Judo action at the playdowns on Saturday at the Moose Jaw Koseikan Judo Club.

Athletes from the Moose Jaw Koseikan and Pense Judo Clubs will make up the Southwest District team for next month’s Saskatchewan Winter Games in Prince Albert.

Playdowns were held here in Moose Jaw on Saturday to decide the team, which is looking very strong.

“There was a lot of good competition out there, so I think we’re going to have a really good team this year,” said Garth Rivers, male coach for Team Southwest.  “It’s good to see that we have a good crop coming and it will be really good and fun to workout with these guys.”

The athletes are from the 1999-to-2003 age groups and will be headed to Prince Albert next month.  They include 11-year-old Nikola Orescanin and 12-year-old Damien Wiens from the local Moose Jaw Club.

“I just want to fight my hardest,” said Orescanin after qualifying on Saturday.  “I want to be able to say that I tried my hardest.”

Wiens is looking forward to taking part in the event in mid-February and is also just hoping to put together a strong performance.

“I’m really excited,” said Wiens.  “I’m just going to try my hardest and make my team happy.”

That’s all that the coaching staff is looking for in the athletes as they compete in the mini-Olympics here in our province.

“We just want to see their athleticism; their will, like they’re not giving up, they keep fighting right until the end no matter what; and good sportsmenship,” said Rivers.  “Basically were looking for heart, and there’s lots of skill out there too.”

Rivers and Nancy Filteau will serve as coaches for the Southwest District during the event next month.  Rivers is a second degree black belt that has medaled at nationals, while Filteau is a former Olympian in judo from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

“I did the 2010 games and I had so much fun, it was a great experience and these athletes coming up are going to have a wonderful experience with it,” said Rivers.

Going into the games, Rivers said their biggest challenge will be going against the bigger centres like Regina and Saskatoon.

“If we keep close knit and work hard, I think we can do very well,” said Rivers.

The team will be getting together before the games to train together.

“There’s a pep rally for the Southwest coming up and we’re going to try to do a training right before the pep rally,” said Rivers.  “Hopefully we can try to sneak another one in right before the games.”

The 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games run February 16th to 22nd in Prince Albert.