The University of Victoria will be well represented at the upcoming 2019 Pan American Games held Jul. 26-Aug. 11 in Lima, Peru. Eighteen former or current varsity student-athletes will represent Canada across four sports including field hockey, rugby 7s, rowing and swimming.
For Canada’s field hockey teams, a gold medal, and only a gold medal, will secure their spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. On the women’s side, 2008 Vikes national champions Danielle Hennig and Kaitlyn Williams, both heading to their third Pan American Games, will be the defensive anchors of a national team that has recently climbed the world rankings by three spots, up to No. 18. For midfielder Anna Mollenhauer, this will be her first multi-sport games and the 2018 U SPORTS MVP and national champion will be a key addition after recently being named the U23 Player of the Tournament at the FIH Hockey Series Final in June. The women’s team are looking to best their 2015 performance of a bronze medal and will play in a pool with Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay.
On the men’s side, a trio of Vikes will compete for Canada including James Kirkpatrick and Rio Olympians Keegan Pereira and Brenden Bissett. Canada’s men’s field hockey team, ranked No. 10 in the world, have met No. 4 Argentina in the last 11 Pan American finals, with Canada last pulling off an upset in 2007 to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games. The Canadian delegation of 477 athletes and 119 coaches will be led into the opening ceremonies by men’s field hockey captain Scott Tupper. Canada will play in a pool with Mexico, Peru and the USA.
Field hockey competition runs from Jul. 29-Aug. 10 at Centro Deportivo de Villa Maria del Triunfo.
Pam Buisa, who helped the Vikes to their inaugural Canada West 15s title in 2015, is the lone Vikes-connected athlete to be named to the Canadian women’s 7s roster. The Canadian women will be competing in their first competition since clinching Olympic qualification in mid-June when they finished the 2018-19 World Series in third place in the overall standings. The women will compete in a pool with Brazil, Peru and Mexico and will be looking to defend their gold medal from the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
In men’s rugby, a large slate of Vikes make up the roster including Sean Duke, Nathan Hirayama, Isaac Kay, Patrick Lake, Luke McCloskey and Brennig Prevost. The Canadian men are coming off a Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament where they secured their spot at the Tokyo Games after beating Jamaica in the final. The men are back-to-back Pan Am gold medallists and will face off against Argentina, Uruguay and Jamaica through pool play.
Rugby competition takes place from Jul. 26-28 at the Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo.
On the water Rowing Canada announced three Vikes among the eight crews that will compete in Lima. Following selections in Victoria in late June, the crews are made of next generation rowers as the Pan American games do not serve as an Olympic qualifier for Tokyo. Trish Mara will make her debut in the lightweight women’s single sculls, while Layla Balooch will race the women’s double with Toronto’s Shannon Kennedy.
On the men’s side Luc Brodeur will race the double sculls event with crew mate Graham Peters. Rowing competition takes place Jul. 26- Aug. 11 at Albufera Medio Mundo in Huacho.
For swimming, 2018-19 Vikes Female Athlete of the Year Danielle Hanus will be the only Vike in the pool. Last season Hanus set five school records, won three Canada West gold medals and won one gold, two silver and one bronze at the U SPORTS national championship.
Vike Jon McKay will also be representing Swimming Canada but not in the pool. Under the guidance of three-time Olympian and coach Ron Jacks, McKay made the switch to open water swimming after his career in the pool with the Vikes.
Hanus will compete in the pool at Villa Deportiva National – Videna, while McKay will race at Club Bujama Lacus.
On the staff side, Dr. Simon Pearson, who works closely with the varsity athletes at UVic, will be joining Canada’s athletics contingent as the teams’ chiropractor.
The Pan American Games begin on Jul. 26 with the opening ceremonies at Estadio Nacional del Peru and will conclude on Aug. 11.
Field Hockey (W)
Anna Mollenhauer
Dani Hennig
Kaitlyn Williams
Field Hockey (M)
James Kirkpatrick
Keegan Pereira
Brenden Bissett
Rugby 7s (W)
Pam Buisa
Rugby 7s (M)
Sean Duke
Nathan Hirayama
Isaac Kaay
Patrick Kay
Luke McCloskey
Brennig Prevost
Rowing (W)
Layla Balooch (Double)
Trish Mara (Lightweight Single)
Rowing (M)
Luc Brodeur (Double)
Swimming
Danielle Hanus
Swimming (Open Water)
Jon McKay
Staff
Dr. Simon Pearson, Team Chiropractor (Athletics)
