TSU, JAPAN – Canada Games gold medallists Gregor McNeil and Victoria Seal will lead a Canadian Cadet contingent to Japan for the 2017 Saori Cup and an international training camp.

McNeil, of Toronto, and Seal, from Mission, B.C., were also members of Team Canada at the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens.

A total of fourteen cadet athletes will represent Canada at the competition. Matches at the Saori Cup will take place on November 3 and 4, followed by a training camp from November 5 to 10. Competition takes place at the Sports Center of Tsu Saorina in Tsu, Japan.

Prior to competition, a joint practice will take place on November 3. Four-time Olympic medallist Saori Yoshida, 2016 Rio gold medallist Eri Tosaka, and 2012 London gold medallist Hitomi Obara will take part in the joint practice.

“It’s a privilege for WCL to be invited to this prestigious event. This is a great opportunity for our athletes and coaches to share in the Japanese culture and be exposed to a world-class daily training environment”, noted Leigh Vierling, High Performance Director.

Team selection was open to Cadet Trials and Canada Games gold and silver medallists. Canada’s team will also include 2017 Cadet World Championship team members Dechlan Papadopoulos and Nyla Burgess.

Full team list:

Men’s freestyle

40kg – Gregor McNeil
50kg – Dechlan Papadopoulos

Women

45kg – Ligaya Stinellis
50kg – Joclyn Bhatha
50kg – Tyleen Scaiano
53kg – Victoria Seal
53kg – Melissa Fryer
57kg – Aleah Nickel
60kg – Sofia Santoro
60kg – Jade Trolland
65kg – Ellise Daynes
65kg – Nyla Burgess
70kg – Amelia Frisbee

Coaching Staff:
Kimin Kim (Lead)
Frank Mensah
Ken Burgess