Many local athletes had the distinction of competing this past month in the 2024 Manitoba Games in Dauphin, and a few brought home gold medals.
Athletes between the ages of 10 and 18 from each of the province’s five sport regions—North, West, East, South, and Winnipeg—converged on Dauphin from August 11–17. The sports represented included athletics (track and field), baseball, basketball, cycling, golf, rugby, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, triathlon, and volleyball.
Our corner of southeastern Manitoba had strong representation, particularly in soccer and volleyball.
Among the highlights was the U14 female soccer team, which made it to the bronze medal match. Although the team ultimately failed to medal, finishing fourth in the province was a major achievement for these young athletes.
Coming in first and taking home the gold was the U14 female volleyball south white team. According to their coach, Dan McGregor, it was a memorable experience for players and coaches alike.
“Dauphin did a wonderful job organizing the event, from the opening ceremonies to the accommodations, transportation, etc.,” says McGregor. “Everything was well thought out and made for a special environment for the players. Having won the gold medal was an incredible ending to a fantastic season.”
McGregor says the team went into the final talking about how they were going to win with everyone contributing, and they did just that.
“All the players should be proud of their individual and team accomplishments,” he says. “Some of them travelled over an hour to each practice, which showed the dedication and commitment to the success of the team and their individual development. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to coach these players.”
Player Jasmine Vermette says that winning gold was satisfying, but the highlight for her was the people she had the opportunity to meet throughout the experience.
“I met a variety of different people while participating in the Manitoba Games and I expect to stay in contact with the friends I made during the summer,” says Vermette. “I think province-wide tournaments are important because they give us a chance to meet different competition and different people.”
Vermette champions the city of Dauphin for their hospitality, saying that the accommodations, though cramped, were comfortable. And the close quarters may have helped their team camaraderie.
“My accommodations were great. The food at the games was better than expected and there were different options every day,” says Vermette. “It was a great experience sleeping on cots in a classroom at the Dauphin high school. I think being in a tight room with my team helped our bonding a lot more.”
The strong relationships between teammates may have helped in the golden result in the final versus Winnipeg.
“We didn’t win easily,” she says. “Our match was won on the third and deciding set. The team we had played in the finals was a team we had lost to consistently in exhibition play and during the round robin. It was a massive challenge our team had to overcome. We had to change our mindset during the game. They had very strong players, but I think we played better as a team. I was extremely pleased with my performance and the team’s as well. We all stepped up when we needed to the most.”
Vermette’s teammate, Addison Pritchard, agrees that the tight accommodations helped forge a bond between the teenagers.
“I shared a classroom with 18 girls, some being from other sports,” says Pritchard. “We all got along even though we weren’t all there for the same sport. A few of the girls I met also came to watch me play and cheer for my team.”
Pritchard also highlights the encouraging atmosphere of the games, saying she was thankful for the official volunteers who were always available to help. The entertainment also helped the athletes keep a positive mindset.
Winning a gold medal doesn’t hurt, either.
“The most challenging moment in the games was the gold medal game,” says Pritchard. “We went from being down by a lot in the first set, which we ended up losing, but we won the second and third sets. And that winning point in the gold medal game… we all ran onto the court after the winning point and celebrated the win as a team!”
Competing in the games was a first for many athletes, including Kyra Moore, who also played on that gold medal team.
Moore says being an athlete isn’t just about physical ability. It also requires mental strength.
“I love volleyball because it’s such a mental game,” says Moore. “It can really go any way, no matter who’s on the court, which makes you want to win even more.”
Pritchard also speaks to the importance of playing in higher-level tournaments.
“Playing in a province-wide tournament gives the opportunity for each region to showcase their best players,” she says. “Lots of people also get to play with different people they wouldn’t normally play with on their regular season teams.”
