Volume XI-Issue 618
www.vermilionvoice.com
May 23, 2016
vermilionvoice@gmail.com
Underdog Poliakiwski Takes Home The Gold
1977
780.853.4122
CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATES
ROCK CHIP REPAIR WINDOW/WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WINDOWS FOGGING?
DO YOU NEED
Marie Conboy Reporter
In This Week’s Issue Local Fires Page 3
CNIB Golf Page 5
Courage Canada Page 9
Home and Garden Page 11-15
CROSSROADS FUNERAL CHAPEL ONLY LOCALLY OWNED FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIUM
IMMEDIATE CREMATION
$2785.00 +GST
HARRY & ALVA CREECH 5105 - 50TH AVE, VERMILION
780-853-6343 C re e c h’s C re m ato r i u m Ltd.
Brette Poliakiwski from Vermilion took home the gold, as the youngest in her division, in the Under 21 Judo Canadian National Championships in Calgary on May 14. After overcoming surgery last October and making tough sacrifices to train far away from home, Brette has won a medal every year at Nationals but says it’s a good feeling to have finally won a gold medal at Nationals. Brette moved to Lethbridge at the age of 15 to train at the new Judo Canada Regional Training Center. The Poliakiwski family name is well known in Judo. Brette’s mother, Nicole says she is very proud of all her girls for becoming National Champions. Brette’s three older sisters had to fight for Saskatchewan because they trained in Lloydminster; but this year Brette was able to take home gold fighting for Alberta. “I didn’t really want her to go to Lethbridge, but she really wanted this opportunity to try. In Alberta, we never had any opportunity to train at a high-level club, until Lethbridge was granted the National training center for Canada,” said Nicole. “I could have gone for a National gold medal last year, but my coach told me to fight up an age division, instead of going for the gold in Under 18. He pretty much told me, you’re number one in Canada right now; you don’t need a medal to prove it. But I still wanted it,” said Brette. After foot surgery last October and being out for 3 months, Brette was back on the mats in January and obtained 2 silver and one bronze in 2 separate events. “That was all I had going into the Nationals, so I wasn’t really expecting to win. My coach told me ‘look you had a tough year with surgery, if you don’t do well, don’t be too hard on yourself.’ I went in and had an amazing day. I am so happy; I’ve finally got the gold medal now, and it’s a good feeling,” says Brette. “There were many times, she would call home crying, and her sister Sydney would take pictures of her cows and send them to Brette making her feel at home,” said Nicole. Brette speaks with emotion about how coming home to Vermilion on the family farm has meant to her. “It was a lot of pressure moving down two years ago, because I wanted to show people that it was the right thing for me to do to improve my Judo and accomplish my goals. When
Eye Of The Tiger After overcoming surgery this year and making the tough sacrifices training far away from home, Brette says it’s a good feeling to have finally won the gold medal at the Nationals. Photo Marie Conboy
things were going tough, it has always been like a vacation to come back home to Vermilion.” Even after surgery, Brette trained on one leg. Judo training involves 6 days a week, with weight training 3 times a week and cardio twice a week. Today, Brette is the highest ranked in Canada U 21, and has qualified for the Junior Pan America Games in Argentina on July 1. “I do feel very accomplished winning the National medal now because my goal at the start of the year was just to win a medal.” Brette started Judo crawling on the mats as a baby and began training at the young age of 5 years old. The 17- year - old says she is looking at a university in California that has a judo team but that she hasn’t made a decision yet. “My coach wants me to hold off on school and just go professional, but we’ll see.” The young judo champion will be watching the Canadian Olympic team competing in Rio. She knows many of the Canadian Judo athletes and says “hopefully we should get some good medals.” “The Olympics has always been my dream
for sure, but my coach tells me to focus on the short term goals for now,” added Brette.
This picture demonstrates Brette in white performing a choke on a girl from Quebec where the Quebec girl taps out and Brette gets the win. Photo submitted
New Home Centre Hours to serve you better!
Starting May 22nd Weekdays 7am – 6pm Saturdays 8am - 6pm • Sundays 10am – 5pm Holidays 10am - 5pm 1302 - 10TH STREET, WAINWRIGHT
Eastalta