Sports ticker: Locals named to international rowing crews; Canada Cup wrestling; new Brock women’s volleyball coach; Merrittville Speedway; hockey coach needed
St. Catharines Rowing Club member Hailey Mercuri will represent Canada at the CanAmMex regatta July 8-14 in Mexico City.
Niagara rowers will be making their marks internationally this summer with several athletes being named to represent Canada at various events.
Named to Canada’s squad for the World Rowing Under 23 Championships July 25-29 in Poznan, Poland, are: Ridley Graduate Club member Morgan Rosts and St. Catharines Rowing Club cox Laura Court in the women’s eight; St. Catharines Rowing Club’s Dan de Groot, Brock University’s Luke Gadsdon and South Niagara Rowing Club’s Nicholas Tavares in the men’s eight; former Ridley rower Luc Broduer, now at the University of Victoria, in the men’s quad; and, Ridley Graduate Boat Club member Clark Schultz in the men’s four.
Chosen to compete for Canada at the World Rowing Junior Championships Aug. 8-12 in Racice, Czech Republic, are: Alexander Jastremski and Neil Kennedy from the South Niagara Rowing Club, and Mitchell Rodgers from the St. Catharines Rowing Club in the men’s coxed four; and, Emma Dockray from the St. Catharines Rowing Club in the women’s quad.
Selected for the U21 Trans-Tasman Series Aug. 23-25 in Karapiro, New Zealand, is St.Catharines Rowing Club’s Brenna Randall. Anna Maloney of the St. Catharines Rowing Club and Brock was named as a reserve and Greg Szybka, from Rowing Canada’s Brock Niagara hub, is on the coaching staff.
Chosen to represent Canada at the CanAmMex regatta July 8-14 in Mexico City are: Ridley College’s Nolan Biscaro; South Niagara Rowing Club’s Lauryn Bench and cox Riley O’Neill; and, St. Catharines Rowing Club’s Lauren Kelly, Peyton Learn and Hailey Mercuri.
Athletes were selected based performances at the national team trials in late June in London.
“We’re excited for the squad of athletes selected for racing opportunities this summer,” said Adam Parfitt, Rowing Canada’s director of coach and athlete pathways. “It’s a mix of returning champions and athletes new to international racing.
“Athletes went through a vigorous week of selection to earn their spots on this list and it’s our hope that future Olympians and World champions will emerge.”
CANADA CUP WRESTLING
Three Brock Wrestling Club members won gold medals at the Canada Cup international meet in Guelph.
Jessie MacDonald beat Russians Nadezhda Sokolova and Anzhelika Vetoshkina and China’s Jiang Zhu to capture gold in the 50-kilogram division.
“I was pretty excited when I saw my draw because I was hoping for the opportunity to wrestle them all,” Macdonald told Wrestling Canada’s website. “It’s definitely a privilege to get to wrestle them in Canada.”
MacDonald is a three-time medallist at the world championships and a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist.
“I think I wrestled well, I think I wrestled composed. I was patient and didn’t try force anything,” she said.
Jessica Brouillette defeated Chinese opponents Hongli Yan and Ying Zhang before winning gold in the 62-kilogram division with a pin against Uliana Tukurenova of Russia.
“It was nice to be able to wrestle different people close to home. They were really tough competitors, I had to be scrappy and fight a little bit more than I’m used to,” she said. “I haven’t won many international matches, so this will definitely be a confidence booster for me.”
Niagara Falls native Richard DesChatelets Jr. defeated Lester Calderon and Dalton Webb to win the 97-kilogram division.
Brock wrestlers winning silver were Jevon Balfour (74 kilograms), Diana Weicker (53 kilograms), Hannah Taylor (57 kilograms) and Skylar Grote (65 kilograms).
Placing third were Ligrit Sadiku (61 kilograms), Tyler Rowe (74 kilograms), Clayton Pye (92 kilograms) and Olivia Di Bacco (68 kilograms).
Other top six results by Brock wrestlers included: Kristina McLaren, fourth at 53 kilograms; Cruiz Manning, fourth at 74 kilograms; Alex Mother, fifth at 57 kilograms; Nick Rowe, fifth at 70 kilograms; Juwan Burgess, fifth at 86 kilograms; and, Samuel Jagas, sixth at 57 kilograms.
