Youths

Lavanna Laass (2016)

Judo

Laass, who developed her skills at the Hart Judo Academy under the instruction of Prince George Sports Hall of Fame member Bruce Kamstra, is one of the top young judokas in the country. This season, at the age of 18, she won silver and bronze medals at the Quebec Open in Montreal – silver in the U-21 under-63-kilogram class and bronze in senior women's category.

In 2015, Laass was part of Team B.C. for the Canada Winter Games and, with a home crowd cheering her on, battled to a silver medal in the 63kg division. She also secured silver at the 2014 junior/youth national championships.

Laass is now living and training in Lethbridge but found time to attend competitions in Portland, Germany and Scotland in March.