Five local athletes named recipients of spring scholarships from Red Deer Games Foundation

The Red Deer Games Foundation (RDGF) has announced five recipients for the Athlete Development Grant for the Spring of 2023.

The RDGF says the grants are awarded to individuals living in Red Deer and the surrounding area who have demonstrated a high level of ability and a strong commitment to their sport.

They state the awarded athletes have achieved competence at the international, national, provincial or regional level and the funds are provided to help offset the costs of training and equipment as they continue to pursue their training and competition programs.

1. Elyse Borys: (Red Deer) Team Handball– member of Canadian Handball Team. She was a part of the team at the last NORCA competition in Mexico City in April 2022 for World Championship qualifying. She will again be representing Canada in August to try to qualify for the World Championships.

   READ: Central Albertans win bronze at junior handball championship in Mexico

2. Artur Troyan: (Red Deer) Trampoline– Member of Team Alberta and was the Canadian Champion for his age group in both 2018 and 2019. He is a multiple winner of Alberta and Canada Cups. At last year’s Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Troyan won two bronze medals for Team Alberta.

   READ: Central Alberta athletes make history at 2023 Canada Winter Games

3. Nicholas Nechifor: (Red Deer) Tennis – Nechifor is currently the number three ranked player in Alberta for U12 tennis and ranked 22 in Canada. He competes all over the world and has recently won his age division in tournaments at Calgary, Saskatoon and in Spain.

   READ: Local 11-year-old tennis player ranked third in province

4. Solomon Kent: (Sylvan Lake) Snowboarding– Kent was part of Team Alberta Snowboarding at the recent Canada Winter Games in PEI. He placed ninth in Big Air and 13th in Slopestyle.
5. Jayna Thulien: (Red Deer) Volleyball– Thulien has recently been named to the U17 Women’s Team Alberta Competition Team. She will represent Alberta in Ontario at the Canada Cup of Volleyball in July, 2023.