Williams Lake’s Kayla Moleschi was recognized for her outstanding athletic achievements — including winning a bronze medal in rugby with Canada’s Women’s Sevens team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil — at the Fan the Flame Awards Banquet and Gala in Prince George last week.
Moleschi was selected as the recipient of the Senior Female Rising Star Award out of a field of 19 athletes, which also included Williams Lake cross-country skier, Cole Turner.
Her mom, Andrea, her dad, Ron, along with Williams Lake Coun. Jason Ryll accepted the award on Moleschi’s behalf as she is currently away training in Langford with Canada’s women’s rugby team.
“Honoured to be nominated for this award amongst talented individuals, let alone to have won,” Moleschi said. “Thank you so much Engage Sport North [for hosting]. Thank you dad and mom for attending on my behalf. Love you both so much and couldn’t be where I am without your support.”
A member of Team Canada since 2012, Moleschi said in her athlete biography at the awards there have been so many people who inspired her along the way.
“Including my best friend who convinced me to try rugby in Grade 9, the rugby coaches in Williams Lake, Todd Pritchard and Morley Wilson, and the whole city of Williams Lake,” she said.
The awards also included a keynote speech from CBC Olympic host and sports broadcaster Scott Russell titled “Sport: The Universal Language.”
Engage Sport North is an organization dedicated to advancing sport participation and excellence in Northern B.C. It was founded in 1994 and provides sport participation and development programming to athletes, coaches and officials, and offers introduction to sporting opportunity and physical literacy skill development to children and adults of all ages and abilities.