Ontario Summer Games a stepping stone
More than 80 of Niagara best and brightest young athletes will be descending on London this weekend to compete in the Ontario Summer Games and they were given a rousing sendoff Wednesday at Oakes Park in Niagara Falls.
For many of the more than 3,500 participants from across Ontario, competing at the Games will be the pinnacle of their sporting careers. For others, the 27th edition of the multi-sport event represents the first significant stepping stone on their way to maybe one day representing Canada at the Pan Am Games or even the Olympics. Three-time Olympian Mike Strange got his start at the Ontario Games.
“This is a great opportunity for the boys to play in this event because who knows where baseball can take you. A lot of kids aspire to play at the post secondary university or college level and this is a great chance for them to be showcased in these Games,” baseball head coach Steve Wiersma said. “It’s exposure and it is getting to play against some of the top athletes in Ontario. They can see where they fit in and see where they can go.”
Playing baseball for Niagara at the Ontario Summer Games allows local players to get on the radar for Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games.
“We play under the Ontario Baseball Association, which is OBA, and Team Ontario has coaches high up in the OBA,” Wiersma said.
It is also a great chance for the kids to take part in a multi-sport event.
“These boys play baseball, they play hockey and some play other sports like volleyball but to be at an event where you have multi-sports in unusual,” Wiersma said. “It’s great to meet athletes from other sports like track.”
The Niagara Falls Falcons 15 and under baseball team was selected to represent Niagara at the Games because the team plays at the high level in its age class. The Falcons compete in the Elite Baseball League of Ontario which is considered AAA baseball.
“We did our tryouts last fall and the idea was to select a team to play in our league for the year and also for the Summer Games as well,” he said.
Members of the team come from across Niagara Falls, including St. Catharines, Beamsville, Grimsby, Fonthill and Welland.
“It’s the best players in the region,” Wiersma said.
Team Niagara canoe/kayak head coach Oztuck Kuru sees the Ontario Summer Games as the first stage of development.
“You start with baby steps and going to the Ontario Summer Games is baby steps for them,” he said. “We have developed targets for them and the next step is going to nationals.”
The first baby steps are important in the process.
“They learn how to be a part of the team, going to the right place to catch the bus and racing with the other athletes,” he said. “It is similar to the Olympic Games and it is great for them. They learn something.”
Niagara canoeists and kayakers qualified for the Summer Games by competing at the Ontario team trials. The top athletes at the trials, regardless from what region they are from, were chosen to go to London.
Girls basketball coach Charles Kissi, the former head coach of the Brock men’s basketball team, likes what the Ontario Summer Games offers his players.
“I just think that every opportunity is a pathway now. There are so many avenues, venues and programs to play at and every opportunity that we can provide out athletes to play, compete and grow in their sport is promising,” he said. “That is what it is all about and we are pretty much there. This is another avenue for kids to live out their summer dreams, compete, develop and build that camaraderie and love for the game.”
Kissi feels it is huge for athletes to get an early taste of being part of a multi-sports competition.
“We just watched our national women’s soccer program beat Columbia and advance through all they have gone through. All of that matters because competing and watching other athletes compete reinforces our work and helps support what we do as athletes and coaches. It may be a different sport but we are all in it together. We are all trying to get better for ourselves, our community and our country.”
Kissi held tryouts for the team and 10 excited were selected.
“I don’t think any of them have competed in an event like this before and it will be a pretty special memory for all of them.”
