Local Sports

A local football coach has been nominated as a “game changer” in a regional competition that could help bring $100,000 to Innisfail. Wally Genz is a nominee in the Scotiabank Game Changer competition under the Calgary Stampeders category.

Cole Jamieson, 20, of Innisfail walked away from the Calgary Stampede this weekend having won the novice bareback championship. “I was just really excited,” he said of his reaction. “It took a little while to sink in.

A local bull rider has scored some cash thanks to a couple of solid rides during the first week of the Calgary Stampede. Bowden bull rider Tanner Girletz, who originally hails from Cereal, Alta.

The Daines Rodeo Ranch will be playing host to a charity rodeo event spearheaded by a Calgary Flames player this August.

The Cottonwood Kayak Club of Innisfail youth team placed silver this weekend at the national canoe polo championships hosted at Dodd's Lake. “It felt really good,” said team member Shannon Wagers, 12, of the silver win.

Coordinators with the Innisfail Triathlon said so far 73 athletes and four teams have registered since registration began in June.

Hopefuls for the Canadian national karate team were put through their paces in Olds last week, culminating in the selection of seven members and alternates to represent the country for the next two years in various competitions.

The Olds Rapids concluded their season with three swim meets and the annual awards night. The 60th annual Freeze or Fry (June 8 to 10) was represented by nine swimmers.

The U-14 girls soccer team finished the provincial championships with a 2-1 record on the weekend in Beaumont, finishing the tournament seventh out of 12 teams in its division. The team opened the tournament losing 1-0 to Sherwood Park.

The Olds Athletics split a pair of games last week in Parkland Baseball League action, losing a tight defensive battle, 2-1, to the Innisfail Indians Friday and winning 7-1 Wednesday against the Irricana Canadians.