M A G A Z I N E

I S S U E 1 V O L U M E 1 | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

A Measure of True CharacterLukas Sutter handles a tough year | Pg. 3

Keep RollingLocal bowler aims true | Pg. 6

Olympian IdeasJim Steacy offers strength training advice | Pg. 13

WE HAVE WHATYOU NEED FORRUNNING!• SHOES• APPAREL• ACCESSORIES

Southern Alberta’s Original Running and Walking Store

2646 South Parkside Drive • (403) 327-2241

CLIENT:PROJECT:

FILENAME:DATE:

PROOF AT:PROOF #:

BUILT:

INKS:TRIM:LIVE:

BLEED:REVISED:

PanagoLethbridge Sports Centre MagazinePP5360_Lethbridge Sports AdJan 29 2010100%1LD

CMYK7.5" x 4.875"n/an/a

WelcomeFrom Travis Grindle

To all those with an interest in sport in southwest

Alberta and to those looking to achieve their athletic

potential, welcome to the first edition of this magazine.

Southwest Alberta has a long and deep sport history.

Recognizing and celebrating these accomplishments

and triumphs is vital to community spirit. We are

hoping that ACHIEVE Magazine is a vehicle to further

celebrate these successes.

The goal of ACHIEVE Magazine is to showcase emerging athletes from around

our region who have the ability, passion and will to perform at peak levels and

to inspire others to strive for their maximum athletic potential. In addition to

celebrating the success of these athletes, we hope you will learn more about

the Alberta Sport Development Centre and other key stakeholders and individu-

als who help to lead, support and develop the athletes, teams and coaches of

southwest Alberta.

ACHIEVE Magazine is only possible because of the funding provided to the

Alberta Sport Development Centre Southwest through the Alberta Sport Recre-

ation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation. We truly appreciate the gracious support

of the advertisers within the magazine and all those that contributed to the

content and compilation of this issue.

We sincerely hope you enjoy the stories, features and articles found within the

pages of ACHIEVE Magazine and that they inspire you or others around you, to

support the emerging athletes of our region or achieve your own athletic potential.

We hope you enjoy this issue of ACHIEVE Magazine as much as we enjoyed

creating it and look forward to sharing more of our sport stories in future issues.

Sincerely,

Travis grindleExecutive DirectorAlberta Sport Development Centre Southwest3rd floor, Old Courthouse1010- 4thAve S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 0P5Ph; 403-320-5271 info@asdcsw.cawww.asdcsw.ca

Table ofContents

A True Measureof CharacterLUKAS SUTTER

Keep RollingCOdy SMITH

Willing,Just Not AbleKAylA HAuCK AndSHAElIn WESTERSOn

Pg. 10 A Special Effort JOHn OndRuS

Pg. 13 Olympian Ideas JIM STEACy

Pg. 15 Brooke’s Torch Run bROOKE FREnCH

Pg. 10 Improving Through Co-operation and Competition COlTOn gARnER And COnnOR EMIgH

ACHIEVE Magazine is a project co-ordinated by the Alberta Sport Development Centre Southwest.

The Alberta Sport development Centre Southwest was established in the fall of

2008 after almost two years of planning and discussions by the lethbridge Sports

bid Committee and Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The

Centre finally opened in november of 2008 and offered its first programming in

January of 2010. Since then, the fledgling Centre has serviced hundreds of local

athletes, parents and coaches.

The Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation established a network

of Alberta Sport development Centres (ASdC) across the province, opening the first

Centre in Red deer in 2000. Since then, the Province has grown the network to

seven total Centres spanning all corners of the province.

The main purpose of the ASdC network is to coordinate and enhance services

available to Alberta’s emerging athletes and coaches. These regional centres provide

services to athletes and coaches residing in rural and urban areas allowing athletes

to develop and train at a high level without leaving home.

The ASdC network supports the idea of a holistic training approach in order for

athletes to reach their optimal athletic potential. by combining sport science ap-

plications with support from experts in areas such as nutrition, sport psychology

and injury prevention, the centre helps coaches, parents and athletes build an ideal

environment for enhanced athletic development and performance.

Each ASdC Centre is unique in its operation and co-ordination. This allows the

Centres to best reflect the needs of their area and help co-ordinate the required

programs to service the emerging elite athletes of their region. Collectively, the Cen-

tres carry a united passion and provincial mandate to support and coordinate the

development of our emerging athletes and coaches.

