Your who's who of York Region Pan Am athletes

YorkRegion.com
July 3, 2015
By Rachel Levy-McLaughlin

Who will you be cheering for during the Pan Am Games?

Yes, we will cheer for athletes from Canada.

But you might also be surprised by the wealth of talented athletes from right here in York Region who will be competing in the Games, that are only days away.

Here’s a list of York Region athletes to watch for, at the opening ceremonies and during competition:

• Tesca Andrew-Wasylik of Unionville is on the women’s volleyball team. Their tournament starts Thursday, July 16 in a game vs. the Dominican Republic at the Exhibition Centre, 100 Princes Blvd. in downtown Toronto, near the Ex. If they go all the way, the gold medal match will be Saturday, July 25.

• Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter from Richmond Hill take to the sand in men’s beach volleyball, at the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre, 200 Princes Blvd. in Toronto. Their first match is July 14 vs. Nicaragua. The gold medal match is Tuesday, July 21.

• Pete Orr from Newmarket takes to the field with Canada’s men’s baseball team at President’s Choice Ajax Pan Am Ballpark in Ajax. Their first preliminary game is Saturday, July 11 vs. the Dominican Republic. They play Colombia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States in the ensuing days, with the hopes of making it to one of the medal games, to be played Sunday, July 19.

• Belinda Trussell of Stouffville won’t be horsing around when she takes part in the dressage, equestrian competition at the OLG Pan Am Equestrian Park in Caledon. Competition starts July 11 in dressage with the finals July 14.

• Eric Lamaze of Schomberg will also ride at the equestrian venue in Caledon in horse jumping starting July 21 with team finals July 23 and individual finals July 25.

• Maxime Brinck-Croteau of Markham hopes to make a point at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House on Morningside Avenue in Scarborough (Toronto) in a full day of competition July 21.

• Paul Koert of Stouffville will be on the men’s softball team beginning play in Ajax on July 12 against Mexico. The Canadians will also meet the U.S., Argentina, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela in their quest to make the semi-finals. The bronze and gold medal games take place Saturday, July 18.

• Peter Polansky of Thornhill takes to the court at the Canada Tennis Centre, 1 Shoreham Dr. near York University, in men’s singles with matches starting Friday, July 10. The medal matches take place Wednesday, July 15.

• Several York Region athletes will take part in rhythmic gymnastics, with Maya Kojevnikov of Richmond Hill and Anjelika and Victoria Reznik of Vaughan part of Team Canada in the group competitions and Patricia Bezzoubenko of Thornhill and Carmen Whelan (pictured) of Aurora in the solo competitions, taking place at the Toronto Coliseum, 100 Princes Blvd., in downtown Toronto. Group qualifications start July 17 with the finals July 20. Solo qualifications start July 17  with the finals in hoop and ball July 19 and in clubs and ribbon July 20.

• In karate, several York Region athletes will try to chop their way to the top at the Mississauga Sports Centre, including twins Leivin and Leirick Chung (pictured) of Richmond Hill, and Daniel Gaysinsky of Vaughan. Competition takes place July 23 and 24.

• In track cycling, Ed Veal of Queensville will wheel his way around the Cisco Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome in Milton. Competition runs July 16 to 19.

• Lisa Sanders of Gormley will dive in at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House pool in Scarborough in synchronized swimming July 9 and 11.

• In badminton, Markham’s Michelle Li will play on home court at the Atos Markham Pan Am/Parapan Am Centre, 16 Main St., Unionville. Play starts Saturday, July 11 with the finals on Thursday, July 16.

• A large York Region contingent bounces its way into the Games in the trampoline competitions. Rosannagh MacLennan (picture, at right) of King City, Karen Cockburn (pictured, left) of Stouffville, Jason Burnett of Nobleton and Samantha Sendel of Aurora, will compete at the downtown Toronto Coliseum, 100 Princes Blvd. in Toronto. Competition is July 18 and 19.

• Shannon Westlake hopes to hit the target in shooting, taking place at the Pan Am Shooting Centre in Innisfil, just south of Barrie. Competitions include air pistol, trap, sport pistol, rifle and skeet. Competition runs July 12 to 18.

• A strong contingent of athletes takes to the track at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium at York University. Phylicia George of Markham will run in the women’s 100m hurdles. Shaina Harrison of Aurora will be in the women’s 4x100m relay. Sarah Wells of Unionville races in the 400m hurdles. Last but not least, emerging track superstar Andre De Grasse (pictured) of Markham is set to run in the 100m and 200m. Hurdles takes place July 21 and 22. The 4x100m relay will be July 25 and 25. The 100m goes July 21 and 22. The 200m hits the track July 23 and 24.

Meanwhile, if you want to stick close to home, the Pan Am Centre in Markham is host to badminton, table tennis and water polo, with the very first competitions of the Toronto 2015 Pan Games set to start Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. in Markham with water polo’s start.

There’s also golf at Angus Glen, the other York Region venue for the Pan Ams.