South East athletes wrap up first half of Sask Summer Games

LLOYDMINSTER - The first half of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster are over.

The opening ceremonies were held Sunday, and then the first three days of events occurred from Monday to Wednesday, with competition in archery, canoe-kayak, golf, male soccer, female softball, Special Olympics bocce ball, swimming, tennis, and male and female volleyball.

Team South East won five bronze medals in the first half. Among the medallists was McKenzie Bayliss of Carnduff in female archery recurve, Hunter Kirby of Carnduff in male archery recurve, and Donna Southward of Estevan in Special Olympics bocce ball with six wins in seven starts.

Meanwhile, the boys' soccer team won the bronze medal with a 3-2 win over Team Regina. Among the team members were Henry Blue, Connor Mercer and Abdul Affan Mohammed of Estevan; and Leif Clark, Pierson Berner and Clyde Vigo Orpiano of Stoughton. 

The girls' softball team finished fourth, falling 13-10 to Team Lakeland in the bronze medal game. The southeast entry included Kensie Aspinall and Madison Zukewich of Estevan; Elizabeth Bergen and Sofie Morrow of Oxbow; and Kelci Sorestad of Carnduff.

Other athletes from the Mercury's distribution area who competed during the first half were:

•Brandt John Barber of Carnduff, competing in male archery recurve, and Soren Peterson of Macoun, entered in male archery compound, finished fifth in their respective categories.

•In swimming, Jennika Linthicum finished fourth in the female 50-metre backstroke, sixth in the 100-metre backstroke and the 50-metre freestyle, and 12th in the 200-metre freestyle. 

She also competed in several relay events, finishing sixth in the 4x50-metre mixed freestyle team, the 4x50-metre female medley, the 4x50-metre female freestyle, the 4x50 mixed medley, and the 4x100-metre female freestyle relay team.

In male swimming, Liam Kwochka of Estevan was part of the Team South East entry that finished fifth in the 4x100-metre freestyle medley male relay event. He was also entered in several individual events.

Also competing in the pool were Marc Nathan Burlasa of Estevan, who competed in two 50-metre swimming events, and Danica Mosley of Estevan, who was in several female swimming competitions.

The tennis team was comprised entirely of Estevan athletes. On the male side, Brooks Cote made it to the semifinal round and finished fourth, while the the team of Max Froese and Taylor Lisafeld finished fifth in boys' doubles, as did the team of Brynn Rosengren and Parker Kosior in mixed doubles.

Team South East finished sixth in three tennis events: Abigail Jutras (girls' singles), Bella Hammett and Madelyn Stead (girls' doubles).

The male volleyball team, which included Darius Dixon of Carlyle, finished eighth.

Also finishing eighth was the female volleyball team, which included Alix Rae and Tenley Gervais of Carlyle; Alivia Waldegger of Estevan; Araya Werstuik of Arcola; Summer Bowser of Carnduff; and Hallie Pospisil of Storthoaks.

The Special Olympics bocce ball team included two other Estevan athletes, Sarah Henry, who was 11th, and Julia Iverson, who came in 16th.

The Team South East mission staff includes Joni Hagen and Jacquie Van De Woestyne, co-chefs de mission; as well as Tara-Leigh Heslip, Vickie Procyk, Kathy Erickson, Dan Heslip, Tina Clay, Dallas Cossar, Laurie Colhoun and Jodie Wall.

The second half, on July 25-27, will include athletics, male baseball, male and female basketball, beach volleyball, girls' soccer and triathlon.