15 Athletes chosen to represent Canada

TORONTO (May 19, 2015) The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Wrestling Canada Lutte are pleased to announce the athletes nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 15 to 18 in Mississauga, ON. The roster was determined following the 2015 ASICS Canadian Wrestling Championships March 19-22, in St. Catharines, ON as well as the 2015 Senior Pan Am Championships in Santiago, Chile April 24 – 26. The Chile event represented the final chance to qualify for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.

The 15-member elite wrestling team is led by two-time Olympian Haislan Garcia. Garcia competed in his second consecutive Olympic Games at London 2012 and finished seventh in the men’s freestyle 66 kg division. Highlighting the women’s team is 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion, 2010 Youth Olympic Games Champion, 2014 World University Games World Champion, 2012 Senior World Championship silver medallist and two-time World Junior Champion, Dorothy Yeats in the 69kg division.

Additional team members for TORONTO 2015 include 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Korey Jarvis and Tamerlan Tagziev and 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Braxton Stone-Papadopoulos.

At the recent 2015 Pan Am Championships in Santiago, Chile, Pan Am Games’ Team Canada athletes achieved great results including gold for Geneviève Morrison and Justina Di Stasio, silver for Jevon Balfour and a bronze medal for Korey Jarvis.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will provide a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

QUOTES

“Thank you to Wrestling Canada Lutte for developing such a strong group of athletes. These athletes have been working very hard to be at their best and Canada looks forward to cheering them on in the stands as they compete for victory this summer in Toronto.” – Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“Congratulations to the impressive wrestling squad nominated to compete for Canada this summer. Wrestling requires athletes to have a real competitive edge and I have full confidence that this team truly reflects that attribute.” – Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“Our goal for this team is to win medals at TORONTO 2015 on our road to Rio. Canada won seven medals in Guadalajara including Carol Huynh’s gold medal. A strong TORONTO 2015 showing will be the ideal opportunity to set the stage for a strong 2016 Olympics.” – Tamara Medwidsky, Executive Director, Wrestling Canada Lutte

“I remember hearing about the Commonwealth and Pan Am Games when I was a junior and they looked like so much fun, I was so motivated to be a part of Team Canada and to one day participate in these events. There were ads for the Pan Am Games as early as two years ago on CBC and I knew I wanted to be there. I’m so happy to have qualified because these Games are a perfect mental and physical preparation for the Olympics next year. I will make sure to take in the whole experience.” – Dorothy Yeats, TORONTO 2015 Games Team Canada Athlete

“Congratulations to the wrestlers named today to represent Canada at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. During this Year of Sport in Canada, we look forward to being inspired by their performances as they wear the maple leaf on home soil.” – The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

The wrestling contingent who will represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Games include:

Athletes (Hometown):

Women 48 kg – Genevieve Morrison (Campbell’s Bay, QC)
Women 53 kg – Brianne Barry (London, ON)
Women 58 kg – Michelle Fazzari (Caledonia, ON)
Women 63 kg – Braxton Stone-Papadopoulos (Pickering, ON)
Women 69 kg – Dorothy Yeats (Montreal, QC)
Women 75 kg – Justina Di Stasio (Coquitlam, BC)

Men’s Freestyle 57 kg – John Pineda (Vancouver, BC)
Men’s Freestyle 65 kg – Haislan Garcia (Surrey, BC)
Men’s Freestyle 74 kg – Jevon Balfour (Brampton, ON)
Men’s Freestyle 86 kg – Tamerlan Tagziev (Toronto, ON)
Men’s Freestyle 125 kg – Korey Jarvis (Elliot Lake, ON)

Men’s Greco-Roman 59 kg – Dylan Williams (Mississauga, ON)
Men’s Greco-Roman 85 kg – Alex Brown-Theriault (Ottawa, ON)
Men’s Greco-Roman 98 kg – Jeremy Latour (Guelph, ON)
Men’s Greco-Roman 130 kg – Charles Thoms (Fredericton, NB)

Coaching Staff:

Women’s National Coach – Leigh Vierling (Calgary, AB)
Men’s National Coach – Gia Sissaouri (Montreal, QC)
Additional Coaching Support – David McKay (Vancouver, BC)
Additional Coaching Support – Marty Calder (St. Catharines, ON)
Additional Coaching Support – Doug Yeats (Montreal, QC)
Additional Coaching Support – Paul Ragusa (Hamilton, ON)
Additional Coaching Support – Kimin Kim (Toronto, ON)
Additional Coaching Support – Saeed Azarbayjani (St. Catharines, ON)

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Pan American Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations towards the end of June 2015.

http://press.olympic.ca/toronto2015-wrestling-team#

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For more information, please contact:

Wrestling Canada Lutte:
Patrick Kenny
Communications Officer
Email: [email protected]
613-295-7160

Canadian Olympic Committee:
Devin Heroux, Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-5020/ Cell: 416-788-6527
Email: [email protected]

Cherry Ye, Coordinator, Communications
Tel: 416-324-4123 / Cell: 416-427-4341
Email: [email protected]

Carl Vallée, Executive Director, Communications
Tel: 514 861-3702 / Cell: 514-755-1987
Email: [email protected]