McGill duo to compete for Canadian water polo team at Games in China
(LEFT TO RIGHT: Whitney Genoway, Jenna Crook)
MONTREAL - Whitney Genoway and Jenna Crook, a pair of McGill University students from Regina, are among 13 athletes selected by Water Polo Canada to compete for a CIS national team at the 26th Summer Universiade in August in Shenzhen, China.
Genoway, who will serve as team captain at the upcoming Games, has been a long time member of the national squad. She won gold at the 2003 world junior championship in Calgary and silver at both, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2009 FINA world championships in Rome.
Crook, a guard, was also a silver medalist at the 2009 worlds in Rome. She is a science senior at McGill.
No less than seven of the 13 players selected are returnees from the squad that finished fourth in 2009, when the sport made its Universiade debut in Serbia.
The veterans from 2009 include goaltender Serena Bredin of Winnipeg (University of Hawaii at Manoa), guards Jacqueline Kohli of Burnaby, B.C. (Indiana), Joannie Morisseau of Montreal (UQAM) and the aforementioned Crook, plus drivers Monika Eggens of Pitt Meadows, B.C. (Hawaii at Manoa) and Candice Phillippe of West Vancouver (Arizona State), as well as centre-forward Aicha Bouharira of Brossard, Que. (Rosemont College).
Rounding out the 2011 selection is goalie Marissa Janssens of Beaconsfield, Que. (Concordia), drivers Sophie Baron La Salle of Montreal (Rosemont College), Elise Martin of Calgary (Pacific) and Genoway, as well as centre-forwards Julie Bélanger of Montreal (University of Montreal) and Carmen Eggens of Pitt Meadows (Hawaii at Manoa).
Alyssa Birch of Calgary (California Baptist) has been chosen as an alternate.
"Team Canada is vying to bring home its first FISU medal after a fourth-place result in 2009," said Canadian head coach Heather Kaulbach, a former national team player who acted as assistant coach and team leader at the FISU Summer Games in Belgrade. "It will be a competitive event, with possibly five of the nine teams all capable of winning the banner."
Canada will compete in Pool A in the preliminary round against Great Britain (Aug. 12), Italy (Aug. 14), as well as defending champion and tournament host China (Aug. 16). The gold medal final is scheduled for Aug. 22.
The Chinese outscored the Canadians 16-7 in the 2009 semi-finals before defeating Hungary 12-8 in the championship match.
Pool B is made up of Russia, Australia, France, Mexico and the USA, the reigning FINA world champions. The Russians beat Canada 10-8 in the 2009 bronze medal game.
Rounding out Canada's personnel in China will be assistant coach Brooke Zimmerman and physiotherapist Catherine Lamothe.
Another Canadian will also be part of the women's water polo tournament in China as William MacKay, an international FINA referee, will make his second straight Universiade appearance.
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
Position Name School Hometown
Goalie Serena Bredin U of Hawaii at Manoa Winnipeg, Man.
Goalie Marissa Janssens Concordia Beaconsfield, Que.
2-metre guard Jenna Crook McGill Regina, Sask.
2-metre guard Jacqueline Kohli Indiana Burnaby, B.C.
2-metre guard Joannie Morisseau UQAM Montreal, Que.
Driver Sophie Baron La Salle Rosemont College Montreal, Que.
Driver Monika Eggens U of Hawaii at Manoa Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Driver Whitney Genoway McGill Regina, Sask.
Driver Elise Martin U of the Pacific Calgary, Alta.
Driver Candice Phillippe Arizona State West Vancouver, B.C.
Center forward Julie Bélanger Montreal Montreal, Que.
Center forward Aicha Bouharira Rosemont College Brossard, Que.
Center forward Carmen Eggens U of Hawaii at Manoa Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Alternate:
Utility Alyssa Birch California Baptist U Calgary, Alta.
STAFF
Position Name School Hometown
Head coach Heather Kaulbach Dalhousie U Halifax, N.S.
Assistant coach Brooke Zimmerman U of Calgary Regina, Sask.
Physiotherapist Catherine Lamothe U of Ottawa Gatineau, Que.
UNIVERSIADE POOLS & SCHEDULE:
Pool A: China, CANADA, Great Britain, Italy
Pool B: Russia, Australia, France, Mexico, USA
Aug. 12 Canada vs. Great Britain
Aug. 14 Canada vs. Italy
Aug. 16 Canada vs. China
Aug. 18 Quarter-finals
Aug. 20 Semi-finals
Aug. 22 Bronze & Final
About the Summer Universiade
The Summer Universiade, also known as the FISU Games, is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
SOURCE:
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