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June 4, 2014
www.thenorthernview.com
Rupertites are Nanaimo-bound BY KEVIN CAMPBELL PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
The Prince Rupert under-12 boys’ developmental soccer team initiative is paying off in spades already. Four talented and skilled Rupertites will be off to Nanaimo in July to participate in the B.C. Summer Games to represent the Northwest on the soccer pitch. Sherangad Sahai, Brendan Eshom, Jarred McMeekin and Kaito Hirai all made the squad after trying out earlier in May and all of them made the team on their first try. “They made us run laps and then we did stretches and then we did some shooting skills, one-on-ones,” said Sahai at Prince Rupert Middle School last week. McMeekin was chosen to be a defenceman after the developmental soccer team’s coach Gordan Armstrong imparted some defensive instincts in the youngster. “He taught me a lot of new tricks, like shepherding, jockeying and that stuff. Don’t always just go for the ball and beat it up, just look for passes on the sides or run it up the sides if they’re giving you
enough room,” said McMeekin. “It was pretty funny, because I was like, ‘hopefully it’s me, hopefully it’s me’ and I was the first person called,” he said. After half the participants were cut on the first day of the weekend tryout, which was open to any player, the four buddies returned on Sunday to play in a series of games to test the groups’ chemistry. Eshom, who was picked for left defence, believes he was picked for his physical advantage, being taller than the majority of the players, but also for his talent on the pitch. “I lean into a lot of people [while playing],” he said. Sahai, who’s been playing under Armstrong for a few years, believes his stamina and various skills and traits led to him being picked as a midfielder for the prestigious team. Sahai has played numerous positions in the past. “Building stamina [on the Prince Rupert developmental team] and running with the ball [are my strengths],” said Sahai. Dominic Strand would have attended the tryout as a goaltender, but injured his finger prior to the selection camp.
Kevin Campbell / The Northern View
From L to R: Brendan Eshom, Sherangad Sahai and Jarred McMeekin are three Prince Rupert representatives that will play for the Northwest squad (Not pictured: Kaito Hirai).
Rapids get a taste of southern California PRASC returns from Santa Clarita with memories, tans BY KEVIN CAMPBELL PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
In between pitstops at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios in southern California, the Prince Rupert Aquatic Swim Club (PRASC) did some swimming. And even though they came away with some impressive finishes at the Canyons Aquatic Club Red, White and Blue Memorial Day Meet, this was one weekend that wasn’t all about results. “The weather was good. A bunch of these kids have never swam in a meet outside of our region before so it was a pretty eye-opening experience,” said PRASC Rapids head coach Chris Street.
Only The Best
The California meet, open to any senior members of the club willing to go, is more of a reward for commitment and hard work throughout the season than it is a frantic race to the finish. “We’ve [taken them here] five or six times,” said Street. “That’s one of the reasons we love this meet is that it doesn’t have qualifying times. We can take anybody,” said the coach. Zach Dolan (12) led the way in the blue category (the fastest entry times kids) with fourth-place in 50 breaststroke, 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke and fifth in the open 200 backstroke. The red category hosted the intermediate swimmers and the white held the novice. Kenzie Tweedhope (12) came in first in
“It was a pretty eyeopening experience.” - Chris Street
the 13-and-under “A” times in 50 and 100 freestyle and second in the white division for 100 freestyle, third in 50 and 100 backstroke, sixth in 100 breaststroke and eighth in 50 butterfly. Jake Morse (10) grabbed a new “A” time in 50 and 100 freestyle and came in third in the red division in 50 breaststroke, fourth in
100 backstroke, sixth in 50 backstroke and seventh in 100 backstroke. Kobi Franes (12) also competed in the red division and finished sixth in 100 backstroke, ninth in 200 freestyle and sixth in the white division for 50 backstroke. Landen Franes (10) garnered a first “A” time with a 1:41.88 100 backstroke, and eighth in 50 backstroke in the red division. Kate Morse (12) finished 14th in the red division in 50 backstroke and Shayne Brierly’s (16) top result was 53rd in the open boys’ 200 backstroke. “It’s a really big meet; about six or 700 kids in an outdoor pool.” said Street. “It’s a little bit of swimming sandwiched into a lot of holiday.”
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