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White turns to gold, wins Alberta Boccia Provincials at home

May 28, 2018 | 3:11 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It was a proud weekend for Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation, hosting some of Alberta’s top boccia ball competitors.

The Medicine Hat Curling Club was the site of the 2018 Alberta Boccia Provincials for the first time and it was two local players battling for gold.

Defending provincial champion Aiden White was gunning for another Alberta title at home, but he had to get past his teammate Pauline Mann.

Starting off on the right foot, Mann took an early 2-0 lead after scoring a pair in the first end, before White got on the board in the second end with a single point.

With Mann holding a 3-1 lead heading to the fourth end, White took advantage of a missed block attempt to count three balls to take his first lead of the match.

That one-point lead stood as the final score, with White mounting a 4-3 comeback victory to win his second straight provincial title.

White said he needed to strike quickly in the fourth end before the match started to slip away.

“I really did not want to play another end,” said White. “Because if I could win here it’s fine, if I play another end there’s still a chance I could lose. So, once that I got that I had enough points it was like, ‘Okay, I’m done.’”

It was a clean sweep across the throwing division for Medicine Hat, as Ted Schmauder shut out his teammate Myles Chandler to take home the bronze.

Program Coordinator Tara Chisholm said it’s been a gradual growth to where Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation athletes can compete for provincial medals.

“Our group has been practicing now for four years,” said Chisholm. “So, to see them place gold, silver, bronze was exciting.”

As for the ramp division, it was a battle of Edmonton in the finals with Cyla Schoneck defeating Ryan Rondeau in extra ends 4-3 to win gold.

Fellow Edmonton athlete Chandra Round meanwhile picked up a bronze medal for her efforts in the ramp event.

Chisholm added the support they’ve seen from both sponsors and the community at large has been more than they could have asked for.

“We’ve had amazing companies that have supported us through this weekend, along with the City of Medicine Hat,” she said. “So, to get that community support for adaptive sport is exciting because you don’t always see it, especially in a town of our size.”