Teen athletes to compete at Winter Games

Most people have tried one sport or another, but there are those few athletes who lead the pack with skill and dedication in their sport. Their goal: victory.

Ponoka has raised its share of competitors and on Feb. 9 to 12, athletes ranging from 11 to 17 years old will compete at the Alberta Winter Games in the City of Spruce Grove, Parkland County and the Town of Stony Plain. Among the 2,500 competitors, 11 Ponoka youths will participate, some as a team and others in individual events.

Ponoka News will showcase these young athletes leading up to the games. This first entry brings the 15U volleyball team together to talk about their hopes for the Winter Games:

Of the 75 girls who tried out in December, 12 players made it. Five are from the same volleyball club in Ponoka.

First up is Zoe Cire, middle/power:

Thirteen-year-old Cire has grown up watching her sisters play volleyball and credits them for helping create her love for the game. Despite some nervousness, Cire did her best at tryouts.

“I was actually nervous because there were girls coming from all over, including Camrose, Coronation and Bawlf,” she stated.

She thought her hopes for making the team were dashed because of a rolled ankle during tryouts, but the team’s coach had seen her play earlier the same day.

“The coach said, ‘I’ve seen enough, just take it easy,’” Cire explained.

Cire, the youngest in her family, practices two to three times a week and has just moved back to train with her Ponoka club after training in Red Deer for a while. As well as volleyball, she plays basketball and track and field sporting events. Cire’s end goal is to become an Olympic volleyball player.

Her favourite song is Call Me by Blondie and for her, “volleyball is my sanctuary.”

Danya Brachmann, middle:

Brachmann could hardly contain herself when she found out she made the team.

“I was super excited!” she exclaimed.

Brachmann’s history with volleyball goes as far back as her parents; they met each other while playing volleyball. The middle of three children, all of whom play volleyball, she has met a lot of people because of the Winter Games and wants to continue with volleyball throughout her college years, and possibly further.

“I like to play and definitely want to keep going.”

She plays for her school and her club in Ponoka.

Brachmann’s favourite song is You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates. Her mantra, “I want to win.”

Kendra Emes, setter:

Emes’ secret setting style might come from her mother, Tammy Emes, the Ponoka club coach and assistant coach for the games. For tryouts she tried to stay calm and asserted to herself, “I can do this.”

Emes wasn’t sure how well she would do considering the amount of setters who tried out but she treated it like any other practice and that calmness gave her a place on the team.

She plays several sports, including baseball, basketball and used to play hockey as well. Emes said her main goal was to make it to the Winter Games and as far as the future is concerned, “I would like to see where I go.”

Her favourite song is Everybody by the Backstreet Boys.

Erika Sieweke, setter:

A definite sports fan, Sieweke plays basketball, badminton and soccer as well as keeping up with her volleyball team. She was not expecting to make it to the team.

“I didn’t think I would make it because there were a lot of setters. There was a moment of shock, then excitement kicked in,” she explained.

Her main goal is to learn from a sporting competition of this level. There was bit of a learning curve getting used to girls she had never played with but now she feels they blend well together.

“I want to go as far as I can with volleyball and want to have fun,” she explained.

Although she feels a bit nervous about the competition, she thinks the team will place well.

Her favourite song is Drops of Jupiter by Train.

Carmen Lomas, power:

Lomas was perhaps the most anxious during tryouts as she was the last girl picked to play. She was, “nervous, excited and surprised,” when her name was called out.

Her mother and older sisters are avid volleyball players and Lomas’ love of the game seems to keep the tradition alive. “I love volleyball, it’s just a really fun game.”

She took the suggestion from her mother to tryout and takes comfort in having players she knows from her team and of the other Ponoka athletes who will compete at the games.

“It says a lot about Ponoka athletes,” Lomas said.

Her goal is to play volleyball in college but she hasn’t considered what could happen after.

Lomas’ favourite song is Don’t Stop Believing by Journey.

Coach Liane Amdam had to look at all the players who tried out with a critical eye, and despite how hard it was to cut them, she knew it was important to pick the best players for the game.

“Our competition will be Edmonton and Calgary,” she explained.