Mikayla Martin
It鈥檚 going to an exciting winter on the slopes for Squamish鈥檚 Mikayla Martin. After years of competing successfully on the ski hills and the bike trails, Martin focused all of her efforts on upping her mountain game in 2014 and it paid off in spades. The Grade 12 Howe Sound Secondary School student was named to the Team BC ski team in December, and the team rookie is set to make her mark against some of the best young skiers in the country this winter and spring. Martin鈥檚 breakout performance came in March when she placed fourth in the downhill at the Canadian National Ski Championships. That performance, along with a strong showing at the Team BC development and selection process that began in June, ensured her a spot on the team. Martin is one of the younger members of the team but this is the first step towards her eventual goal of representing Canada on both the World Cup and Olympic stage. First step Canada, next step the world.
Jarid Lukosevicius
Powell River has been good for Jarid Lukosevicius, but come September, he鈥檒l be lacing up his skates in the crimson and gold of the University of Denver Pioneers of the NCCA Division 1. The 麻豆社国产Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) product committed to the Pioneers late in 2013 and he鈥檚 been lighting up the BCHL with the Powell River Kings in the meantime. He ranks fifth in the BCHL in scoring this season and has been earning more than a point per game during his tenure in the league. Lukosevicius was also invited to try out for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in December and the team could have used him after they finished a disappointing sixth overall. He joins a Pioneers franchise that has won the second most NCAA men鈥檚 hockey titles and has helped developed NHL players such as Paul Stastny, Kevin Dineen and Matt Carle. This year should be a big one for Lukosevicius, with a playoff run expected for the Kings in the spring and his arrival in Denver in the fall. He鈥檒l be trading the North Shore Mountains for the Rockies and 麻豆社国产will be watching.
Rhys Verner
Rhys Verner鈥檚 is the classic 麻豆社国产mountain biking story. He鈥檚 been on two wheels since he can remember, joined the Team 麻豆社国产mountain bike team when he turned 13 and now, at age 17, is a nationally recognized rider. This was a memorable year for Verner, both on the local and national level. He became the first under-19 rider to place in the top 10 at the Test of Metal since Ryder Hesjedal in 1996, and his second-place finish at the Canadian XC Nationals in July helped him qualify for the World Championships in Norway in September. He also posted strong showings at Canada Cup and Test of Metal races throughout the summer. Verner proved he鈥檚 more than just a mountain biker with excellent performances at Crankworx in August and the National Track Championships in November. The most impressive part about Verner鈥檚 2014 is that he still has another year of cycling as a junior. He was the youngest member of Team Canada at the Worlds and chances are he will only get bigger, better and faster in 2015. 麻豆社国产has developed its fair share of riders, but if Verner keeps up his pace, he could end up being the town鈥檚 most decorated ever.
Shayna Cameron
It鈥檚 never easy to top a championship season, but Shayna Cameron and the Quest Kermodes women鈥檚 basketball team is doing just that in the 2014-15 Pacwest season. Cameron was a key piece of the 2014 Pacwest provincial champion Kermodes team that qualified for the CCAA Nationals in March, and the team returned to the hardwood in October and has been literally unbeatable. Cameron and the Kermodes have posted seven wins in the season鈥檚 first seven games and have outscored the opposition by an average of 17 points per game. Cameron is second in the Pacwest in scoring, averaging 18 points per game and was named player of the week earlier this season. It鈥檚 not just in Pacwest action where Cameron is making an impact, she鈥檚 also heavily involved with Quest鈥檚 Cubs Basketball program that helps local Grade 7 to 12 male and female basketball players develop their skills. She helped hang the first banner in Quest University school history, and the fourth-year student from Chilliwack has a great chance to add another this spring.
Kaci 鈥淩uthless鈥� Reed
It鈥檚 going to be a summer to remember for Squamish鈥檚 Kaci 鈥淩uthless鈥� Reed. The emerging roller derby star is set to make her mark on the world stage in July and keep the momentum that she built in 2014 going. The Grade 10 Howe Sound Secondary School student first got turned on to the sport when the Sea to Sky Sirens debuted in 麻豆社国产in 2011, and she hit the track shortly after that first big game. After developing her skills in Vancouver, she caught the attention of Canadian team officials and impressed them at tryouts in October and November. She got official word that she qualified for the Team Canada junior roller derby in November but she鈥檒l stay busy with her Vancouver team in the meantime. The Junior Roller Derby World Cup is in July in Seattle and Reed will be sporting the red and white. She鈥檒l battle teams from the U.S., Australia and Belgium, and the jammer hopes to one day play for the Sirens and other higher level teams.
Cole Smith
The Cole Train was on a roll in 2014 and his momentum is expected to continue in the new year. Mixed martial arts fighter Cole 鈥淐ole Train鈥� Smith stepped into the cage a handful of times in 2014, and the 麻豆社国产native is expected to return to the Battlefield Fight League (BFL) cage locally in 2015. Smith made his BFL debut in December of 2013 with a win and then posted another victory in March. He dropped his first decision in August after the bout was stopped due to excessive bleeding, but the temporary setback didn鈥檛 slow Smith down. He was invited to train with Team Quest in Thailand in the fall and has been honing his craft in the Far East since then. He competed in Bangkok at the Full Metal Dojo show in November and is continuing to train in Thailand until the early spring. Smith鈥檚 return to the BFL cage in 2015, combined with all the knowledge he learned from his experiences in Thailand should make for a very dangerous fighter in the New Year. Potentially on the horizon for Smith in the BFL is a title shot in the flyweight (145 pound) division and he should be ready.
