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| Volume XXIII Number 11 | August 16, 2002 |
2002 North American Indigenous Games: Team Florida Wins 5 Medals
By Alexandra FrankWINNIPEG, MANITOBA - For nine days, 25 teams participated in the 2002 North American Indigenous Games. The Seminole Tribe was represented by 127 participants in varied sports venues such as basketball, baseball, volleyball, archery, rifle shooting, canoeing, athletics, golf, and wrestling.
The July 28 Opening Ceremony officially started off the Indigenous Games with an evening event at the CanadInn Stadium. 20,686 well wishers and athletes filled the stadium for the welcoming remarks from the Prime Ministers of local provinces and prayers from the elders of local tribes.
Opening Ceremony attendees were treated to some of Canada’s best performers in singing and dancing. The event was festive and gave the games an air of excitement over the next seven days.
The seniors baseball and volleyball competitions marked the beginning of the Indigenous Games and were the main focal point for three days. Team Florida had a Women’s Volleyball team that consisted mostly of Brighton residents.
The volleyball team had to play for two days that lead up to the third day which were the games that lead to the finals. Unfortunately, the women’s volleyball team did make the cut to go to the finals. They did, however, put in the effort to play their best, which is commendable.
This can be said for the Midget Girls volleyball, the Juvenile Girls Volleyball, the Boys Junior Basketball and the Midget Girls Basketball.
In Athletics (track and field), two individuals made it to the finals. Velma Osceola and J.D. Bowers fared well in the Seniors division 100 meter run. The two made great time in order to make the finals. However, they were no match for the second 100 meter heat. They did well, the two finished 4th and 5th place, respectively.
The Midget Girls Basketball team had to overcome some last minute setbacks. First, they had only five girls to play during the games, which was the minimum. Also, during one of the games they had an injured player who stayed on the court despite her injury. They finished the game 20 points ahead of their opponent. Good job! Although they did well, the Midget Girls Basketball team did not make to the finals. However, a pat on the back goes out to these young women, and to the Midget Girls and Juvenile Girls Volleyball teams as well, for their effort while competing in the Indigenous Games. The Juvenile Boys Basketball Team faced the same odds as the Midget Girls Basketball Team. They too had only 5 players. When you do not have any substitutes during a game of basketball, it can be tiring and stressful.
These young men put all they had into the games they played, and should receive recognition for their efforts and perseverance during the games.
Other athletes who deserve recognition for the effort they put into playing other sports are: Charles Hiers - Canoe & Kayak; Kyle Doney, Terri Hahn, Charlie Cypress, Jim Osceola, Scarlett Young, Leroy King, Jonathan Rodriguez, and Joe Junior – golf; Justin Campos, Paula Bowers, John Jumper, Larnce Ballentine, Curtis Osceola Jr., Thelma Bowers, Helene Buster, Courtney Sanchez, and Tony Sanchez , Josie Snow, Patty Waldron, and Travis Trueblood – athletics; and Reese Bert, Amy Ashley - Rifle Shooting.
The five medals that Team Florida brought home were won in four separate sports: wrestling, baseball, archery, and rifle shooting.
Wrestling featured Austin Billie - Hollywood, Tyrel Osceola - Trail, Mitchell Simmons - Tampa, and Peter Hahn - Live Oak. The wrestling event lasted three days, enough time for all four to prove themselves on the mat.
The competitors they faced were tough, many had competed in high school and college. During the event, the winner was decided by the number of points earned or by pinning an opponent to the mat.
Out of the four wrestlers who participated, two won medals, Tyrel Osceola won a Bronze Medal and Mitchell Simmons won the only Gold Medal for Team Florida. Way to go, guys! We hope to see you at the 2005 games winning at least two gold medals!
In the Archery competition were three Seminole men: Joel Frank Sr., Chris Osceola, and Clinton Holt, all from the Hollywood reservation. The three men faced a course that featured both a wooded exercise area and an open field setting.
They had to hit life-like targets such as deer, cougar, bear, moose, etc. The men were in teams of four; the event tested stamina, vision, and patience. All went through the course over two days and it was not an easy course.
Clinton Holt won the Bronze Medal. Holt will add this accomplishment to his list of rodeo wins earned over the past three years.
Gregory Osceola, 15, from Hollywood, is the son of Marcellus Sr. and Eteau Osceola. Gregory won a Bronze Medal in the Rifle Shooting competition. Way to go Gregory, it is great to see a young person win such a prestigious award, keep it up! The Midget Boys Baseball Team was a mix of tribal citizens from the Hollywood and Brighton reservations. They played well on the first two days of the baseball event to get to finals, where they faced Team Manitoba for the Gold Medal. Team Florida had a chance to win, but some questionable calls and missed fouls and outs, they had to settle to play for the bronze medal.
In order to win the bronze, the boys had to play Team Alberta. They were ready to go but a strange thing happened. Team Alberta was a no show! You would think that a team that had played so hard to make the finals would want to play to win the bronze.
Thus, Team Florida won the bronze. However, they had wanted to play for the bronze. However, they did stick around the ball field to watch Team Wisconsin defeat Team Manitoba. Team Wisconsin were the Gold Medal winners for the Midget Boys Baseball at the 2002 North American Indigenous Games.
The five medals won by Team Florida were well deserved. We could not have asked for a better group of individuals to represent the Seminole Tribe with honor and respect.
Congratulations to the winners. Hopefully, you’ll be able to compete again in three years, when the games take place in California. Congratulations to Team Florida, you have proven yourselves worthy once again.
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