Two-sport athletes set for Summer Games

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This article was published 21/07/2016 (2834 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Competing in a multi-sport event like the Manitoba Summer Games is recognized as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—even more so when you’re among the very best in your region in not one but two sports.

Of the estimated 180 plus athletes representing Eastman less than two weeks from now at the Manitoba Summer Games, only six will find themselves busy from start to finish.

After the first batch of sports wrap up Wednesday, count Dawson Loewen and Justin Gudmundson as two athletes that won’t be packing up their stuff from the Steinbach schools outfitted as athlete lodgings for the week. They will switch from one sport to another.

“I’m looking forward to just being with my friends for a week in the school and then meeting other kids,” said Gudmundson.

“It’s pretty cool,” added Loewen. “You get to go to the opening and closing ceremonies.”

The pair of 13 year olds from Steinbach are teammates on the male volleyball team, which will be in action the second half of the week. Prior to that, Gudmundson may be called upon as a pitcher or first baseman for the baseball team, while Loewen is hoping to shoot in the 70s when he hits the links at Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club.

The sports that will open the week for Gudmundson and Loewen are the games they grew up with, influenced by their families’ aptitude.

“My older brothers and my family have all been big in baseball,” said Gudmundson. “I pretty much grew up with it around, watching lots and even playing lots.”

Loewen has been swinging golf clubs with his dad since he was only 2 years old. “And then I just kept golfing and got better,” he recalls.

They found a new sport to love in volleyball in recent years, playing on school teams and improving their skills with the Providence Junior Pilots.

In fact, most of the players on the regional Pilots team are playing for Eastman next month; a built-in familiarity sure to come in handy when the Summer Games get underway. It helps, too, that this volleyball team is good: they won provincials wearing the Pilots logo and then won silver at the Western Canadian championship.

At the Summer Games, “we have a pretty good chance at winning,” said Gudmundson.

As for baseball, Gudmundson is looking to perform his best and he hopes Eastman can pull out a gold medal.

Loewen doesn’t know where his expected score in the 70s will place him, as he hasn’t seen the other golf teams’ qualifying times, but doing his best is all he can shoot for.

He seems poised for a strong finish. Last weekend, Loewen won the Steinbach Fly-In club championship for juniors aged 12-14. He scored a 77 and an 83.

The Manitoba Summer Games will run Aug. 7-13. Baseball games will be played at Stahn Field in Mitchell, golf at Steinbach Fly-In and volleyball at Steinbach Regional Secondary School.

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Eastman’s other multi-sport athletes

– Alyssa Chimiel of Steinbach competing in athletics and softball
– Mason Kehler of Blumenort competing in athletics and male volleyball
– Ethan Plett of Steinbach competing in athletics and male volleyball
– Sawyer Thiessen of Mitchell competing in athletics and male volleyball