The 2012 BC Summer Games came to a close on Sunday, after the final medals were awarded. The athletes were then sent home, having had an experience many of them will remember as one of the most important in their lives.

Fraser Valley Zone 3, of which Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge are a part, earned a total of 148 medals – 56 gold, 49 silver, and 43 bronze medals.

The girls fastpitch team took the win against Vancouver Island-Central Coast in the gold-medal game 7-0.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a team that was so focused as... They were phenomenal. They’re team players, every one of them,” said coach Mona Anglin.

Fraser Valley girls soccer also won gold, after defeating the Vancouver-Squamish team. The final went to a shoot out. Reegan Wanders was the only soccer player representing Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on the girls soccer team.

Pitt Meadows’ Reid Muller and Maple Ridge’s Zachary Hetherington, along with their teammates Jake Hanna and Dean Ellenwoodbroke, ran the 4 X 400-metre relay in 3:35.78 capturing the gold.

Muller also earned a gold in the 1,200-metre and a silver in the 800-metre races.

Hetherington placed fourth in the 300 metre and 11th in the 200 metre.

Maple Ridge’s Natalie Auersperg won a bronze medal in the girls 300-metre race, crossing the line at 42.41 seconds. She also earned fifth place in the 100 metre.

Local equestrian Hannah Beaulieu, riding her horse Pharoah, won three individual golds and three team golds.

“As for winning three gold individual medals, I am very happy. My horse was so honest for me and he and I tried our hardest and it obviously paid off,” said Beaulieu.

“These Games saw a number of records fall as B.C.’s best came together,” said BC Games president and CEO Kelly Mann. “That shows that B.C.’s investment in sport is paying off. We are seeing an escalation in skills in several sports, and many of the young people who competed here are well on their way to becoming provincial level athletes.”

“I firmly believe that many of the stars produced by these Summer Games in Surrey will one day compete for our country.”

Many more local athletes participated in the Summer Games, however not all of the results were available on the official website as of yet. Visit www.bcgames.org.