For more information, visit our website at www.asdcsw.ca or the network website at

www.asdc.ca.

Editorial InfoI S S U E 1 V O L U M E 1 F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

Published twice a year, Winter/

Summer, by the Alberta Sport

Development Centre Southwest

© Copyright ACHIEVE Magazine 2010

Contents may not be redistributed

or republished without written

permission of the ASDC Southwest

or the authors

Publication Coordinator:

Travis grindle

Magazine Committee:

Shawn Pinder, Dylan Purcell, Dawn Berry

Designer:

Stephenie Karsten

With special thanks to:

Jim Steacy, Trevor Kenney,

David Wells, Tara grindle, glen Berry,

Lethbridge Herald

Printed by:

University of Lethbridge Print Services

Alberta Sport DevelopmentCentre Southwest

3rd flr, Old Courthouse

1010-4th Ave S,

Lethbridge, Alberta T0L0V0

info@asdcsw.ca

www.asdcsw.ca

M A G A Z I N E

By TREVOR KENNEy

The true measure of any elite athlete

cannot be made when times are good,

instead it must be taken during times of

adversity. Only then do you get a glimpse

of the character that lurks beneath the

surface.

For lukas Sutter, the road to professional

hockey appeared to be a smooth ride,

paved in part by the Sutter legacy and

his own unique understanding of the

game as well as the sacrifices needed to

take it to the ultimate level. In a matter

of seconds, one awkward hit changed

everything, throwing a huge speed bump

in Sutter’s path and testing him like he’d

never been before.

Competing at the tryout camp for the

Canadian Under-17 team in April 2009,

Sutter dislocated his shoulder when he

was pinned up against the boards, his

right arm trapped on the dasher as he

went down to the ice. He was told the in-

jury could be rehabilitated and given the

opportunity that awaited him (a chance

to play in an overseas tournament in ger-

many) he worked hard to get back on the

ice. He’d play 20 more games and get a

chance to play at the world level but on

Aug. 21, the shoulder went out again,

and this time, no amount of rehab would

be enough. Instead, a surgeon’s knife to

repair a torn labrum was the only answer,

followed by four-plus months of intensive

rehab. Only in January did he finally get

back on the ice.

“It’s been a long haul, going to rehab ev-

ery day, working on little things like trying

to get the range of motion back,” says

Sutter. “It was just baby steps for the

longest time, trying to get that strength

back.”

It was a solitary battle he faced, away

from teammates, spending hours in the

gym as he concentrated on perform-

ing the simplest of tasks. but as much

as it was a personal fight for Sutter, he

didn’t have to face it alone, thanks to

his involvement with the Alberta Sport

development Centre Southwest.

“The biggest thing was maintaining my

focus and having a goal in mind,” says

Sutter. “I had to set a goal and then push

towards that date. It was hard, especially

towards the end when I felt like I was

ready to go. Having something to strive

for made it easier.”

A True Measure of Character

3

While his family played a huge part in the

recovery process, the ASDC had a role

to play as well, giving Sutter a perspec-

tive he’d never experienced before.

“Coming in I thought I knew a lot about

how to succeed in sport, but I’ve been

exposed to so much at ASdC that it’s

been a huge learning curve,” he says.

His father, Rich Sutter, is one of the six

Sutter brothers to play in the National

Hockey league. The sons are now mak-

ing inroads to professional hockey and

Lukas grew up surrounded by insights

very few kids could ever expect to ex-

perience. Still, he knew that his father’s

voice wasn’t absolute and was deter-

mined to use ASdC for all it could offer.

“The adjustment has been hard at times

but you have to open your mind,” he

says. “you can’t be close-minded and

focus on what you think is right, you

have to listen to what other people feel

and accept what they have to say. A new

voice is sometimes more productive.”

It didn’t hurt that many of the themes he

discussed with sport psych coach Jen-

nifer Spriddle echoed the teachings of his

father, but to hear it presented by a new

voice helped the messages resonate

even more.

“My dad has always stressed preparation

and for me that has always meant game-

day preparation, coming to the rink

prepared to play the game,” says Sutter.

“With ASdC I’ve learned that preparation

starts a month before you even step on

the ice. you have to begin to become

mentally focused long before the actual

competition.”

grasping that lesson served him well

through the long recovery process. A

2008 second-round pick of the Western

Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades,

Sutter had to forego fall training camp and

essentially give up on what might have

been a first season at the major junior

level. Instead, his focus had to be on

regaining his health and dedicating himself

to the lethbridge y’s Men Hurricanes of

the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey league.

