Telkwa resident Trent Monkman was the only athlete from the Bulkley Valley to receive a bursary during the closing ceremonies of the B.C. Summer Games in Nanaimo in July.
“It was nerve racking going up on stage because there’s 3,000 people watching,” said Monkman who played beach volleyball in the Games. “I’m not good in front of a lot of people, but I didn’t have to say anything so it was okay.”
Monkman, along with 15 other athletes from B.C., received a Coast Capital Savings Athlete Bursary for their achievement in sport, education and leadership
“He stood out for me because he’s already been to the B.C. Games for basketball and now he’s emerging as a volleyball player,” said Moira Gookstetter, a director with the B.C. Games.
“He also helped out with the Steve Nash basketball program, so he was giving back and volunteering his time to the development of other athletes,” she added.
His mother Teresa noted that most of his volunteer hours come from scorekeeping, working the shot clock at basketball games or refereeing tournaments at the elementary school.
The 15-year-old said the $500 bursary will likely go toward his education fund and a new pair of basketball sneakers.
While he won three of six games and finished ninth overall, Monkman admitted volleyball wasn’t his first choice.
“I’m more of a basketball player, that’s my first choice for sports. But I was too old for basketball this year so I just thought might as well because I really enjoy volleyball,” he said.
“I’m probably going to try and play basketball a little further than volleyball.”