Sports | DrumhellerMail

Kloot to battle for Lightweight amateur title

   A Drumheller mixed marshal arts fighter is only four bouts into his career and already is fighting for a belt.
   Readers of The Drumheller Mail are familiar with former resident Andrew Kloot’s rise in the sport of MMA. So far, he has a record of 4-0 and on Friday night, January 31, he will be fighting in Red Deer for the Havoc FC Lightweight Amateur title.
   “Not that many fighters get the opportunity to fight for an amateur title,” Kloot told The Mail. “Most fighters will stay amateur for three to five fights before going pro. I just got lucky because of my good record at the right time. The former champion is going pro so the belt is up for grabs and they offered me the fight.”
   He doesn’t take the opportunity for granted.
   “This fight is important to me because it’s every athletes dream to be crowned a champion,” he said. “It’s still amateur so hopefully I will move on to bigger things in my career, but at the moment this is my biggest opportunity and if I win, I will always have that belt to remind me that I was once a champion.”
   The event is called HavocFC4 and has a card with five amateur bouts and six pro fights. The featured event is the professional welterweight title.
   Kloot is facing another undefeated fighter, and expects a tough match with Josh Goodheart.
   “From what I have seen my opponent is a big guy. He normally fights at 165 pounds so I will have to look out for his strength and long reach,” said Kloot. “He has a very dangerous ground game so I will have to be mindful of that.”
   Kloot however brings power and a decent ground game. His goal is to go pro, and he is putting in the work to get there, training up to six days a week doing kickboxing, wrestling and jiu jitsu.
   “I feel like my gym, coach and training partners are what separates me from my opponent. I train at Champions Creed with some of the best fighters around. We have superb coaching and a great team who are always able to push me to the next level,” said Kloot.
   With four bouts under his belt, he has not had to go the distance, often scoring quick knockouts. He trusts that his coach will determine when it is the right time to go pro.
   On thing that spurs him on is the support he receives locally.
   “It means so much to have so many people interested in what I’m doing and cheering me on. So many great Drumheller businesses have been there for me when I needed sponsorship… Their support has really helped me get to where I am today.”

Swim club makes a big splash starting 2014

Despite the Aquaplex pool closure causing training difficulties, the Canadian Badlands Aquatic Club put in a sterling performance at the University of Calgary Swim Club’s Grand Prix last weekend,
   About seven different swim teams attend the January 17 to 19 event, which can have more than 40 kids competing in a category, says Head Coach Sheila Martin.
   18-year-old Austin Knibb won Gold in the 50m Butterfly, Silver in the 50m Backstroke, and Bronze in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly.
   Parker Knibb, 16, won Silver in the 50m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle, and Bronze in the 50m and 100m Backstroke.
   Emily Martin, 10, won 5th in the 50m Butterfly, 6th in the 200m Individual Medley, 8th in the 400m Freestyle, and 8th in the 200m Backstroke.
   Other participants swimming their best for the Grand Prix include Teagan Adamcewicz, Gillian Carey, Arielle Dobell, Annika Lassen, Keely Martin and Jazmin Russell.
   In addition, two of the clubs swimmers have qualified for the Short Course B Provincials (February 21 - 23) says Martin - Annika Lassen, 11, and Keely Martin, 13.           Martin said the club’s swim season goes to June, but those qualifying for the Provincials go to early July.
   Martin says it was difficult to practice without a pool in town.
   “The club had to travel to Three Hills to swim, and with the weather, we had to cancel a lot of those trips.”
   The coach said the club’s beginner and junior swimmers were able to use the pool at the Ramada during the Aquaplex closure.
   During that time, the club also did dry-land training Mondays at the Badlands Community Facility, run by coaches and a parent volunteer.
   Martin says the elite swimmers train six days a week - half the time in Drumheller, and half the time in Airdrie.
   The swimmers get a higher level of coaching in Airdrie, and it’s always good for them to swim with competitive swimmers who are at the same level, she explains.
   Up next for the club, says Martin - January 31 to February 2 is Alberta Senior Open Short Course in Calgary; a meet in Red Deer February 8 and 9 for Intermediate and Seniors, with six swimmers from Drumheller going, and the Juniors attend a Crazy Hat Meet in Calgary on February 8.

Alumni game line-ups announced

    On February 5, Montréal Canadien legends will be flying down the ice at Drumheller Memorial Arena. On Friday, a list of local players who will be on the ice was released.
   Habs alumni, which include Guy Lafleur as coach and other greats like Steve Shutt and Richard Sevigny will be playing in a charity game to raise funds for the Badlands Community Facility. Some childhood dreams are coming true, as 22 have signed up as Drumheller All-Stars.
   Jeremy Peters describes himself as more of a pond hockey player and followed in his brother’s footsteps cheering for Club de Hockey Canadien from day one. It is a thrill to share the ice with these players.
   “I was fortunate enough to watch them win the cup in 1993, I was only 12 years old so that was huge for me,” chuckles Peters. “Since then it has been pretty rough.”
   “It is going to be a lot of fun, and it will be cool to meet all those guys.”
   Mark Sheeler describes himself more as an original six fan, than a Montreal fan per se. In fact, playing across the ice from the Habs is fitting for him, and if he had to pick, he would have put on a blue and white sweater instead. Despite this, it is going to be the experience of lifetime.
“Guy Lafleur, and Steve Shutt, I grew up watching these guys,” said Sheeler.
   Sheeler did run into a bit of a snag, however. While he was practicing up for the game he suffered a broken wrist and will be riding the pine.
   While there are 22 facing the Canadiens alumni, three will stand with Habs. The Mail brought readers the story of Bob Scott fulfilling a dream to work the bench with Lafleur in the January 15 edition. He will be joined on the Alumni bench by skaters Paul Richard and Marcel Augey.
   Augey said his father introduced him to the Canadiens and he has become a diehard fan. This is an experience of a lifetime for him. He has met Lafleur once, and he is looking forward to playing for him next Wednesday.
   Members of the Habs Alumni confirmed for the game includes Richard Sévigny (goalie), Gilbert Delorme, Mathieu Dandenault, Rick Green, Pierre Dagenais, Normand Dupont, Jocelyn Lemieux, Stéphane Richer, Steve Shutt, Dan Daoust, and Guy Lafleur as coach. Local Canadiens include Marcel Augey, Paul Richard and Bob Scott.
   Drumheller All-Stars include Jeremy Willis, Gary Chambers, Mark Sheeler, Jeremy Peters, Kyle Suntjens, Rod Knelson, Rob Hegberg, Jason Hegberg, Laverne Bremer, Tony Pliva, Gary Chung, Donald Richard, Michael Richard, Jason James, Darren Toffan, Sheldon Straub, Shane Straub, Jason Brander, Denis St-Pierre, Darcy Schinnour, Ivo Dumancic (goalie) and Wayne Broad (goalie).
   Twelve local young hockey players will also have the opportunity to go on-ice against the Canadiens Alumni as thanks for the players and their parents for their support of the event by selling game tickets.

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