“I was named captain but I couldn’t be

there and be a part of the team,” says

Sutter. “Even if I could go in the room,

you can only say so much because

words only go so far. I know you have

to go out on the ice and prove it and I

wasn’t able to do that.”

At various times he’d have a workout

partner (fellow hockey player Jonathon

Zdan is also a part of ASdC and he’s been

rehabbing a broken neck) but for hours

on end, Sutter simply had his thoughts as

“With ASDC I’ve learned

that prepa-ration starts

a month before you even step

on the ice.”

4

integrity inclusiveness

personal growth and development cooperation

advocacy a positive image for sport

Check us out online: www.lethbridgesportcouncil.ca susan.eymann@lethbridgesportcouncil.ca

Or drop us a line: 403-320-5412

Lethbridge is a leading centre for sport and athlete development, and competition.

he tried to get his body back in shape. He

again called on the lessons taught by his

dad and backed up by ASdC.

“He’s big on mental preparation and

having Jennifer (Spriddle) there with me,

she knows so much about that aspect of

sport. He had always preached visualiza-

tion and with me not being able to play, it

was something I could really use to help

me prepare to come back.”

Sutter returned to the y’s Men Hurricanes’

lineup Jan. 9 in Calgary, helping the Hur-

ricanes to a 4-1 victory over the Calgary

northstars. He’s determined to get

back in playing shape and help his club

advance deep into the Midget AAA post-

season, knowing it is his last opportunity

to play hockey at home. The future, now

that he’s healthy, is up to him.

“For me, I just want to get my feet back

under me and start finding some success

with the team,” he says. “I really think we

have a team that can push for a national

championship.”

Not yet signed with Saskatoon, Sut-

ter still has a decision to make. Having

been born in St. louis while his father

was playing for the blues, he holds dual

citizenship and actually represented the

united States (not an IIHF sanctioned

event) while playing in germany. He’s had

offers to play college hockey in the u.S.

but is leaning toward staying in Canada.

“I think the better fit is in Saskatoon,”

he says. “I have nothing against college

hockey but after only playing 10 regular

season games this year, I think I’ll need

to play a 70-game schedule (in the WHl)

in comparison to the 35 or 40 games I

would get in college hockey.”

He also still eyes a shot at playing for

Canada at a future World Junior Cham-

pionship. Right now, it’s about mak-

ing the most of the time he has left in

lethbridge.

“My cousins have all had to move away

from home and it’s not anything major for

me, it’s the path to pro hockey and that’s

my ultimate goal,” Sutter says.

given the test of will and character he

just passed, it’s a goal we can only as-

sume he’s poised to achieve.

By DAVE WELLS

bowling is one of the most popular games in the world. Each year many millions of folks hit the lanes for entertain-ment purposes.

However, a significant percentage of regular participants around the globe see bowling as a sport. They work to improve and win.

Ask Cody Smith whether bowling is a game or sport in his life and you receive an immediate, firm reaction.

“It’s sport and competition,” says Smith. “I don’t consider it a game for me. I’ve played it long enough I want to be the best at it.”

Smith, who is just shy of his 18th birth-day, is a 5-pin bowler. And he has been for the majority of his life.

“I’ve been at it for 11 years.”

Really, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. bowling is often a family affair and he comes from a clan steeped in 5-pin tradition. dad Mele Smith and mom Helena Smith are long-time active rollers. In fact, they play in leagues with Cody today.

Helena’s dad John Rempel puts a truly elite stamp on the pedigree. He’s one of the most successful 5-pinners this area has ever produced.

As with all sports there are costs involved with bowling. Cody is currently in three leagues. Tournaments and open bowling for practice are also an expense. He absolutely appreciates parental support in this regard.

“I wouldn’t be playing so much without them.”

Smith has enjoyed plenty of competitive bowling success over the years making numerous trips to provincial champion-ships. In 2006 he earned a Alberta Win-ter games silver medal in doubles.

Smith, who stands around five-foot-10 and weighs in at about 150 pounds, has

Keep RollingLocal bowler aims true

a career single game high of 369 and has fashioned an 845 three-game series. His top five-game tournament average is 265.

