Both set to join U of Saskatchewan Huskies program in fall
By Darren
Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Sam Regier takes part in pole vault at the SSSAD championships. |
The two Saskatoon Track and Field Club members are finishing up their Grade 12 studies at Aden Bowman Collegiate, and they just concluded their high school chapters of their track and field lives. Both have committed to joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field program overseen by head coach Jason Reindl in the fall.
For Regier, he has found joy in the sport again after
missing pretty much all of his Grade 11 year with a hamstring injury. During
that Grade 11 season, he suffered the injury early in the indoor season and was out for the entire school
season, club season and outdoor season. After getting his Grade 12 season in,
Regier wanted to continue his track and field life and a door opened to join
the Huskies.
“After the
injury, I’ve fallen again in love with the sport, and I was enjoying it so much
so that I wanted to move forth with it as well,” said Regier, who is set to
study in the kinesiology program at U of S. “I talked to Jason (Reindl) about it, and he
was happy to take me in.
“(I am)
super, super pumped about it. It will be great.”
Wildeman always had an underlying desire to join the
Huskies. She was thrilled to have the chance to join her hometown university
program.
“I always
thought about going post-secondary, but I never knew exactly where I wanted to
go,” said Wildeman, who is slated to study at the Edwards School of Business at U of S.
“I knew the Huskies had always felt like home, because you grow up with them.
“You see the community and you see just how like intertwined everyone is and especially seeing like other teams come in. They are great teams from other provinces, but no one has the bond that the Huskies have. I think I knew probably around - it was definitely the start of Grade 12 - that I knew that is where I wanted to go.
“I had known a lot of the coaches. I had made my decision definitely the start of Grade 12 or midway going through it.”
During his final high school season, Regier soaked in everything like it was a blessing.
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| Charlotte Wildeman won four high school provincial titles in pole vault. |
At the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association Track and Field Championships that ran June 5 to 6 at the Track and Field Track, Regier picked up a pair of silver medals. He took second in the senior boys’ pole vault with a vault of 4.15-metres and second in the 100-metre hurdles with a time of 13.93 seconds.
“I’ve got a
new appreciation for every time I get to compete,” said Regier, who stands
6-foot-1. “I’m pretty lucky I get to compete in these races, get the
opportunity and just enjoy myself while I’m doing it.
“It (the
injury) was really tough. All my life, I’ve been super active and losing that
part of myself I guess it was a year, but it felt like eternity. It is crazy to
think how much all these sports are a part of my life and how much I take for
granted the healthy body I have.”
In her final appearance at the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Track
and Field Championship, Wildeman claimed gold in the senior girls’ pole vault
and 80-metre hurdles and took home bronze in the long jump. At the SHSAA’s
Track and Field Championships, she captured silver in the senior girls’
80-metre hurdles in a time of 12.19 seconds.
Wildeman’s biggest highlight came when she took home gold in
the pole vault with a vault of 3.00 metres. That marked the fourth straight
year that Wildeman won a gold medal in pole vault at a Saskatchewan high school
provincial championship meet. The victory gave Wildeman a special conclusion to
her high school career.
“It came way faster than I expected,” said Wildeman, who stands 5-foot-5. “I have looked back on my four years, and it is just, it is insane.
“I’ve accomplished so much. I’m in awe of all that has happened and how fast it has gone.”
Regier enjoys how supportive everyone in Saskatoon’s track and field community is towards each other. He started in the sport taking part in track days in elementary school competing in middle distance running events, while growing up playing soccer.
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| Sam Regier runs the 100-metre hurdles at the SSSAD championships. |
He has enjoyed the atmosphere Saskatoon Track and Field Club head coach and Huskies assistant coach Ivan Tam has created with the team. Regier is aware that the atmosphere on the Huskies has been extremely positive too.
“It is an individual sport, but everyone, especially in Ivan’s group, everyone, they’re so lovely,” said Regier, who played for Aden Bowman’s volleyball program in all four of his high school years. “They take you in, and they’re so kind to you.
“It makes
practices that much more enjoyable.”
Wildeman
joined the Saskatoon Track and Field Club around the time when she was in Grade
6 and 7. Before taking up track and field, Wildeman had been a gymnast for the
longest time, and she took about a couple of years off from sports before
getting into track.
The
standout said the thing she likes the most about the track and field in Saskatoon
is the fact the community in the sport is so supportive. She is happy she will
continue to be part of a positive atmosphere with the Huskies.
“The
community is so awesome,” said Wildeman, who will turn 18-years-old before the
midway point of June. “It is just like as much as it is an individual sport
everyone is there for you.
“It is like
no matter where you are, what event you’re doing, there is always a team
cheering for you. As much as it is individual, that is definitely my favourite
part.”
In looking
towards the future, Regier said he is just going to enjoy being part of the
Huskies on a daily basis and will see if more doors open in the sport in the
future.
“I’d love
to continue all throughout my university years,” said Regier. “I’m super
excited to see what I can do, where I can go with this and what opportunities
it’ll have for me.”
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| Charlotte Wildeman runs the 80-metre hurdles at SHSAA provincials. |
“I want to
see what is in store for me,” said Wildeman. “Honestly, I don’t have a really
great answer for that question.
“I’d like
to take it as far as I can go.”
