Kayleigh Gladstone is headed to the North American Indigenous Games this month in Regina to represent B.C. in softball.
The 15-year-old, who attends Lambrick Park Secondary for the school’s softball academy, plays for Peninsula Thunder U19C and recently attended provincials with them.
From July 20 to 27 Gladstone will head to Regina for the Indigenous Games with 14 girls from all over B.C.
“There’s four girls going from the Island but I’m the only one from out this way.
“The other three are from Sooke, so it feels great to be representing the Peninsula and Tsartlip,” Gladstone said.
She said she attended a pre-training camp and four tryouts over the last year or so before she made the B.C. team.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure to do well but it’s also very exciting because the games are a huge event,” she said, adding that the games draw more than 4,500 people to Regina that week.
Even more than her achievement of making the B.C. team for the games, is the fact that Gladstone is even playing ball at all.
“I had major back surgery to correct a curve in my spine when I was 12,” she explained.
“Before the surgery the doctors told me I may never play ball again depending on how the surgery and recovery went, but I was determined.
“Four months later I was back on the field.”
Gladstone is currently busy seeking out post secondary schools where she will be able to flex her mental muscles as well as her physical ones once she graduates high school.
“I’m hoping for a scholarship in softball, so my focus right now is on academics first, and then ball.
“I hope to pursue paediatric nursing in university,” she said.
For the latest information and results from the Indigenous Games visit www.regina2014naig.com.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com