It clearly appears 2009-10 is a breakout campaign. before this season Smith’s best annual league average was “220 I think.” As of mid-January, his top league norm this time around stood at 247. For a youth bowler that’s lofty indeed. It holds up well with top-drawer adults, too.

Smith asserts his Alberta Sport Devel-opment Centre Southwest involvement is key to his recent, rather dramatic, improvement.

“I’m happy with the Athlete Enhancement Program. It can help me to do even more.”

The AEP has multiple components. Smith feels one is especially suited to his sport-specific needs.

“They teach you mental skills. Those skills are huge in bowling.”

Smith utilizes a variety of mentors when it comes to bowling technique and stategy.

“I don’t have one specific coach, but I have a lot of people who can tell me things.”

Smith is a right-hander and uses a three-step approach. He’s certainly not afraid to experiment with different lines of at-tack, having employed straight, hook and back-up ball paths.

He’s obviously a fixture at lethbridge’s Holiday Bowl which is currently situated at 2825 2nd Ave., South.

“I was at Holiday even when it was in the Sandman (mall).”

However, Smith is familiar with area curl-ing venues, too. Very familiar.

“I started the same year I started bowl-ing. I’ve played every position.”

Smith has been part of many successful rinks. He’s qualified for Southerns in ban-tam, Juvenile and Junior age-group com-petitions, plus curls for the lethbridge Collegiate Institute school program.

Smith acknowledges that he’s been told by many people that competitive curling and bowling do not often mix (turning your wrist both directions for in-turns and out-turns on a curling sheet, definitely a no-no in a bowling event.) That doesn’t seem to bother him in the least.

However, Smith’s clear about which sport he prefers.

“bowling for sure. bowling’s a more individual thing. I’m more of an individual player.”

Smith is in grade 12 at lCI. He’s not yet sure of postsecondary education or work career paths.

“Taking a year off school next year to figure out what I really want to do.”

He is sure about his long-term 5-pin bowling goals.

“I want to play provincial level with adults and I want to play as long as I can.”

Some kids have hoop dreams. Others have bowling dreams. Cody Smith is working to make his sporting quest a reality.

7

For Kayla Hauck and Shaelin Westerson the 2009/10 skating season has been a true test of their will to compete. For both athletes, promising seasons have been hampered with serious injuries that inter-rupted training programs and postponed competitions.

“It’s really frustrating,” says 12-year-old Kayla. “I was quite excited coming out of Sectionals and was looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Kayla finished fifth overall at sectionals, competing as a Pre-novice for the first time. The fifth-place finish was an excel-lent start to a promising season, but a foot injury sidetracked her progress. The nag-

ging injury is now about 90 per cent healed and Kayla is already working towards next season.

“I have higher expectations now already and just hope to build on this year” said the Father leonard Van Tighem student.

It was much of the same for thirteen year-old Shaelin. Competing in her first Pre-novice ladies Sectional, Shaelin finished with a very positive 29th out of over 50 competitors.

“Things were going really good until I got hurt,” said Shaelin, who suffered a cut to her calf muscle during an evening practice. “I was progressing nicely and really enjoy-ing the season until then.”

The road to full recovery will be long for Shaelin, but she is determined to come back stronger and better.

“I love to compete. I just fell in love with it,” says Shaelin “The early practices, the com-petitions, it’s part of my routine now.”

For Kayla, the drive to compete and con-tinue to develop also stems from her love of the sport.

“I’m just so passionate about figure skat-ing,” stated Kayla. “I like to be challenged.”

So the injury is just a small bump in the road, just another challenge that will be overcome.

Willing, Just Not AbleInjuries hamper results for AEP athletes.

“Providing sport psychology expertise to all levels of athletes by teaching the skills necessary for peak performance

in sport and in life.”

Jennifer SpriddleR E G I S T E R E D P S Y C H O L O G I S T

PH: 403-381-6000 | FAX: 403-381-0229

2 3 9 - 1 2 B S T R E E T N O R T HL E T H B R I D G E , A B T 1 H 2 K 8

C O U N S E L L I N G , T R A I N G I N G , C O N S U L T I N G

While his athletes were being put through the paces at the university of lethbridge, John Ondrus was watching. With years of experience volunteering for Special Olym-pics, Ondrus has learned a lot — but he’s taught much, much more.

The Alberta Sport Development Centre–Southwest hosted a group of Special Olympics athletes in early december, offer-ing strength training and nutrition seminars.

