By Adam Eisenbarth
The Alberta Summer Games are just around the corner and there’s plenty of talent to represent zone 4 from this area.
The games will involve more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials who will be in the Peace Region to participate in events that are spread throughout 10 communities.
The athletes range from 11 to 17 years old.
This area belongs to zone 4, which will send more athletes than any other zone. The Rimbey area has certainly contributed to that.
Nine Rimbey athletes will participate in this year’s event, including Darryl Trautman, who will compete in 10 events.
The track star will run in several races as well as the hurdles, long jump, octathlon and relays.
The strength of the Rimbey Spartans rugby team shines through into the Summer Games as Jalaine Anderson, Jennifer Anderson, Christy Weiss and Janessa Matthew have all been named to participate in the female rugby tournament.
Cheyenne Argent is the lone Rimbey athlete to be named to the soccer team, and like many competing for the first time, the 14-year-old has no idea what the competition will be like.
“I’ve never been anywhere like that but I think I’m expecting it to be a very high calibre of soccer.”
Tyler Wurmlinger will participate on the football team and Mackenzie Stout will play softball.
Stout joins a large group of Bluffton softball players, including Karsen Entz, Chad Lifton, Randy Maconachie, Logan Steeves, Wyatt Tennant and Brett Thompson. Chad Schenk of Buck Lake will join them on the bantam team.
Bentley has its share of talent as well. Much like Trautman from Rimbey, Kolton Hueppelsheuser is a multi-sport athlete. He’ll participate in two distances of hurdles, high jump, triple jump, javelin throw and the pentathlon.
“I like to think (I’m an intense competitor) but I can’t compete against some of those people.”
Shenelle McPhee will also be quite busy at the event. The Bentley athlete will compete in four events — discus, heptathlon, high jump, hurdles, and the 400m race.
Meanwhile Erin Seater, also of Bentley, will compete in three events — pentathlon, hurdles and high jump.