Kinesiology students are heading to Ontario this week for national competition
A group of students in VIU’s Kinesiology program are heading to Ontario this week to showcase their skills on the national stage.
Hosted annually by the Canadian Kinesiology Students’ Association, the Kinesiology Games (Kin Games) challenge post-secondary kinesiology students to showcase their knowledge, teamwork and creativity across four competition pillars: athletics, academics, dance and spirit.
This is the second year in a row that VIU will be participating in the event, which takes place at Laurentian University from March 18 to 22.
The team features three captains: Zoey Crispens leads spirit, Reese Horne directs dance and Davin Ralla manages athletics and academics.
The team has been preparing since October and meets several times a week, including some weekends, with guidance from event organizers.
For athletics, the team has been training in sports like Kho Kho and flag football, which “push us to work together in new ways,” says Zoey. Dance is another big focus, “especially for those of us who aren’t natural dancers.”
The academic portion of the conference also requires the team to prepare a grant proposal and presentation, which Davin and a few teammates will present to the judges. This gives teams an opportunity to gain conference presentation experience while fostering collaboration between lower- and upper-year students on shared research. Motivated by their coursework which highlighted accessibility challenges in Canada, VIU's presentation will focus on the impact of adapted snow sports on quality of life among adults with physical impairments.
The spirit pillar is Zoey’s personal favourite. “As veterans, it’s fun showing the rookies the traditions, chants and other ways we celebrate what we stand for.”
Zoey says the Kin Games is about creating connections with one another.
“Last year, everything felt so overwhelming since it was our first year,” she says. “We were so focused on competing that we didn’t take the time to really trust each other or enjoy the journey. That experience taught me how important trust and connection are within a team.”
This year, she and her fellow captains have made team bonding a top priority.
“Leadership, to me, is about creating an environment where everyone feels confident, supported and motivated to be their best,” says Zoey. “What makes this experience so meaningful is watching our team grow together and push past limits they once doubted.”
This year’s KIN Games is also the 25th anniversary of the event and Zoey says she and her team are proud to be a part of it. “The Kin Games ‘KINmunity’ feels like something truly special. To be re-welcomed into it during such a milestone year is an honour.”
For Zoey, who is in her final year and preparing to graduate this spring, the event also carries special significance and reflection.
“I hope the way we showed up for each other continues to live on within the team,” she says. “Bringing VIU back to compete on the national stage is something I feel incredibly proud of. More than anything, I hope we’ve added even a small piece to the legacy that the Kin Games has been building for 25 years.”
As the team heads to Sudbury, Zoey is looking forward to watching everyone embrace the experience together: “Improving in every pillar is important, but seeing how proud I am of this group is already a win.”
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