Going for Gold! Simeon Bakanec’s success on the ice
By Joan Janzen
Simeon Bakanec from Kerrobert enjoys figure skating as a fun activity and has also earned numerous awards. Simeon recalls his mom enrolling him in figure skating when he was six. “I was playing hockey before, and halfway through the season, my mom enrolled me in figure skating, and I liked it,” he said.
Fast forward to 2021, and you’ll hear his home club in Kindersley congratulating 12-year-old Simeon on a great skate on November 5th at the Skate Saskatchewan Sectional Championships. Simeon won Gold in the Pre-Juvenile Men’s Under 13 and the Saskatchewan Series Award for his level. The skater’s top two scores from the Saskatchewan Series event will be their overall score and will rank them against other skaters at their level from Saskatchewan through July through to the Sectionals Championships in November.
Not only does Simeon skate with the Kindersley club, but also skates with Skate Saskatoon Club. “Usually when I’m skating in Saskatoon, we’ll leave for Saskatoon around 11, and I’ll skate from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Then we still have time to go home, eat and go to hockey at 6:30 p.m.,” Simeon says nonchalantly as if this is a typical day for any 12-year-old.
And yes, he also plays hockey for the Kindersley Under 13 Full Tilt Thrashers, where he was recently voted Captain of the team. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing without my parents,” Simeon said. “We farm, and my dad takes me to hockey, and my sister takes me to figure skating. Worse comes to worse, my brother can give me a ride.” Simeon has four siblings, and “I am the middle child,” he added.
Simeon has also acquired additional wins this season, including Gold at the Saskatchewan Virtual Cup and Gold in October at Sask. Skate Competition. Due to Simeon’s hard work and dedication, this is the second year that he has met the criteria to be a member of the Skate Saskatchewan Development Team. Targeted athletes for the Development Team are enthusiastic Pre-Juvenile and Juvenile skaters who desire to develop their technical and performance skills with the goal of advancing on the competitive pathway. Selection to the team is based on an overall assessment of quality elements, skating and performance skills.
“I definitely would not be where I am without my coaches,” Simeon said. Those coaches include Bev Callsen from Kindersley and Neil Tymoruski from Saskatoon. Amber Wildman is his coach for pairs, since
Simeon and his cousin Eliana have been working on learning pairs skating together.
“It started two years ago,” he explained. “She lives about 20 yards from me on the same farm so it was easy to practice together during Covid.” Eliana is a year and a half younger than her cousin.
How does Simeon have time for school work? “I’m homeschooled,” he explained, which allows him more flexibility. “I have a schedule because I have a lot of school work to do. I get on the computer at 9:00, and I do my science, math, English and history, and finish around noon each day.”
When he’s not doing schoolwork, or on the ice, Simeon helps out on the farm. “On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have a two-hour window to work on the farm, so I usually work as much as I can,” he said. “And I work on the farm on Fridays, depending on the weather. I run a little tractor and have been helping fix the road in our yard. My grandpa pays me.”
Bev Callsen described Simeon as kind-hearted, someone who treats his fellow skaters and teammates with kindness and respect. She also noted he has a positive attitude and works hard to achieve his goals. It’s apparent that Simeon exhibits those attributes, whether he’s on the ice or at home helping out or doing school work.
The Kindersley Skating Club is proud of Simeon’s accomplishments and looks forward to being part of Simeon’s skating journey.
