ATHABASCA — Two local athletes are ramping up to put Athabasca on the international stage this fall as they prepare to represent Team Canada in the upcoming World Kickboxing Competition.
Terell Jonasson and Jamie Verville have never been to Greece, but the pair have their eyes on the prize in the weeks leading up to the late October global competition set to take place in Rhodes, on the tip of an island off the southern coast of Turkiye.
“It’s been very busy trying to prepare for the fundraising and all that stuff, but I’m so excited to compete,” said Verville. “I love it — I love being out there competing. Obviously, the nerves are going to come and go, but I’m working on that as we go along.”
Verville is a 29-year-old legal assistant who discovered for passion for the sport only seven months ago when she first started training with New Path MMA near the hamlet of Perryvale.
“I had a friend suggest it and it’s really close to me, so it was kind of perfect,” said Verville. “It’s meant to be in my life, so I’m glad that I found it, and now I come here almost every day.”
Verville will be competing on the international level for the first time in October, and the young woman has displayed a rare aptitude for the sport, according to coach and New Path co-owner Josh Kitchen.
“She’s drinking from the fire hose right now,” joked Kitchen. “It’s very odd to have someone so new going to the world stage so quickly. But certain people come into this and they excel and they rise to the level of coaching and their peers and other competitors in here.”
Jonasson, on the other hand, will be representing Team Canada for the second consecutive year. After placing in the 2023 event, he has his sights set on the top spot in the rankings.
“I got silver last year, so this year I want that gold, so just training hard and going to make this happen,” said Jonasson.
The 34-year-old Concrete Genius employee has a different history with the sport than his female counterpart, having found an outlet in the activity during a tough period in his life.
“I was going through some mental health and addiction struggles of my own, and then a friend introduced me to New Path MMA,” said Jonasson. “It really stuck with me and I became really passionate about it and I want to fight and represent mental health and the struggles.”
The pair are slated to compete for Team Canada from Oct. 20 to 26, and although they don’t know what the competition has in store for them in terms of schedules or number of fights, they’re focused on arriving in tip-top shape.
Enter fundraising
Verville, Jonasson, and the crew at New Path MMA are getting creative when it comes to raising funds for the trip. An online silent auction held at the end of July garnered $1,400 to go towards expenses, and the team is committed to raising as much as possible for the journey.
“The flights and getting there is just one aspect,” said Kitchen. “The time you have to spend (money on): training; vitamins; supplements; equipment; travel to the city to get extra training; this all costs lots of money.”
Between a GoFundMe, a family-friendly Fun Tournament at the New Path MMA gym on Sept. 28, and a second online silent auction, the team hopes to raise enough to get Verville and Jonasson to Greece comfortably, with enough funds to compete at peak performance.
“When you’re going in (the ring), all these small things matter: sleep, comfort, jet leg. They’re going in there,” said Kitchen. “This is a matter of milliseconds, when you’re getting punched and kicked. The more we can gather, the better chance we’re gonna have of success when we get there.”
In addition to the fundraising events, Verville and Jonasson are also seeking corporate sponsorships from any organizations looking to have their name and logo associated with Team Canada. Jonasson has also set up a bottle drive at the Blue Heron Bottle Depot in Athabasca — individuals looking to donate need only put their donations under New Path MMA.
Donations can also be made to the GoFundMe, or by purchasing decals or swag from New Path MMA. Cash contributions are also being accepted via e-transfer to [email protected], with the security answer as Athabasca.
