Trio of PG athletes recognized by BC Winter Games with bursary award

A golden experience at the BC Winter Games in Kamloops last month has led to some additional accolades for three Prince George athletes.

14-year-old Brynn Witwicki received a $500 Coast Capital Savings Leadership Bursary for her efforts.

“I plan on spending the money towards education, next year I plan on doing sports school and will go towards that, so just toward sports use.”

Witwicki picked up a gold medal in the Biathlon mass start event and also grabbed a silver medal in the mixed relay.

She says her experience at the games was top notch.

“It was a really great experience, I got to meet a lot of new people and new faces, I think it will benefit my future with travelling around and meeting new people.”

Witwicki currently attends PGGS and turns 15 in the fall and is also a member of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club.

Riley Stiles and Joel Ewert of Prince George also received the same bursary for their efforts in Wheelchair Basketball.

He and Stiles both picked a bronze medal at the games in their respective sport.

Ewert will put his focus on academics with the additional money, much like Witwicki.

“It’s nice to get recognized and I will definitely be using it on school and some sports, so I think it’s great that we’re recognized and that people are supporting young athletes.”

The local also attends PGSS and was born cerebral palsy as a kid and has needed the assistance of a wheelchair or walker for all of his life.

The sport of Wheelchair Basketball has provided Ewert with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

“Wheelchair basketball has been really important and wheelchair sports in my life has really given me something to strive towards as I was raised in an athletic family giving me my own sport as my father and my dad both played hockey. Wheelchair basketball gave me my own story and my own personality and a whole other friend group as well.”

Over 100 applicants applied for the funding.