Team B.C. established a new record haul at the Canada Summer Games, and Abbotsford athletes played a big part in the achievement.
The Games, which wrapped up in Winnipeg on Sunday, saw B.C. athletes earn 146 medals - one more than the previous record of 145.
It was the women’s softball team’s 10-3 win against Alberta in the gold medal on Sunday that clinched the new record, and also earned gold medals for Abbotsford softball players Callum Pilgrim and Taylor Lundrigan.
Lundrigan had a big game in the gold medal, hitting a home run, driving in three runs and adding two hits. Pilgrim contributed with two hits and one RBI.
The gold medal is the fourth straight for the B.C. women’s softball team at the Canada Games, and wrapped up a dominant performance by the team at the event. B.C. lost just one game at the tournament, and posted 10 victories. They outscored the opposition 106-35 in the 11 games.
Lundrigan returns to the SFU Clan softball team in the fall, while Pilgrim rejoins the NCAA’s Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders based in Kentucky.
Local wrestlers also grappled to greatness at the Games, with a handful of athletes earning medals.
Team B.C. won gold in the wrestling team event, in large part due to Fraser Valley talent. Abbotsford’s Jade Trolland and Mission wrestlers Alexia and Victoria Seal helped B.C. finish a perfect 4-0 in qualifying and then defeat Alberta 32-18 in the gold medal matches on Aug. 10.
Trolland and the Seal sisters also won gold in their respective individual weight divisions. Trolland, a W.J. Mouat student, went a perfect 7-0 in individual competition to win the 60 kilograms gold. The Seal sisters also went 7-0, with Alexia earning gold in the 44 kg and Victoria tops in the 57 kg divisions.
Abbotsford male wrestlers also excelled in the team and individual competitions, with Team B.C. picking up a silver in the team event. Local wrestlers Jaskaran Gakhal and Tanjot Kahlon both earned the silver as part of the team.
Gakhal and Kahlon also both earned bronze medals in their respective individual divisions at the event. Gakhal compiled a record of six wins and two losses at the event in the 65 kg competition, while Kahlon also went 6-2 to finish third in the 98 kg division.
Abbotsford’s Aaron Mulama and the Team B.C. men’s soccer team closed off their tournament on Saturday with a 2-2 draw to Nova Scotia, and finished eighth overall.
Last week saw Abbotsford baseball players Brett Bass, Kayden Beauregard, Carter Harbut and Travis McDougall place fifth with Team B.C.
The 17-day event saw athletes compete 16 different sports in Winnipeg, Gimli and Kenora. B.C. finished second overall at the Games, earning 55 gold, 49 silver and 42 bronze. Ontario finished first, collecting 212 medals overall.
For more on the event, visit canadagames.ca/2017.