Countdown to the Games
Beach volleyball, fencing sending strong teams
One of the most endearing memories from the 2009 Canada Games for me personally was seeing the
beach volleyball tournament at Credit Union Place. Peter Bolo and the organizers did a fantastic job with
that event, and I can still recall the great vibe and the energy from around the courts. It was a fun place
to be, and although I was supposing to be helping out the organizers of the women’s soccer on the
adjacent field, I found a few excuses to go and watch a few sets of the beach every now and again!
The sport has really taken off globally in the last few years. It makes for great television, and the
competitors show tremendous skill and athleticism. I have to admit I was cynical about the sport when it
first came on the scene, but when you see the action close-up, it is easy to get hooked. At the last
Olympics it was one of the most popular sports on the schedule, and was one of the events I made an
extra special effort to follow.
Our Island teams are hopeful of a good showing this time. Our men’s team is packed with talent and
experience, with head coach Andrew Costa, himself a player in 2009 and an indoor volleyball stand-out
at UNB, overseeing the 6’2ft Kendal Steele and 6’6ft Alec Parise.
The guys have been together for the past two summers and have competed and trained hard, with
some notable results including winning the U21 Atlantic title in Parlee Beach last year, defeating several
of the Games training teams from around the Atlantic region. Kendal played basketball at the 2009
Games so he knows what to expect, and coach Costa is confident that his guys can manage a top-five
finish. They will be exciting and interesting to watch.
Our women’s team is a real family affair, as Sydney Foy and Taylor Walsh are cousins. Head coach Gina
Foy is Sydney’s mother (and Taylor’s Great Aunt), while Gina’s husband Morley is the team’s trainer and
videographer. Following? Good.
They train mostly in Gina’s front yard where they have a court set up, and the family ties and easy access
has seen them post some good results to date, with back to back wins recently in Summerside and
Halifax. The girls have played volleyball together since junior high, joining forces for beach last summer,
and like their male counterparts, coach Gina is shooting for a top-half finish.
I have no doubt that similar to four years ago, the beach event will be one of the most popular at the
Games.
A sport with a longer standing at Canada Games, but one which is making its summer debut having been
traditionally a winter Games sport, is fencing. The Island has a good tradition at the Games, with the
highlight coming in 2003 when Matthew Coe won a bronze medal.
The young team we are sending to Sherbrooke is more than compensated by the experience in the staff,
with Philip Stewart once again fulfilling head coach duties ably supported by Irene Enright and Lothar
Zimmerman, the grandfather of the sport on the Island. What these three don’t know about fencing
isn’t worth knowing. They have done an amazing job for the sport here.
The age group for the event is U20, and our team will be comparatively young, with the ages ranging
from 14-19, with most having been involved for about five years.
The competition is split into the three weapons, with Spencer McGregor and Kevin Cameron competing
in men’s épée, Steven McGrath and Sean Cordeiro participating in men’s sabre, Ben Triantafillou in foil,
and Shannon Roache in women’s epee.
Spencer McGregor leads the way in terms of experience and results, medalling in most of the Maritime
events, including gold just last week-end at the UNB Shield tournament.
Team goals are mostly centred around finishing ahead of the other Atlantic provinces, but the fencers
will certainly relish taking on competitors from further afield, and has been proved in the past, a
favourable draw, and a good run of early results, can lead to some good things happening.
Both beach volleyball and fencing will take place during week two of the Games.
Nick Murray is the Communications Officer for Sport PEI. He can be reached for comment at
[email protected]