Innisfail's Blake Anderson brought home a silver medal from the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.
Anderson, 14, was one of three Innisfail athletes to compete for Zone 4 in the biennial event in Medicine Hat from Feb. 13 to 16. He competed in the sport of archery. Sarah Gette, who played for Zone 4 in female hockey, claimed a fourth place finish with her teammates after her squad was defeated in the bronze medal game. Presley Busch, a local figure skater, had a 16th place finish in the U12/U14 combined womens singles' event.
“It was really exciting and nerve-wracking too,” said Anderson who competed in his second provincial winter games. He competed in his first winter games in 2014 and won a bronze medal in (compound) archery.
“I'd say (the second time) it's a lot more fun. I met a couple of new people and I'm good friends with them now,” he added. “It was a great experience.”
Anderson has been shooting in archery for three years and was pleased to take home the silver medal in the 15 to 17 age (recurve archery) category.
In addition to having an enjoyable time, Anderson also learned some important lessons, particularly when it comes to sportsmanship.
“Sportsmanship was actually a big deal. One of the participants tried to cheat his friend into winning in my sport,” he said, noting that overall most of the 64 athletes in archery competed by the rules.
Anderson practises archery in Red Deer several times a week and said it's his drive for competition that motivates him to succeed.
“That's all I really want to do with archery is just compete and get better and better,” said Anderson. “You're the only one who can do better or worse. No one else can help you along.”
Anderson reached his goal of improving his results from the last winter games event, thanks to many long hours of practice and dedication to the sport over the years.
“Over the last probably five months, before the winter games, I would go to the archery centre in Red Deer five days a week at least,” he said. “I was there for two to five hours at a time practising as much as I could.”
Anderson is eligible to participate in the Alberta Winter Games one more time, in 2018, and is ready to work hard to achieve his next goal – a gold medal.
“That's my goal for next time, is to get gold in recurve archery,” said Anderson. “After the Alberta Winter Games I want to compete nationally for Canada and then go worldwide and compete at the Olympics.”
Blake Anderson
"That's all I really want to do with archery is just compete and get better and better."