Ondrus, a veteran coach with Special Olympics lethbridge, didn’t learn anything new, but he did get a valuable reminder that his athletes need to stay hydrated, healthy and — more importantly — en-gaged. because his experience has taught him one thing for sure — it isn’t always about the final goal for his athletes.

“I think it was good for them to have a program that forces them to eat right,” said Ondrus, who coaches five-pin bowlers at the Holiday bowl in lethbridge. “you know, they each got a booklet that they have to keep track of exercise, their eating and if they don’t do it, they’re held accountable.”

Holding athletes accountable has been Ondrus’ philosophy for years, whether as a long-time minor hockey referee or as a coach in the youth bowling Council or with Special Olympics. He got into Special Olympics through his ybC coaching and an inability to say ‘no.’

“There’s a sucker born every minute,” he laughed. “And none of them ever die, so here I am. “Honestly, it’s been my pleasure to help out wherever I can with this stuff, and bowling is a bit of a natural for me because it’s a sport I enjoy and my family enjoys.”

With two kids in ybC, he started out helping Special Olympics athletes as part of a then-integrated program. lillian blair, the director of the local Special Olympics

program at the time, pulled him in. After a break of almost 10 years, John came back in a few years ago and hasn’t looked back.

“It’s a great program. I’ve seen it change these kids like night and day,” said John. “you look at when they come in and they don’t talk to anyone, they don’t social-ize sometimes at all. “but once you start coaching them and they have to talk to you, and they have to talk to the other coaches and there are all these other bowl-ers around, they start to really come out.”

Ondrus points to several former athletes he’s coached who came into the program as shy wallflowers, who have left with a new confidence. One of those athletes

changed his focus from bowling to power-lifting, but struggled in his early days with bowling.

“He had never spent a minute away from his mother, before coming to a ybC-Special Olympics bowling championship in lethbdge, said John. “And we had him for four days sleeping on mats at the Hamilton school gym.

“There was some crying and whining at first, but you know what, by the end of it, he had become so much more inde-pendent. now I see him and he’s lifting weights, he’s in great shape and he’s competing still, as far as I know.”

A Special Effort

Herald photo by Ian Martens. Special Olympian James Chang, who has competed nationally and internationally in swimming, gets some help from program facilitator Jim Steacy while learning weight lifting techniques on the weekend at the University of Lethbridge.

10

PLUS....

the most extensive and

up-to-date

local and youth

sports coverage

in the region

CALL: 403

.327.5511

www.leth

bridgeher

ald.com

Whenit

comes

to what’s

happening

in the world

of sports.

.. TheHerald

has it

covered.

LLLEETTH

ortsortsortsorts

That turnaround emphasizes the impor-tance of Special Olympics, something recognized by the Alberta Sport develop-ment Centre.

“Certainly, we try to reach out to many di-verse athletes,” said Travis grindle, ASdC-Southwest Executive director. “It’s obvious when you see the athletes involved in our Athlete Enhancement Program, but get-ting involved with Special Olympics is just another way for us to meet our mandate.”

John said helping Special Olympians goes beyond coaching. “It’s more than coaching but you can’t be a babysitter,” he said. “you’ve got, a lot of times, kids who haven’t had to fend for themselves. They’ve been cared for to an extent that doesn’t work when you’ve got to oversee 100 bowlers. So as a coach, you make them accountable and they respond to that. The sport gives a lot of the kids a way to be held responsible for things like stay-

ing in shape, paying attention to the coach, doing your stretches and things like that.”

With a variety of levels of disability, John said coaches and programs need to be flexible.

“Like when we were at the university with (ASdC program facilitator) Jim Steacy. He shows the kids how to lift properly and they tested them. but one of the kids was absolutely, no way going to run.”

It didn’t take long for Steacy, an Canadian Olympic hammer thrower, to get the athlete running. Ondrus said once he got going, he had fun. but the results aren’t always what’s important in Special Olympics.

The motto for the organization is “let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” It rings true for Ondrus.

“I’ve seen some of these athletes for years, and no matter how many times they stretch or run, they stay in the same shape,” he said.

“But you look at other things, like the way they started out without any routine. Some of these kids are all of a sudden talking your ear off when they used to just sit there. “It isn’t always winning and losing at the game.”

Ondrus guaranteed that when his contin-gent of athletes heads to london, Ont. in July, lethbridge and area can be proud of them, no matter the result.

“I always tell them, you play to win, you play to get better,” said Ondrus. “but there won’t be any tears if my guys lose.

