Ezri Vidal (#13) helped drive her teammates to a gold in volleyball and bronze in basketball at the Saskatchewan Summer Games. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Games Council)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

Dual-sport athlete

Meadow Lake athlete receives Saskatchewan Games Athletic Award

Dec 20, 2024 | 11:27 AM

Combined competitive performance, strong leadership skills, good sporting conduct, and a spirit of fair play, cooperation, and friendship; all the qualities that led to Ezri Vidal of Meadow Lake being named the recipient of the 2024 Lorne Lasuita Saskatchewan Games Athletic Award.

Vidal, who competed in basketball and volleyball for Team Rivers West, was one of just two dual-sport athletes at the event this past summer in Lloydminster.

“The Saskatchewan Games have been an incredible experience for me. I have met so many new friends. Staying at the Athlete’s Village was an extraordinary opportunity. Being able to play with and against the top athletes in my age group was amazing. It pushed me to play some of the best volleyball and basketball I have ever played. The coaching was incredible, I have developed my skills in so many ways. It is a memory that will stay with me for my entire life,” said Vidal in a press release.

The award Vidal received provides an athletic bursary intended to assist the recipient with their ongoing participation in sport. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Games Council)

The Grade 9 student athlete helped her team earn a gold medal in volleyball and a bronze in basketball. Her on-court presence and energy was described as being ‘contagious’ throughout the games and her dedication was evident in her commitment to attend volleyball practices three times a week in Lloydminster despite the four-hour round trip, along with basketball practices in Unity.

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Outside of sports, Vidal is on the Student Representative Council at school, and volunteers at the food bank. She also helps to coach and referee youth basketball, smashball and volleyball. She aspires to be ‘the next Caitlyn Clark’ on the basketball court while also chasing goals in volleyball which include making the provincial team in high school and playing post-secondary after graduation.

The Lorne Lasuita Award provides an athletic bursary intended to assist the recipients with their ongoing participation in sport. The Award was established in 2019 to recognize the valuable contributions he has made to the Saskatchewan Games program. Throughout his impactful 50-plus year career in sport and recreation, Lasuita played a key role in more than 50 multi-sport games including the Saskatchewan Games, the Canada Games, and the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.

The next instalment of the Saskatchewan Games will take place in Flying Dust First Nation and the City of Meadow Lake.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com