BROCK NAMES WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL COACH
Former pro and national beach volleyball team member Steve Delaney has been named the new head coach of the Brock women’s volleyball team.
Delaney, who guided the Halton Hurricanes to multiple provincial and national titles, is excited about his new job.
“I have to thank the Hurricanes because when I started coaching with them and got to work with some elite athletes, I really developed a passion. I didn’t want to just coach athletes, I wanted to develop a program,” he said. “I’ve done a three-year plan for Brock and the goal for me and for the team is to make the playoffs this year. I don’t know how hard it’s going to be because I haven’t been in the gym with the athletes, but we’re going to work hard regardless.”
Brock Sports director Neil Lumsden describes Delaney as a great choice.
“Steve has done some homework regarding our team and he believes we’re at a point where we can have success with the young women on the team as it is and some of the new recruits coming in,” he said.
Delaney, a Burlington native who runs Pinnacle Wellness, is looking forward to getting started with the Badgers players soon.
“I didn’t recruit any of these athletes, but what I know is they have a ton of potential,” he said.
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY
St. Catharines’ Mike Bowman captured his second consecutive S&W Service Centre 358 Modified Feature Saturday during Modern Corporation’s Summer BBQD Sizzler at Merrittville Speedway.
Dave Bailey of Hagersville and John Couture of Niagara Falls both won their second Hoosier Stock and Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre V6 Features of the season.
Niagara Falls resident Jeremy Cooper won his first ever feature in the Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Division while former champion Cody McPherson of St. Catharines won the David Chevrolet Sportsman Feature.
Defending Vansickle Pet Valu & Groomingdale’s Mod Lite Champion Brent Begolo recorded his fifth win of the season.
Below are the complete results:
S&W Service Centre 358 Modified Feature (35 laps): Mike Bowman, Chad Brachmann, Tim Jones, Gary Lindberg, Mat Williamson, Ryan Susice, Scott Wood, Pete Bicknell, Todd Gordon, Fred Carleton, Adam Leslie, Tom Neale, Tom Richau, Tom Flannigan.
David Chevrolet Sportsman Division Feature (25 laps): Cody McPherson, Dave DiPietro, Adam Leslie, Brent Begolo, Paul Gaboury, Rob Knapp, Ryan Ferri, Brad Rouse, Jordan Cosco, Jay Mallory, Greg Panunte, James Friesen, Justin Sharp, Robbie Johnstone, Trevor Wright, Dave Small, Darrell Farraway, Vince Fargnoli, Lee Mallory, Paul Cunningham, Luke Carleton, Chris Bellamy.
Hoosier Stock Division Feature (20 laps): Dave Bailey, Kyle Pelrine, Rob Murray, Dave Small, Jim Lampman, Brad Sheehan, Jason Fontaine, Barry Blanchard, Bill Podwinski, Ken Sargent, Tanner Podwinski, Robin Mortensen, Donny Lampman, Andrew Reece, Chris Schneider, Kathleen Lampman.
Vansickle Pet Valu & Groomingdale’s Modified Lite Division Feature (15 laps): Brent Begolo, Jeff May, Chris Watson, RJ Pietz, Randy Giroux, Chris Perry, Marty deMoel, Zach Trotter, Craig Martin, Ray Sliter Jr., Rob Misener, Dave Cornish, Josh Sliter, Tyler Winger.
Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder Division (15 laps): Jeremy Cooper, Jay Moulton, Tony Kelly, Cole Hardy, Olivier Larocque, Austyn Werstroh, Sam Iftody, Anthony Kelly, Dave Hoyle, Mike Giberson, Daniel McKay, Cameron Lane, Alex Riley, Cole Susice, Vincent Pagnotta.
Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6 Division Feature (12 laps): John Couture, Adam Plazek, Rick Phillips, Kyle Miller, Chris Mussat, Kevin Conley, Alana McDonald, Tom Cole, Jordan Fidler, Tina Ronning, Kenny Hair, J.J. McDonald.
HOCKEY COACH SOUGHT
The Niagara Falls Flyers major midget hockey team is looking for an assistant coach.
Interested coaches should have some experience at a competitive level, will teach and mentor. For more information, contact info Murray Lathem at 289 322-0779 or murraylathem@gmail.com.
