Trio of Peace region athletes progress in Sports Illustrated’s ‘Athlete of the Year’ contest

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Young athletes from the Peace region have advanced to the next round of an online contest with a chance to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated on the line.

The Youth Athlete of the Year is an online contest where voters determine who goes through to the next round. The winner will receive $25,000 cash and be featured in a 3Brand advertisement in the magazine.

Both Dawson Creek’s Addison Webb and Fort St. John’s Bentley Hunt cracked the top 10 of their respective groups on August 21st, while a Hudson’s Hope figure skater, Stella Matchett, is holding third place in her group.

Matchett recently won Youth Volunteer of the Year with the District of Hudson’s Hope.

Webb’s mom Paige Healey is enthusiastic about her daughter’s chances, with the 12-year-old tirelessly preparing for the upcoming dance season.

“We are blown away by the amazing amount of love and support that Addison has received to continue this far in the competition,” said Healey. “Please keep Addison in your thoughts and continue to vote and support [her].”

Webb, the 2021 Dawson Creek Youth of the Year, has held the top spot of her group since July, while Hunt, a Fort St. John Soccer Club player, finished eighth in his group in the last round.

Votes are now being cast to send the top five in each group to the next round of the competition. 

The contest is to benefit two charities: The V Foundation, dedicated to cancer research, and the Why Not You Foundation, dedicated to empowering impoverished youth through education.

Voters online have until Thursday, August 28th at 7 p.m. local time to register their vote. To vote or for more information, visit the contest’s website.