EVENT & COMPETITION SCHEDULE
RANT N' ROAR - DAY TWELVE
SAY HELLO TO SOME OF OUR MULTI-GAMES ROWING ATHLETES
Representing Newfoundland and Labrador as part of Team NL at a Canada Games event is an accomplishment of athletic ability, skill, and determination that many athletes aspire to in their sports careers. For a lot of athletes competing at this year’s Canada Games it is their first Games, but there are a few athletes who have competed in multiple Games and are not new to competing against the best amateur athletes in the country on the national stage. Athletes Zach Gosse, Teghan Byrne, Ella Mate, Mark Power, and Ava Djan-Chékar, competing with this year’s rowing team, have all been to previous Games.
Zach is currently competing in his third Canada Games, having previously been to Winnipeg in 2017 and Red Deer in 2019. He competed in rowing for his first Games, his next gymnastics, and has returned to rowing for the 2022 Games. For Zach, he “is having as good an experience as his last two” this time around.
Ella is also competing in her third Canada Games as part of this year’s rowing team. Like Zach, she competed in Winnipeg and Red Deer, following the same path by switching between sports, first rowing, then artistic swimming, and back to rowing. Her reasoning for wanting to be part of Team NL at multiple games competitions is simple, “to race for my province and compete at a national competition.”
Ella goes on to say that her experience with the 2022 Games has been great because the current women’s team is much more competitive and being on site at the athlete’s village site rather than at a satellite location like previous years has been great.
Fellow teammates Teghan Byrne, Mark Power, and Ava Djan-Chékar have much the same sentiments with saying that this Games experience has been better than their last since they get more of the full Games experience by being on site.
For Teghan, who is competing in her second Games here in Niagara, competed in the 2019 winter games with artistic swimming. She just likes the competitive atmosphere of the Games which is why she wanted to return.
Mark competed in one other Games with rowing in 2017, and hopeful that with more training under his belt, he can do better this time around. Like Mark, Ava has also competed previous in the 2017 Games but for diving and said that “being at Games this year with a much bigger and more competitive team has been a completely different experience that I love.”
Being able to have multiple Games experiences is impressive, and looking forward to the future, all four athletes said they could see themselves return to the Games as mission staff. Ava said, “it’s because she’d love to see the games from a different perspective.”
Photo Credit: Nancy Boese, Canada Games photographer.
Chef's Corner
After a busy day seeing and cheering on Team NL athletes, it was nice to enjoy a little downtime yesterday evening with the Mission team. We were all able to gather for supper, good conversation, and a lot of laughs. It was also a pleasure to have a few members of the 2025 Canada Games Delegation host society who have join us for supper. They came to Niagara during week two of the Games to get the full experience of the event in preparation to host in 2025.
Today, I spent most of the day walking the golf course, enjoying the weather to support our golfers, Paige Allen, Ethan Efford, Sanjana Gullipalli, and Ryan Holwell for their round two of play at Legends on the Niagara, which is known to be Canada’s premier public golf destination. Tonight, we will gather together with our coaches and managers to show our appreciation for all the hard work that they have put in with their athletes.
As we near the end of week two, I am looking forward to taking in a game of softball and seeing how both male and female volleyball teams do in their games.
our athletes make Niagara Children's Centre donation
In support of the 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games chosen charity, Team NL’s athletes Grace Mack, Brooklyn Sooley, and Derrick Ejeckam today visited the Niagara Children’s Centre to deliver over 200 items of arts supplies such as construction paper, coloured pencils, and crayons which will be used as part of their family-centred treatment, rehabilitation and support services to assist children and youth!
Thank you to our all of the athletes and coaches who contributed to helping support the children at the Centre.
Volleyball (Female) remain undefeated
Our Women's Volleyball Team continued to power their way through today with a 3-0 win over Team NT. Their current record is 4-0 after the Preliminary Round and they remain undefeated in sets going a perfect 12-0. These impressive women will play in the Qualification Round tomorrow at 4 pm at Canada Games Park.
Softball players pick up two key wins
The men’s softball team picked up a much needed win 4-2 over Team Alberta to improve to 2-3 and keep playoff hopes alive. It was a big win after a heart breaking 3–1 loss to Team Nova Scotia yesterday. Marcus Pittman started for Newfoundland while John Webber pitched in relief.
Our softball players are back on the field at Southward Community Park at 3:30 pm (EST) in a huge game against Team Quebec.
Rowers have second day of heats and races
Team NL rowers had their second day of heats and repechage races setting them up for the finals to be held on Saturday and Sunday. They are looking forward to a scheduled day off tomorrow to recharge and take in some of the other sports.
Soccer (Female) team take in sights of Niagara
The Female Soccer Team had a day off and is not in action until Saturday morning. On their day off they got to enjoy the Canada Games by supporting other NL athletes involved in competition. They also made a trip to the Niagara Falls area as a team to take some deserving relaxation time! Check out their adventures today! Of course…the coaching staff deserve a break as well!
Enjoy the Canada Games girls! It has been a long time coming. Take in every aspect and build some memories, you deserve it!
Volleyball (male) players play solid game
Team NL's volleyball boys started their day off strong. They played Team Prince Edward Island and took them in three sets. The boys played a strong game with lots of strong blocks and fabulous setting.
For the remainder of the day, the boys began preparing for their big game against Team Nova Scotia at 6:00 pm (EST) at Canada Games Park tomorrow. The had a light practice and mobility session followed by a film session in the evening.
Golfers have great 2nd round on course
Another good day for Team NL at the Legends on the Niagara golf course. Ryan Holwell continues to play some great golf building on his 2 under 70 yesterday with an impressive 69 today to sit in second place.
Ethan Efford also shot under par with a good round of 71 today. On the girls side, Paige Allen shot an 89 to sit in 17th spot overall while Sanjana Guillipali improved on yesterdays round with an 85 today to sit in 20th place.
Another beautiful day in the Niagara region today and Tram NL are looking for leads to the 3rd round tomorrow!
Athletics takes time out to visit the Falls
With a day off from competition, some of the athletics athletes took a day trip out to Niagara falls. They enjoyed the view of the falls and even took in a refreshing boat tour.
Road Cyclists have great day
It was a wild day for weather in the town of Pelham today for our Road cyclists. The females battled blazing heat in their 69km Road Race competition and each athlete had a race to be remembered. Amber Critch finished with a time of 2:04:47, Isabel Martin had a time of 2:08:05 and Leah Dalton finished with a time of 2:20:04.
Later in the day, the sky opened up to torrential downpours during the second lap of the 110.4km road race, and our male athletes were unphased! Roughan Gaetz finished with a time of 3:04:52 and Cole Layden finished with a time of 3:08:04. An amazing feat from both our male and female athletes to battle the crazy weather and persevere throughout a race this long; it was no easy task!
