Nursing student from Oungre trains to represent Canada in Olympic weightlifting
By Kylie Kelso, USask
University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Nursing spring graduate
Alexis Ashworth, who hails from Oungre, will not be walking across the big stage at Spring Convocation in June.
Instead, she is training to represent Canada in women’s Olympic weightlifting on the biggest sports stage – the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
“The Olympic qualifiers consist of five international meets between December 2022 and April 2024,” said Ashworth. “So far, I have competed in the 2022 Senior World Championships in Bogota, Colombia, and 2023 PanAmerican Championships in Bariloche, Argentina. I am currently training for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Grand Prix #1 in Havana, Cuba in the middle of June.”
Once the qualifying events are complete, Alexis must be ranked in the top 10 or higher in her weight class and also be ranked in the top three overall of all five women’s weight classes, as Canada is only
able to send three female weightlifters to Paris.
“It would be a dream come true to represent Canada on the biggest stage in the world,” said Ashworth. “I would want to be in the best shape of my life for that, so if I make the Olympic team, I will need to train really hard between the end of qualifiers in April and the Olympics at the end of July.”
Alexis started Olympic weightlifting in fall 2019, after being introduced to the sport through CrossFit. The COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on her training due to gyms being shut down, but she continued to train at home and resumed competing in summer 2021.
Splitting her time between Bloomington, Indiana, where her coach is located and in Montreal, Quebec, Ashworth currently trains seven sessions a week over five days.
“I know there is a chance I will not make the Olympic team, and if that happens, I will return home to Saskatchewan and begin focusing on nursing. I am very grateful to have a wonderful profession to return to when
my athletic journey ends.”
Ashworth started her USask Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in fall 2017 at the Regina Campus. When she entered Year 3, she decided to go part-time in her studies to accommodate her weightlifting and balance other aspects of her life.
“I was upset knowing I would not finish the program alongside my peers I entered the program with, but I want others to know everyone has their own unique path. I knew that my years as an athlete were short, so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. I am so glad I took this opportunity now because a lot has changed since then!”
Ashworth chose the USask nursing program after hearing positive things from family and friends about USask and wanted to remain close to her family. She admits though, as positive as the program was, it was very challenging.
“The challenges I faced along the way during my nursing studies made me a better athlete. And the challenges I face as an athlete,
will make me a better nurse one day.”
“The best part of the nursing program was completing my final practicum in Estevan at St. Joseph’s Hospital in emergency. I gained a lot of confidence as a nurse from this experience, had freedom to use my critical thinking skills, and I felt like a working member of the team. That is what nursing is: a team.”
Although Ashworth isn’t sure when she will take the national nursing licensure exam, she is excited about working as a registered nurse someday. Travel nursing, emergency, cardiology, and psychiatric nursing have piqued her interest as areas she may want to explore.
“I am looking forward to being a small part of someone’s toughest days,” she said. “I understand what it is like to be on the other side of things as a family in the hospital. I know nurses have a very difficult job to do, but if I can be a small part of that, I know I will have a lot of purpose and fulfilment in my career.”
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
Weyburn Beavers split weekend games vs
The Weyburn Beavers posted a win and a loss over the weekend, defeating Regina Red Sox at home by a score of 6-2 on Saturday afternoon, and travelling to Moose Jaw on Sunday afternoon, losing 8-2.
In the home game on Saturday, the opening pitch was made by John Gibbons, the former manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. He had been the speaker the night before at the Beavers sports dinner.
Owen McConnell was the winning pitcher, on the mound for a full seven innings, allowing nine hits and two runs, and getting four strike-outs.
Jacob Clark pitched for one and a third innings, getting two strike-outs, and Brett Paterson pitched for the last two batters, getting one strike-out.
RBIs were scored by Ryan Dauphinee, Trent Lawson, Brett Potter, Ryan
Regina
Gurney and Brayden Murua, with Lawson and Murua each hitting doubles.
In the Moose Jaw, Jack Kovanen was the losing pitcher, and was on the mound for five and twothirds innings. He allowed seven hits and four runs, and got one strike-out.
Cole McGregor pitched for one and a third innings, allowing three hits and three runs, and Paterson pitched for one inning, allowing two hits and one run, and he had one strike-out.
The Beavers’ two runs were scored by Ryan Muizelaar and Triston Madison.
The Beavers have a home-and-home series with Moose Jaw, as they played Tuesday at home and tonight, June 7, in Moose Jaw, and will host Swift Current at Tom Laing Park on Friday, June 9. Over the weekend, they will visit the Red Sox in Regina on Sunday, June 11.
High-fives for a teammate
A player was high-fived by his teammates after hitting a home run during a game at Minor Ball Day on Saturday at the Haig school grounds ball diamonds. The Junior and Senior Rallycap teams played, along with the learn-to-play teams, and the Weyburn Humane Society provided a barbecue lunch for all of the families. Review Photo 8659 – Greg Nikkel
Charity golf tournament to support Inclusion, Envision Counselling
The annual Weyburn Travelodge and Brothers Classic Grill Charity Golf Tournament will be hosted at the Weyburn Golf Course on Sunday, June 11. This year, the charity golf tournament will raise money for Inclusion Weyburn, and Envision Counselling.
In addition to a day of golf, with a tee time at 1 p.m., there will be door prizes, a live auction, and a Greek banquet supper to be held at the Travelodge.
Cost is $100 per golfer, or $500 for a team. The costs include 18 holes and the supper.
There are still options for businesses to support the fundraiser by sponsoring a hole. For more information, or to register for the Charity Golf Tournament, residents can contact George at the Weyburn Travelodge at 306-842-1411.
Over the previous 18 years, the Weyburn Travelodge and Brothers Classic Grill have raised $338,447.43 during their charity golf tournaments to support health services in Weyburn and area, such as the current Weyburn General Hospital.
WCS athletes place at provincial track meet
Three Weyburn Comp athletes placed in the top eight in their respective events at the SHSAA Provincial Track and Field Championships, held over the weekend.
Chace Kradovill competed in discus and shotput. In Discus he threw 28.50m, good for seventh place, and in shot put he threw
12.04m, winning a bronze medal.
Camden Husband ran in the 3,000m race in a time 10:04.59, good for fourth place.
Noah Kopec ran in the 100m race in 11.74 seconds, putting him in sixth place, and in the 200m race in 23.66 seconds, good for a bronze medal.
Weyburn Review, Weyburn, Saskatchewan -- June 7, 2023 6 sports
Close call at first base
Review Photo 3841 – Greg Nikkel Weyburn Beavers player Luke Zimmer hit first base as the first baseman for the Regina Red Sox stretched to catch the ball. While it appeared very close, the umpire called Zimmer out on the play. The Beavers won the game 6-2, held on Saturday afternoon at Tom Laing Park.
Hitting the ball at Minor Ball Day
Review Photo 8532 – Greg Nikkel A player for the green team connected with the ball as his team played at Minor Ball Day on Saturday, at the Haig ball diamonds. All six diamonds were busy with games for the junior and senior rallycap teams, and the preschool learn-to-play teams, with the Weyburn Humane Society on hand providing barbecued hot dogs for the families.
