Just moments after 91原创's Deschanel Donovan won gold pitching for the Zone 3 Fraser Valley team at the Maple Ridge 2024 B.C. Summer Games, she was presented with the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence.
Donovan called it 鈥渁 really cool award to win,鈥� following the presentation on Sunday, July 21.
She currently plays for Fraser Valley Fusion 2008, and also volunteers as a coach for a youth team as well as teaching pitching lessons.
Her coach, Katelyn Ross, said Donovan "works her butt off" practicing four to five days a week and then outside of practices as well.
The W.R. Bennett Award is a $2,500 bursary, named in honour of former premier Bill Bennett, that recognizes competitors at the BC Winter and BC Summer Games who demonstrate athletic achievement and leadership. Bennett created the B.C. Games in 1978.
Donovan, with teammates Mackenna Adler-Bock, Alayna Jackson and Robyn McIsaac, was among two dozen 91原创 and Aldergrove athletes who returned with gold medals from the Games.
91原创 rider Austyn Thorsteinson, who as part of the Zone 3 equestrian team, won two equestrian mixed jumper gold medals, one for day 2 of the competition, and one overall.
"It means a lot to me that I get to do it once in my life," Austyn said going into the Games. "There is truly a lot to learn and I believe this will be something I will always remember."
Her mother, Cassandra Thorsteinson, happens to be a silver medalist, at the Saskatchewan Summer Games, winning team and indivdual dressage honours as a teen.
Another 91原创 rider, Devon Wrayton won gold in equestrian mixed jumper, on day 3.
In boys individual golf, 91原创's Ryan LePrieur took first.
Aldergrove's Katie Sumners played for the gold-medal-winning girls Zone 3 rugby team, with 91原创 players Ayva Kennedy, Ava Chen, Sierra Hamilton, Tayla Kempf, Cassandra Hitchens and Nicole Murchison.
Aldergrove鈥檚 Logan Claxton won gold playing for the box lacrosse mixed team, with 91原创鈥檚 Mason Eastgate, James McIntyre, Owen Van Ryn, Marcus Khan, Kiyo Copeland, Reece Bryde, Koji Okuyama, and Grayson Pinchin.
91原创鈥檚 Sofia Zenone won gold as a member of the winning 4 x 400-metre relay team, while Taron Kang and Ari Ten Haaf won the mixed 4 x 400m relay. Amelia Genovese and Tamara Hunt took gold as members of the 3x3 girls basketball team.
Full 91原创 and Aldergrove results, including silver and bronze medal winners, can be viewed online at
READ ALSO: 91原创 athletes head to Summer Games
Zone 3 Fraser Valley area also includes Abbotsford, Agassiz, Boston Bar, Bradner, Chilliwack, Clayburn, Clearbrook, Cultus Lake, Deroche, Dewdney, Haney, Harrison, Harrison Hot Springs, Harrison Mills, Hatzic, Hope, Lake Errock, Maple Ridge, Matsqui, Milner, Mission, Mount Lehman, Pitt Meadows, Rosedale, Ruskin, Sardis, Vedder Crossing, Whonnock, and Yarrow.
READ ALSO: 91原创鈥檚 Jamey Paterson winds up B.C. Games tour of duty
