Two Rimbey teens, who play rugby at the high school level, are off to Toronto to compete nationally.
Courtney Holtkamp and Lora Lee, both 17, have been selected for the Prairie Wolfpack U19 Rugby team, a competitive, select team that are representing Alberta at the Nationals which started August 15 and will conclude on Aug. 21.
“This is a very competitive, select team representing Alberta,” said Rimbey Spartan coach, Sierra Newman.
Lee said she is very excited and pleased to be selected for the team.
“I was so happy to be selected,” she said. “It is hard to put into words.”
Lee has been playing rugby for the Spartans since Grade 8. It is a sport she truly enjoys.
“I love the physical contact and tackling people. And I love running.”
Lee is pleased that her friend Courtney Holtcamp has been selected to the provincial team, as well.
“That is so great,” she said. “Courtney is one of my really good friends.”
Holtkamp, also a student at Rimbey Junior/Senior High School, is looking forward to the nationals.
She said she used positive self-talk when she knew Scouts were looking at players for the provincial team.
“I knew I was good enough to do it. I just had to tell myself that and live up to it. I knew that I had to either take the opportunity or run away from it.”
Holtcamp has been working on a dairy farm all summer which means getting up at 3:30 a.m. However, she manages to fit rugby practices and rugby into her busy schedule.
As well as playing for the Spartans, the girls play for Red Deer Titans. The Titans competed in a tournament in Calgary in July and around 15 players were selected at that tournament to be part of the Wolfpack U18 Rugby Team.