it was a great match, I am really thankful for my opponent, ” said Rupinder Johal (Abbotsford) after she defeated Myah Phillips (Saskatchewan) 3-1 in the gold medal match. “It was definitely a match to watch. Every cheer just fuels you up and gets you ready for the next second, the next minute.”
“I was told that the [Canada] Summer Games will be an experience I’ll always remember, and this past week has definitely lived up to it,” said Johal about the overall Games experience.
“It’s a very unique experience for wrestling - this duel format, I think we’re going to remember it for the rest of our lives, because we only do individual tournaments, so getting this atmosphere is so unique,” said coach Laura Steffler.
Results
Women’s 44 kg Individual Wrestling - Mia Bahi (BC) vs Natasha Ekundayo (Alberta) - 3-1 win - BRONZE
Women’s 48 kg Individual Wrestling - Brooklyn Diya Prasad (BC) vs Kara Marie Steeves (New Brunswick) - 5-0 loss - 4th Place
Women’s 52 kg Individual Wrestling - Gina Bolognese (BC) vs Julia Petryna (Saskatchewan) - 4-1 loss - 4th Place
Women’s 56 kg Individual Wrestling - Ivy Threatful (BC) vs Mackenzie Cayer (Manitoba) - 5-0 loss - 4th Place
Women’s 60 kg Individual Wrestling - Gabriela Cross (BC) vs Bronwyn MacGregor (Ontario) - 5-0 win - GOLD
Women’s 64 kg Individual Wrestling - Marley Jackson (BC) vs Alyna Eastmond (Ontario) - 5-0 win - BRONZE
Women’s 74 kg Individual Wrestling - Paige Maher (BC) vs Shelby Guerin-Daniels (Saskatchewan) - 4-0 win - GOLD
Women’s 79 kg Individual Wrestling - Rupinder Kaur Johal (BC) vs Myah Phillips (Saskatchewan) - 3-1 win - GOLD
Women’s 84 kg Individual Wrestling - Anmol Sahota (BC) vs Olivia Rose (Saskatchewan) - 3-1 loss - 4th Place
Men’s 76 kg Individual Wrestling - Humraj Sandhar (BC) vs Connor Victor Church (Quebec) - 5-0 loss - SILVER
Men’s 70 kg Individual Wrestling - Tejvir Dhinsa (BC) vs Mason Van Zantvoort (Ontario) - 5-0 loss - 4th Place
Men’s 48 kg Individual Wrestling - Matt Drope (BC) vs Karan Patel (Ontario) - 4-0 loss - SILVER
Men’s 60 kg Individual Wrestling - Jagvir Grewal (BC) vs Mikey Perry (Prince Edward Island) - 3-1 win - BRONZE
Men’s 65 kg Individual Wrestling - Prabhjot Mander (BC) vs Kai Harada (Ontario) - 5-0 loss - SILVER
Mens 120 kg Individual Wrestling - Karan Mahil (BC) vs Omogbai Asekomhe (Ontario) - 5-0 win - GOLD
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Schedule for Day 7 (August 12)
9:00am - Swimming (M) - 3000m Open Water - Welland International Flatwater Centre*
9:10am - Swimming (F) - 3000m Open Water - Welland International Flatwater Centre*
10:30am - Cycling MTB (Mixed) - Sprint Final - 12 Mile Creek*
12:00pm - Beach Volleyball (M) vs. Quebec - Semi-Final - Canada Games Park
1:00pm - Basketball (W) vs. Loser of AB and MB - Consolation - Niagara College Welland
1:00pm - Soccer (M) vs. Saskatchewan - 5th Place Final - Youngs Sportsplex
1:30pm - Softball (F) vs. TBD - Gold Medal Game - Southward Community Park*
3:00pm - Tennis (Mixed) vs. Ontario - Semi-Final - Niagara-on-the-Lake Tennis Club
3:00pm - Triathlon (Mixed) - Team Relay - Welland International Flatwater Centre*
3:00pm - Beach Volleyball (F) vs. Ontario - Semi-Final - Canada Games Park
4:00pm - Baseball (M) vs. Alberta - Semi-Final - Welland Baseball Stadium
5:00pm - Box Lacrosse (F) vs. Ontario - Gold Medal Game - Canada Games Park*
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More words from Team BC
Michelle Cruickshank - Sport & Program Manager, Special Olympics BC, on what the success in the pool so far this week means for Special Olympics BC
"It has been an incredible experience to watch our athletes compete throughout these Games. They have embraced, & been embraced, by a very inclusive team culture.
The athletes have all taken this opportunity to showcase their abilities and it is so powerful to be included and respected for their skills.
Coming out of the pandemic has been incredibly challenging, but these athletes are proving that they are back; ready to train & compete just as hard as any athlete.
We hope that others take notice of the success of our athletes, how hard they work, how much fun they are to be around, and how inspiring they can be to those around them."