A soccer squad loaded with Chilliwack-area athletes won gold at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, which were held July 17-21 in Toronto.
Jeremiah Jimmie (Squiala), Mattias Jimmie (Squiala), Dylan Hugh (Chawathil), Peters Makenzie (Seabird Island ) and Thomas Andrew (Seabird) bolstered the team with Charlie Keegan, Dredan Naistus and Kayl Graydon also listing Chilliwack as their hometown.
Their crew didn’t give up a goal in four games, opening with a 3-0 win over Ontario followed by a 13-0 win over the Yukon and a 1-0 semi-final victory over Manitoba.
Team B.C. grabbed gold with a 1-0 overtime win over Saskatchewan.
Team B.C.’s U-19 female squad also won gold, helped by Amber Charlie (Seabird), Jade Victor (Skowkale) and Marlee Enright. They beat Wisconsin (2-0), Ontario (3-1) and Saskatchewan (1-0), capping their championship chase with a 3-0 shutout of Eastern Door and North.
A U-16 female softball squad including Erin Hansen and Katelyn McDonald settled for bronze, as did a U-19 team featuring Ashley Guthrie, Catherine Toop, Sophia DiMarco, Taylor McDonald and Ryleigh Martin.
Isaac Goodwill helped Team B.C.’s U-19 male softball squad finish third.
Brandyn Chappell was a huge winner in the canoe/kayak arena, grabbing four gold medals.
Individually he finished first in the U-19 male canoe 6000 metre race.
He teamed with Michael Wyse to take top spot in the male 1000 and 6000m doubles races and Josephine Seward helped him take top spot in the mixed 1000m doubles race.
Valerie Paul won a pair of bronze medals in canoe/kayak competition, finishing third in both the U-16 female K1 1000 metre race and mixed-doubles 1000m canoe race.
Drake Leon competed in several U-16 male canoe/kayak events.
Anthony Joe, a Lil’wat First Nations athlete listing Chilliwack as his hometown, bagged overall bronze in U-16 male rifle shooting.