The 2022 Canada Summer Games are getting started in the Niagara region on August 6, and there will be a full force of athletes from the Saskatchewan that will be competing in the two week event.

On Tuesday, Team Saskatchewan announced its full contingent of athletes that will be competing. 377 athletes, 86 coaching staff members, 25 mission staff from 70 different communities in the province will be representing Saskatchewan. The contingent of 488 participants is the largest group the province has ever sent to the games.

The flag bearer for the opening ceremonies was also announced. Angel Besskkaystarte of Wollaston Lake, who competes in wrestling will be leading Saskatchewan during the opening ceremonies.

Besskkaystarte moved to Prince Albert to attend school at St. Mary’s High School when she was 14. She was approached about joining the wrestling team and she fell in love with the sports and soon became the captain of the high school team.

Among Besskkaystarte’s achievement’s in wrestling includes a high school championship, a provincial championship and a gold medal in Greco-Roman style wrestling at the 2022 Canadian Wrestling championships in Calgary, and now she is looking to add to her trophy case at the Canada Summer Games.

Some of the athletes who have represented Saskatchewan in the past at the Canada Summer and Winter Games who have gone on to success as national, international and Olympic and Paralympic champion include Mark McMorris, Emily Clark, Rylan Weins, Shelby Newkirk, Kenzie Priddell, Jessica Frotten and Catriona LeMay Doan.

The 2022 Canada Summer Games will wrap up on August 21.