Seven male gymnasts from Abbotsford's Twisters Gymnastics, including former Olympian Ken Ikeda, will be competing at the Elite Canada meet in Gatineau, Que. this weekend.
Ikeda leads a senior men's contingent which also includes Zachary Clay, Robert Watson, Steven Chaplin and Jonathan Osers. Cohen Kiers and Dawson Friesen are in the novice men's division.
Elite Canada is the first major event of the year, and results will figure heavily into team selection for major international events, including the Commonwealth Games and Senior Pan American Championships.
GAGNON WINS IN PORTUGAL
Abbotsford’s Jason Gagnon emerged victorious at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) European Championships, held last week in Lisbon, Portugal.
Gagnon won all of his matches, including a win over former Brazilian national champ Lucas Dantas in the semifinals, before closing out the bracket (sharing the title) with his Alliance Los Angeles teammate Isaac Doederline.
Gagnon, head instructor at Genesis Martial Arts and Fitness, is now ranked No. 1 in the world in the brown belt featherweight division. His next major event is the IBJJF Pan American Championships in Los Angeles in early March.
BEARCATS BRUNCH
The Columbia Bible College athletic department is hosting a fundraising brunch on Saturday, Feb. 15, and former Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie is the guest speaker.
The 10 a.m. event will also feature presentations from Bearcats athletes, and tickets are $25. For tickets, visit www.columbiabc.edu/bearcatbrunch.
HURRICANES GOLDEN
The Rick Hansen Hurricanes junior boys basketball team won the gold medal at the Roundball Classic, their home tournament, last week.
The Hurricanes met the Bateman Timberwolves, their crosstown rivals, in the final, and emerged with a 65-35 victory. Hansen's Ricky Kandola was named MVP, while Ishvarjot Birk was a tourney all-star.