Local gymnast Isaiah Klassen will be the first person ever to represent Steinbach in trampolining at the 2019 Canada Games.

Following tryouts in both Winnipeg and Steinbach this past weekend, Klassen achieved his personal best.

“He did routines that were harder than he has ever done before, so that’s a big deal,” says his instructor, Amanda Pierson, after Sunday's round of tryouts at Clearspring Middle School.

Pierson says Manitoba’s trampoline team only has two available spots so this achievement is quite significant. “Isaiah was an alternate four years ago, but we decided to set our sites a little higher, and now this is the first time we have ever had someone from Steinbach make the team.”

Meanwhile, another of Pierson’s students, Pierce Barlow, performed well enough during tryouts to become the Canada Games alternate for trampolining.

Pierson comments: “I never ever thought I’d be coaching athletes at the level and abilities that these boys are at. They are so amazing and have such amazing work ethics. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Beyond gaining these Canada Game placements, Pierson says the fact that Steinbach was able to host part of this year’s tryouts is also a victory. She explains: “Up until this year, we did not have a regulation-sized trampoline so it's amazing the boys have been able to do what they are able to do. However, last April we ordered the equipment that was needed and this gave us the opportunity to actually host the competition.” 

The next step for both boys will be maintaining their training habits, about 17 hours per week, so they can continue developing their skills. Pierson says she is excited to see where their futures in gymnastics take them.

Isaiah Klassen will be taking part in the trampoline events at the Canada Games