“The only tears you’ll see will be tears of joy.”

Dylan Purcell is the sports editor at The Lethbridge Herald and is the newspaper’s representative on the Alberta Sports Development Centre – Southwest board of directors.

SUPPORTING THE ALBERTA SPORT DEVELOPMENT CENTER – SW “Showcasing emerging athletes from around our region who have the ability,

passion and will to perform at peak levels and to inspire others to strive for their maximum athletic potential.”

HIGHPERFORMANCETRAINING

Shawn Stead, Manager - High Performance Training

403-380-1898 shawn.stead@uleth.ca

Emerging

Training area PE157

Athletes

Elite Trainingfor

One of the services that the Alberta Sport development

Centre Southwest provides is high-performance, sport

specific, strength and conditioning training. Strength

training has been a vital part of the training regimens of

athletes for many, many years and it has been proven

time and again that implementing a strength and condi-

tioning routine as a part of the athlete’s training program

will greatly improve their performance. Two of the main

ways taking part in strength training will positively affect

an athlete and their results are by improved performance

and decreasing the chance of injury.

When an individual lifts weights as part of a strength

and conditioning program they will see improvements

in the following areas: increase in muscle size and tone,

increased muscular strength, and increases in tendon,

bone and ligament strength. All of which are vital com-

ponents in how the human body moves and therefore,

how an athlete moves on the field of play. The stronger

the muscles, ligaments and tendons are for an athlete,

the better he/she will be able to perform. Improved

flexibility is another area of performance improvement

through participating in a strength program. by working

the muscles through a full range of motion, weight training

can improve your overall body flexibility. Increased flexibil-

ity reduces the risk of muscle pulls and back pain which is

very important when practicing and competing in sport.

limiting your chances of getting hurt during practice or

when competing is another major benefit of a strength

training program. Strong muscles, tendons, and liga-

ments are less likely to give way under stress and are less

Olympian IdeasJim Steacy offers strengthtraining advice

13

likely to be injured. This will be espe-

cially beneficial in sports where there are

tendencies to twist or land/plant/push off

from awkward positions such as soccer,

basketball, hockey and even curling

(when pushing out of the hack). Weight

training also increases bone density and

strength which is a big positive for con-

tact sports such as hockey and football.

When starting a strength training

program, the following variables

need to be taken into account in

order to have a useful program to

follow:

Type of lift - you need to tailor your

workout to address specific body areas.

For example, if you want bigger and

stronger arms, you need to use exercises

that target those particular muscles.

Intensity – Intensity is the amount of

effort exerted. There are a number of

ways to increase the intensity, including

limiting rest times, super set, rest-pause

ratio, etc.

Volume – Volume is the quantity of your

workouts or duration. you can increase

or decrease the volume by either training

more or less often per week or by train-

ing for longer or shorter periods of time.

(see variety)

Variety - Variety challenges your

muscles and forces them to adapt with

increased size and strength. This can

be achieved by switching around your

workout routine, varying your workouts

by changing exercises, the rep scheme

or your training volume.

Progressive overload – By gradu-

ally increasing your weights forces your

muscles to grow stronger and larger.

Rest – It is vital to rest between sets. If

your goal is muscle size or endurance,

rest for 30-60 seconds minimum. If you

want muscle strength, allow up to 2-4

minutes between sets.

Recovery – Muscle needs time to repair

and grow after a workout. A good rule of

thumb is to rest the muscle group for at

least 48 hours to allow sufficient recovery

time.

For more information on a High

Performance Training program to suit

your training needs, contact Jim Steacy

at the Alberta Sport Development

Centre at 403-320-5271 or check out

their website at www.asdcsw.com

The stronger the muscles, ligaments and tendons are for an athlete, the better he/she will be able to perform.

14

15

For athlete brooke French, the

opportunity to participate in

the 2010 Vancouver Olympic

Torch relay was an “absolutely

amazing experience”. In almost

spring-like conditions, the local

triathlete, runner and basketball

player from Winston Churchill

High School got to carry the

official flame for 300m along a

crowded street in Coalhurst on

January 17th.

The Olympics are a big thing

for me,” says French. “Taking

part in the run was one of the

best things I’ve ever done.”

The 14 year-old was awestruck

by the event and says looking

into the flame while she ran

with the torch was inspiring.

brooke filled out her applica-

tion online through RbC. She

believes her volunteer com-

mitments to helping create

a unique lunch program at

lakie Middle School and Oprah

Winfrey’s leadership Academy

for girls helped her secure the

opportunity.

