Sports
Valerie Wideski is a proud Steveston-London student, but she plays rugby for Hugh McRoberts.
Photo by Chung Chow
Richmond’s Valerie Wideski dominates on rugby field
Rarely does Richmond witness the development
of an athlete as accomplished as 18-year-old Valerie Wideski.
The Steveston-London senior is a powerful and
aggressive superstar on the rugby field.
Besides boasting an impressive collection of
rugby championships under her belt, Wideski is also
a member of the BC Women’s
Rugby 7s team, the U18 Bayside Rugby Club, and the McRoberts Senior Girls
rugby team.
She and her family immigrated from American Samoa
10 years ago. Since moving to Canada, Wideski has tried her hand at multiple
sports—soccer, track and field, football—but ultimately fell in love with
rugby.
Recently, Wideski was one of just 40 players
across the country to be invited to try out for the Canadian National Rugby
team. Although Rugby Canada has yet to release the final 23-woman roster,
Wideski hopes to receive a reply in the coming weeks.
The rugby standout had no initial intention
of attending tryouts because of the hefty $1,350 price tag.
Unable to afford the cost on her own, she and
her younger sister reached out to the community for help through a Go Fund Me
campaign.
Fortunately, Wideski was able to raise
$2,230, far surpassing her goal.
“It was crazy. I didn’t know what to think
when it happened,” admitted Wideski, “It was a week until the money was due. I
thought there was no way I was going to be able to make that much money in a
week.”
For life after high school, the budding
athlete is considering a rugby scholarship to Acadia University. She wants to
continue playing the sport at an elite level in hopes of achieving her long
term goal: playing in the Rugby World Cup with the Canadian National team.
When asked about what advice she would tell
aspiring female rugby athletes, Wideski said, “Give rugby a try. It’s totally
worth it. It’s helped me get through the difficulties in my life. Play like a
girl and you’ll be amazing.”
student2@richmondsentinel.ca
2 Hours of free financial consulting
Jai Xin Planning Ltd.
C$120.00 C$0.00
Use any of our home staging service and get a second month rental for free!
MiiX Interiors
C$500.00 C$0.00
Get 10% off any order
Phantom Screens Lower Mainland
C$200.00 C$180.00
