Wollaston Lake teen set to make history at Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games

The 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara are less than a week away, and a Wollaston Lake competitor is ready for the spotlight.

Eighteen-year-old Angel Besskkaystare is set to be the first athlete in history to compete in the Canada Summer Games from her hometown of roughly 1,500 people.

On top of that, Besskkaystare will have the honour of being Saskatchewan’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.

She said it’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to compete in the games, let alone be the province’s flag bearer.

“My coach called me and she said, ‘Hey Angel, I have a surprise for you,’ and then she told me and I was like, ‘What?’” Besskkaystare said. “She said, ‘Everyone voted for you, you’re going to be leading everyone.’ I think my hands were shaking. Once she was done, (I was) a bit shocked, because I didn’t know that was going to happen.”

Besskkaystare is set to compete in girl’s wrestling, something she’s been practicing for since the start of high school.

At the age of 14, Besskkaystare and her family made the move from Wollaston Lake into Prince Albert. She decided to join the wrestling team at St. Mary’s High School and said she quickly fell in love with the sport.

“At first, it was just the aggressiveness. For some reason, I just wanted to let out everything I had during practice,” Besskkaystare said.

“I feel more welcomed in wrestling, because everyone’s friendly, except when we start wrestling.”

The preparation to compete on the national stage has been nothing short of a marathon, 

Besskkaystare said, but she’s determined to make weight, no matter what it takes.

“Ever since I got selected, I never had time to find a job. I have practices, camps, training and trying to make sure I make weight, and not (be) overweight for my weight class,” Besskkaystare explained.

The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games kick off Aug. 6 and run through Aug. 21, with over 5,000 athletes competing.