One Peace region athlete through to Youth Athlete of the Year quarterfinals

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — After a gruelling two months of competition, just one Peace region athlete continues in her quest to be featured in Sports Illustrated.

Dawson Creek competitive dancer Addison Webb has qualified for the quarterfinals in the race to be named Youth Athlete of the Year, an online contest powered by 3Brand and the magazine which benefits a pair of charities.

The top prize is $25,000 and the chance to be featured in a 3Brand advertisement in the magazine.

Webb has been leading her respective group since July, and the 2021 Dawson Creek Youth of the Year is “ecstatic” to still be in the running, according to her mom Paige Healey.

She said her daughter will distribute posters around the community next week to further her campaign.

“We cannot thank everyone enough for the amount of support that Addison has received and continues to receive,” said Healey. “This is a very exciting milestone for competitors and Addison feels very privileged to be one of the lucky ones to continue on.”

Meanwhile, Hudson’s Hope figure skater Stella Matchett, Fort St. John soccer player Bentley Hunt and Peace region native competitive cheerleader Bryce Needham fell short in their groups.

Matchett finished third, while Hunt and Needham came in fifth and fourth place in their groups respectively.

Needham’s mom, Jennipher Needham, posted to Facebook to say her son “had a really good run” and thanked supporters.

She did, however, express some disappointment because the cash prize “could have been a huge blessing for him and his future.”

The contest is benefitting two charities: the V Foundation, an organization dedicated to cancer research founded by former North Carolina State Wolfpack basketball coach, the late Jim Valvano and the Why Not You Foundation, a non-profit committed to benefitting impoverished children through education formed by National Football League (NFL) quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife, musician Ciara.

Those who finished second in their groups qualify for a special ‘wildcard round’ this weekend to determine more quarterfinalists, before the quarterfinals begin next week.

The contest will stall for a few days, while the wildcard round is decided, before voting restarts on Monday, September 8th. 

On Thursday, September 18th, the winner in each quarterfinal group will progress to the semifinals. 

More details about the Youth Athlete of the Year and how to vote for Addison are available on the competition’s website.