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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-07-11, Page 10THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Express Page Mosquitos Page TIMES ADVOCATE SPORTS TIPS? Contact Exeter Times Advocate Tel: Pat Bolen (519) 235-1336 x113 Fax: (519) 235-0766 E-mail: sports@southhuron.com Exeter Times -Advocate Gold medal at NationalTaekwondo tourney By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Six years of intensive training paid off for 12 year-old Katey Potter of Exeter over the July 1 weekend in Alberta with a gold medal in taek- wondo at the Canadian Junior national Taekwondo Championships. Competing in the Team 'B' 11-13 age group in Edmonton, Potter scored a decisive win in the finals to claim the gold medal. Holder of a 1st Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, Potter trains with Tristar of Exeter and Lambeth under Master Sai Visouvath. She qualified for the Nationals at Ontario provincial competitions during the winter as the number one in Ontario for her age and weight. Potter said the first of the two matches she fought was the toughest, winning it by two points before her second win by 13 points. Going into the match, Potter needed to adjust her style when `head - shots' were disallowed Although she said it did- n't throw her off much since she doesn't use them very often, it took her a while to get back into using body shots. Potter said one of her strengths is a `pretty good roundhouse," as well as being good at high kicks. At age 12, the Nationals are the highest Potter can go in Canada, although the Team 'A' competition for ages 14-17 is being held in Aruba this year. After qualifying for the Ontario team last year, Potter said she has improved her cardiovas- cular conditioning this year training several days a week on a kicking pad, heavy bags and other routines. Freediver wins bronze medal By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF OTTAWA — For former Exeter resident Douglas Sitter, being underwater is as natural as being on the surface, a talent that won him a bronze medal at the National Freediving Championships in Ottawa June 24-26 after holding his breath for 5:07. Sitter, age 30, attended Exeter Public and South Huron District High School and said he did a lot of swimming at the Exeter pool. He started play- ing underwater hockey at the University of Western Ontario at the age of 12 and received his advanced scuba diving license when he was 14. After playing underwater hockey for 15 years, Sitter decided to take a perfor- mance free diving course, which is also known as underwater breath hold- ing or skin diving. Along with some others on the course, Sitter start- ed a club called Freedive Toronto and has been training ever since. The bronze is the best result yet in competitions for Sitter in terms of both depth and time. "I was extremely happy. I was hoping to finish top six." Sitter's capacity to hold his breath has increased by a wide margin since he started freediving, but he says once a plateau is reached it takes a lot to increase beyond that limit. "Your body adapts, it gets better and better adapted to its environ- ment." Sitter said one of the advantages of freediving over scuba is the freedom it allows. "You can dive all day on the reef and just go for miles checking out stuff. Places scuba divers will never end up going to. And fish will come over to you, because you're not scaring them off with your bubbles. It's a totally differ- ent feeling." Besides competing, Sitter is also a judge, giving him opportunities for paid travel to places such as Europe and the Caribbean. Sitter's placing at this year's Nationals earned him a spot on the Canadian National team which will be competing at the Worlds in Switzerland and France in August. But due to his wedding also taking place in August, Sitter won't be able to compete at the Worlds but he is planning on attending the 2006 Nationals in Vancouver. Dou Sitt glas er Katey Potter of Exeter won a gold medal at the Canadian Junior National Taekwondo Championships in Edmonton over the July I weekend. (Right) Potter lands a strike during the competition. (photosabove/Pat Bolen/right/submitted) `I love everything about it. I love kicking and it's just fun overall," said Potter. While the Exeter club is "more laid back," than Lambeth, said Potter, anyone who wants to take part in competitions is able too. While not in competition at the Nationals, Potter had the chance to watch some of the Team 'A' matches where she "saw a couple of knockouts...the fighters were amazing." She also had the chance to meet Ivett Gonda, who finished fifth at the Summer Olympics in Athens and provided some tips to Potter. Peewee Girls 'C' champions EXETER — The Exeter/Hensall Peewee Girls fastball team hosted their second Invitational Classic Tournament on the weekend. Six teams competed Friday and Saturday with 12 games played on three different ball diamonds in Exeter. This year's tournament increased to six teams from last year's four, with teams from Wyoming, Exeter/Hensall, Usborne, Crediton, Sebringville and St. Marys. The tournament started Friday night with host team Exeter/Hensall fac- ing last year's defending champion Wyoming Peewees. Wyoming scored the win in a hard -played game. Usborne defeated the Crediton Ducks on the opposite diamond. Sebringville and St. Marys played their first game ever under the lights with Sebringville winning over St. Marys. Games recommenced 8 a.m. Saturday morning with Exeter/Hensall beat- ing St. Mary's in a close game. Usborne got their second win of the tournament beating Wyoming by two runs. Crediton defeated Sebringville to even their record at one win and one loss. The second games on Saturday saw Crediton defeat host Exeter/Hensall. Usborne notched their third win of the tourna- Exeter/Hensall Peewee Karly Bryson delivers against Crediton July 9 during the Invitational tournament held on the weekend in Exeter. (photo/Stephanie Mandziuk) ment beating Sebringville championship on a one - and Wyoming defeated St. run game. Marys. In the 'A' championship, An added element to the Usborne defeated last tournament was a Hit, year's champion, also in a Run and Throw contest one -run game. before the final champi- Tournament convener onship games. Ross Bryson thanked all Each team had all play- the teams, umpires and ers competing the cate- volunteers. gories of longest hit, "It's great to see so longest throw, fastest many teams filling the base -runners and throw- Exeter ball diamonds and ing accuracy. having an exciting week - The Usborne and St. end of fastball action. Marys teams each took These girls don't get many home new bats for finish- opportunities to play in ing first and second in the tournaments due to the competition. fact that there just aren't All of the other teams many. received participatory "The Hit, Run and prizes as well as Dairy Throw contest provides a Queen meal tickets donat- perfect venue for the girls ed by the Exeter Dairy . from various teams to get In the 'C' championship, to know each other hi a Exeter/Hensall defeated relaxed setting and also St. Marys in an exciting get all the coaches game. involved in a friendly com- Crediton beat petion." Sebringville in the 'B' final She thanks her friends, family and Tristar team- mates for their support during her quest for gold. For more information on taekwondo in Exeter call 235-4739. Stanley in St. Marys ST. MARYS — The most famous trophy in North American pro- fessional sport will be making an appearance in St. Marys Aug. 6. The Stanley Cup will be on display at the St. Marys arena from 9 a.m until 5 p.m as part of the Jr. B Lincolns' 50th anniversary cele- brations. Also on display will be the Sutherland Cup, the `Legends of Hockey' display and two inter- active games for the Lincolns' reunion weekend. Admission for the dis- plays are $15 for adults, $10 for students while kids under six will be admitted free. An additional $5 will be charged for anyone wishing to have their picture taken with the Stanley Cup. The admission includes two tickets for the interactive games, and a souvenir Lincolns' puck with their 50th anniversary logo on it. The interactive games will be 'Shut Out' and `Showdown." The Lincolns' are paying a sum "in excess of $4,000," to bring the display to St. Marys according to the St. Marys Journal Argus.