Summer 2017 is a golden one for Ariel Schellenberger.

The Oak Bay High athlete earned gold with Team BCB次元官网网址檚 U16 soccer team at this summerB次元官网网址檚 North America Indigenous Games.

ArielB次元官网网址檚 been playing soccer since she was five or six years-old, participating in both club and school teams, and finds it a key element to personal and mental health.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an escape from whatever your mind is on,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e just worrying about the moment youB次元官网网址檙e in and youB次元官网网址檙e being present.B次元官网网址�

Athletics are part of her everyday world. She was part of the Oak Bay High rugby team that won the previous two provincial championships. When she heads back to Oak Bay High this fall, sheB次元官网网址檒l again join the volleyball, soccer and track and field teams as well.

She shared her golden summer with cousins Rayn Cook Thomas (Vic High) and Braden Nelson (Mt. Doug Secondary) who won gold with U16 boys team.

B次元官网网址淚t was pretty cool them being there. It was a support system to me,B次元官网网址� Ariel said.

In reality, the teen says, all four soccer teams at the Ontario competition felt like family. During each game, the other three BC teams B次元官网网址� of the or U16 boys and girls, U19 boys and girls B次元官网网址� would head to each otherB次元官网网址檚 competition. It saved her squad in their second game.

B次元官网网址淭he soccer teams were the only ones who had the big support system because we were all staying in the same place,B次元官网网址� Ariel said. B次元官网网址淭he beginning of the second half (of Game Two) they all started singing so we got all pumped up.B次元官网网址�

First up in the Games competition was a daunting American team.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e playing Team New York first, and we expected them to be pretty hard because theyB次元官网网址檙e from New York. We had big expectations,B次元官网网址� Ariel said. B次元官网网址淲e actually came together really well and ended up winning 6-0.B次元官网网址�

She scored one of the two notches in the second half and admits to her part in some good plays, while spreading the credit as a team of B次元官网网址渞eally good individual players came together really well.B次元官网网址�

The second game they faces strong Saskatchewan who won 7-1 in their first game.

B次元官网网址淲e knew it would be a tough game but we showed up, we were out warming up before them,B次元官网网址� Ariel said.

Unfortunately the prairie team took an early lead, but the BC squad became known for for the strong second half.

They came back to win 3-1, thanks to the cheering from the fans.

A laid back mentality nearly took a toll in Game Three against Team Manitoba.

B次元官网网址淭his was the worst team in our pool but we played the worst. Sometimes I notice in soccer that youB次元官网网址檒l pay down to the other teamB次元官网网址檚 level and that happened,B次元官网网址� Ariel said, noting they ended the first half 0-0. B次元官网网址淲e changed up our formation, got different players in and we ended up scoring two goals. It as a wakeup call because games can change that easily.B次元官网网址�

They moved into the semi final against North West Territories, a game thatB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a blur between the adrenaline and the outrageous heat in Toronto.

B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 know what to expect,B次元官网网址� Ariel said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 remember much about it because we were just so excited. I guess I just had too much of a rush heading into the final.B次元官网网址�

That put them in a rematch with Saskatchewan for gold.

B次元官网网址淏ecause we already played this team, we had our heads up pretty high but also we didnB次元官网网址檛 let it get to us,B次元官网网址� Ariel said. B次元官网网址淭he first half it was pretty good because we had possession of the ball almost all game.B次元官网网址�

The game was limited to 30-minute halves because of the heat and they finished the first 30 ahead 1-0.

B次元官网网址淭hat got our confidence up, and we knew that we had strong second halves.B次元官网网址�

With their BC peers B次元官网网址渃hanting like crazyB次元官网网址� by the end, Team BC won gold with a 4-0 win.

B次元官网网址淚t was cool because the boys team played the day before for their gold medal and they both only one 1-0,B次元官网网址� Ariel said.

All four soccer teams earned gold.

B次元官网网址淟ots of people say itB次元官网网址檚 an experience of a lifetime, but IB次元官网网址檓 going to shoot and do it again in a few years,B次元官网网址� she said. She hopes to make the U19 team in three years. NAIG are hosted every three years.

B次元官网网址淓ven if I canB次元官网网址檛 participate in the Indigenous games again as an athlete I would volunteer. Without the volunteers there it could not happen. TheyB次元官网网址檙e up there so many hours helping us athletes be furled to do what we needed to do.B次元官网网址�

cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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