A member of the ASdC’s

Athlete Enhancement Program,

Brooke had an outstanding

2009 athletic season, winning

the City Championships in

Cross Country and the Provin-

cial Triathlon Championships

for the 14-15 year-old age

category.

Brooke’sTorch Run

By DAVE WELLS

lethbridge Collegiate Institute grade 11s

Colton garner and Connor Emigh have

plenty of on-field football experience

working co-operatively towards common

goals. Since garner plays quarterback

for the Rams and Emigh is his centre, a

symbiotic collaboration is vitally important

to each individual’s performance and

team success.

Frankly, garner’s safety is enhanced by

Emigh’s execution, too.

“We have to be almost best friends,” says

Emigh. “If I let a guy through, he gets hit and

if he messes up, it makes me look bad.”

garner and Emigh are now working

together off the gridiron, too, through

the Alberta Sport Development Centre

Southwest’s Athlete Enhancement Pro-

gram. They are often paired as training

partners. However, in this environment,

bragging rights become an important

motivating factor.

“He’s my centre and he’s one of my good

buddies,” says garner. “but, it’s competi-

tive between us too. We try to put a little

competition in there to help us get better.”

both green-and-gold-clad lads are leth-

bridge products. both took up football

in elementary school and have been

involved ever since.

garner stands six-foot-one and weighs

190 pounds. He has played a variety of

sports competitively over the years in-

cluding basketball, lacrosse and archery,

but is down to one now.

“I dropped the rest to focus on football.

My goal is to play post-secondary foot-

ball – definitely. My desire is to move on

as a quarterback.”

Emigh, who stands six-foot-two and

weighs 260-270 pound range, is keeping

more elite sporting options open. On the

football field he plays defensive tackle,

too. The large-yet-nimble athlete also

excels in wrestling and rugby.

In fact, he’s already made a Canada-

wide impact in the mat game. Emigh,

a member of the lCI wrestling team,

finished fourth in his age-group’s 120-kilo

Improving Through

Co-operation and Competition

“I know I haveto work hard to

be the best”

16

(264 pounds) class at nationals last year.

Emigh plays prop in rugby for lCI and

the lethbridge Rugby Club. Provincial

and national rugby powerbrokers are well

aware of his potential.

At this point Emigh is not willing to tip his

hand regarding which sport he will ulti-

mately choose. but he has a crystal clear

ambition to reach the heights in athletics.

“My goal is to become a professional

athlete in one of my sports and to repre-

sent Canada at some point in one of my

sports,” firmly says Emigh. “I have mo-

tivation. I think I’m just naturally athletic.

That’s what some people tell me. but, I

know I have to work hard to be the best.”

garner’s parents are Mark and Sue. His

dad was a high school athlete who loves

sports passionately.

“I grew up with sports,” says garner.

“I’ve always enjoyed them.”

Emigh’s athletic ambitions are supported

by his parents as well. both Jamie Varley

and Kari Rathgeber were high school

performers who passed the passion on.

garner considers “staying focused on what

I want to be as a player” to be a strength.

Physical strength – which he is work-

ing to improve regardless – is already

quite reasonable for garner’s desired

quarterback position. However, he freely

acknowledges a need to develop more

foot speed.

“I was a pretty big kid growing up. I want

to become a better athlete all-round, but

speed’s the key.”

Emigh is looking at improving in both areas.

“My strength mostly, my speed a little.”

both are investing a great deal of time in

their athletic pursuits, leaving as little as

possible to chance. They clearly appreci-

ate the multi-faceted opportunity ASdC

Southwest provides. Even though Emigh

is involved in wrestling during the winter

he enthusiastically notes the additional

training is a valuable bonus.

garner just turned 17, while Emigh

attains that age in March. both aspire

to stay involved in high-level sports for

many years to come. While Emigh states

professional athletics are a goal, garner

is already looking towards another ulti-

mate seemingly-related career path.

“I’m interested in being a physio therapist.”

In the short term, both are competing

hard against one-another training to

improve their cooperative performance

next football season and their individual

athletic performance for many a year.

PHOTOgRAPHy by glEn bERRy PHOnE | 403 329 8589 | bEngun@TEluS.nET

17

we can help. www.asdcsw.ca

403-320-5271