Looking back on the event, we learned so much. Our success begins with the staff, security, set-up, cleaning, and gopher volunteers (in no particular order) like the tireless Shawn Perks always there when you need him, Anneliese Reckewitz who does so much already and takes on any task, Rick, Ryan Routley, Deena Marie!, Amanda Rogers, Travis L. Fowler (so resourceful thank you!), Kelly Riehl (always there!), Darrell Stoby, his son Ian Stoby and the Wapiti Friends of Competitive Taekwondo Society (all such great people!!), Lynelle Conrad (so resourceful and never gives up!) working the medic side with Colton MacDonald, Reagan Jay for such a lively EMCEE performance (so good!) and helping with the shirts, Jeremy Thiessen, Shane Miller, and then there are the coaches. Organized through Tell Butler, with Peter Lacouder, Myles BuhBuh Mcallister, Randy Mahon, Luis Maria Martinez Martinez, Alex Goc-Ong who also all doubled as help throughout the event! Special gratitude to Rachel Bow who went above and beyond as moral support, helping the desk and singing the anthem so beautifully (and in a minute notice!). The same with Bill Mahood and his humane methods of winning fights! Thank you to Pamela Lange for helping us with the boxing jerseys last minute – we REALLY appreciate what you did. Tosh Tim Mugambi of the Zulu Challenge and Justin Donally of Fivestar Mixed Martial Arts for helping me commentate throughout the events finals on Province wide TV Sunday (for a first time we sort of pulled it off lol).

Karen-Lynne Piercey and Samita Pandey as ringside physicians (and blue book policewomen 😉

This is twice that the Mayor Bill Given had attended our events to open up and we are honoured he accepted our invitation. Tracie Dale Gillis – we could not have done it without you and all the helpful Eastlink Centre staff! Our Sponsors from 2dayfm GP who publicized the event (Caralee, Evan and Justine), Logan Clow from the The Daily Herald-Tribune, Tim Elizabeth Gedcke from EastLink TV and all his professional guidance (looking forward to the replay this week), our media arts (video/photo/graphic) professionals Ryan Connors and Black Antler Creative for the look of the event, Kurt Robinson from Sportswear Plus/Alberta Trophy for the fantastic t-shirt to ring skirt designing, Red Rock Urban BBQ for being our innovative food sponsor, Lindsey, Len and Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson for being a big part of local boxing. Shout out to Kal Tire, Reflex Supplements and Supplement King – thanks for the giveaways. We appreciate Western Event Rentals for their material support and set up.

Thank you Travel Alberta! For your belief in us!

Special gratitude to Mark Bower. Mark is a friend of Champion, and with the sponsorship from Wesco Testing and Wireline Inc. Mark’s son, Zack is well trained and skilled in boxing thanks to his fathers careful investment in him – such a great example.

We are especially grateful for the coaches that did come from all over Alberta, with their athletes from as far away as Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Lac La Biche. Some of them brought athletes who we could not match up, which we really felt for and thank you for your dedication. We know it happens, but it never gets easier. To our Champion athletes who were not able to compete for lack of matches we also deeply appreciate your understanding Talia Lafferty, Damya Bow, Mathurin Sawchuk, Ella Cameron, Brenna Peters, Zack Bower, Maggie Brown, Ethan Krystal and Russel Floyd Belway. Lee Tanghe, your support has been incredible. From providing the ring and athletes to answering my questions at any time. The Alberta Boxing from Dennis, to Silvio to Rosemary and everyone else involved who give up their personal time to grow the sport we love – thank you always. You do the work and sacrifice that no one else will.

We are especially proud of our athletes who were able to compete like Peyton Rakestraw (WOW), Cody Banner (such heart!), James Ruelland (such a machine!), Taylor Wendt (inspirational), Travis Lesschaeve (as great a person as athlete), Seth Weaver (big future ahead!), Colt Beatty (just heroic), Ian Stoby was just phenomenal (winning overall best boxer of the Cadet division), and Ethan Lange for trying so hard in there.

Thank you Amy Mohr from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grande Prairie & Area for being a part. We appreciate what you do for our community and we are getting that message out!

Lastly and mostly, to Marti Scriba who will kill me for posting this but truly sacrificed so much of her time and put up with so much to get the event done while helping at the gym. You are absolutely incredible. Thank you.

It has been a long day and I hope I didn’t miss anyone, and if so it was unintentional. It truly takes a huge team effort to put together an event of this proportion, and a great team to pull it off successfully.

You are all great! Thank you!