Over the next week, Spencer Bell will find out what it means to represent his country on an international stage.
The 16-year-old from Kelowna is member of Canada’s team competing at the Junior World Racquetball Championships, beginning this Saturday in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Bell, a Grade 11 student at Kelowna Christian School, was selected for both the boys U16 singles and doubles events, based on his performance at the Canadian Junior Racquetball Championships this spring in Kelowna.
Team B.C. head coach Richard Gauthier said the world championships will be positive learning experience for Bell.
“Playing at Junior Worlds is going to the impetus to bring his game to the next level,” said Gauthier, a racquetball pro and coach based in Kelowna. “His first foray on the world stage will be both a challenging and learning experience.
“He will come away from this world championships driven to train even harder and achieve his goal of becoming Canadian champion next April at the Canadian championships in Ontario.”
Bell has trained under Gauthier for the last four years, including the last four as a member of Team B.C.
Bell plays out of Global Fitness & Racquet Centre in Kelowna.
“Spencer has worked very hard to develop his speed on the racquetball court,” Gauthier said of Bell’s attributes on the court. “He understands court positioning very well and uses his positioning to his advantage.
"His agility and speed help him to move quickly around the court and to be able to make great dives to get those shots that would be impossible for others to return. His power on the court is evident in both his serves and his kill shots from the back of the court.”
Bell is also involved in many school activities at KCS, including performing in band and working on projects dealing with social issues. He will be going to India in 2017 to work on a community project with his school.