Martensville youth Mikaylah Tolofson just got home from an experience of a life-time at the Canada Summer Games, as the 14-year-old was chosen to help represent Team Saskatchewan in Box Lacrosse.
The Canada Summer Games began on Saturday, August 6th and will run until Sunday, August 21st in Niagara, Ontario. Team Saskatchewan sent a total of 488 individuals to the Summer Games, which includes 377 athletes, 86 coaching staff members and 25 mission staff coming from 70 communities throughout the province to compete in 19 sports.
For Tolofson, who has been playing lacrosse for the past seven years, this was the largest scale competition she had ever participated in.
“It was a huge opportunity and I was so happy to be able to experience this. It was amazing getting to know my teammates and having this opportunity to show other young girls that they can also play if that is something they are interested in doing,” Tolofson said.
From the first moment she saw a Saskatchewan Rush game, Tolofson was hooked and began to navigate her way through the male dominated sport, taking part in camps that were offered within Saskatoon and area.
In order to gain a spot on Team Saskatchewan, Tolofson began tryouts in January and spent months travelling to different camps in communities throughout the province and being evaluated from various coaches; however, it was all worth it when the phone rang on Canada Day with the news that she had made the team.
“When my coach told me that I made the team, I got really quiet. She had to ask if I was still there. I was just so shocked that I had actually made the team.”
This year marked the first time that the Canada Summer Games had all-female teams competing in box lacrosse, and Team Saskatchewan was the only team to have an all-female coaching staff.
This was the first time that Tolofson has played on an all-female team, and more often than not, is the only female on her box lacrosse team. “I would love to see more young girls get involved in the sport to help it gain in popularity and maybe be able to see more all-female teams created. It is very limited locally, so this opportunity to meet my teammates and play alongside them was once in a lifetime for me.”
With plans to continue striving to move forward with lacrosse, Tolofson hopes to one day travel the world playing, but for now, has her goals set on making Team Saskatchewan again for the 2025 Canada Summer Games, which will take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Locally, Tolofson plans to try her hand at coaching by sharing her passion with an all-female 10U team in the next house league season.
“Playing lacrosse has taught me that you have to work hard for what you want and to believe in myself and I just want other young girls to know that it is possible. Just try your hardest and try out for every opportunity you can. You are stronger than you know.”
