Canada Games Beach Qualifying
Who will represent Ontario on the beach at this summer’s Canada Games? Last weekend’s tournament has shown us, there is no easy answer.
Twelve of the top women’s beach athletes participated in the first official Canada Games qualifying event. Last weekend’s tournament was an opportunity to play with their new partners and battle for the seedings in this weekend’s final selection tournament. The winners will earn the privilege of representing Ontario at the Canada Summer Games in PEI.
Caleigh Whitaker and Diane Burrows looked as though they had been playing together for years as they tore through their pool and seemed unstoppable in the playoffs. They won the right to be ranked #1 going into this weekend’s final event after beating Melissa Humaña-Paredes and Victoria Altomare in two games. Humaña-Paredes/Altomare had the match of the weekend in their semi-final against Kate Eckert and Rebecaa Crozier. They won the first set 21-18 then dropped the second 21-16 to Eckert/Crozier. Both teams battled in the third set, but Humaña-Paredes/Altomare experience as a team proved to be the key factor as they finished the match winning15-12.
After just one round of competition, a lot is still up in the air as all six teams prepare to compete this weekend. Pool play takes place on Saturday with the single elimination playoff being held on Sunday, when the Provincial Team Rosters will also be announced. Coaches Laura Inward and Jason Hubbard have some tough choices ahead of them, as Ontario has no shortage of depth when it comes to our beach athletes.
On the men’s side, five out of the six male hopefuls participated in the Men’s Elite OVA tournament June 6 at Ashbridges Bay. Reid Hall teamed up with Adam Podstawka, Cam Wheelan with Steve Kung, and Eric Simon partnered with OVA veteran David Holmes. National Team member Sam Schachter was unable to participate because of a shoulder injury. He hopes to be healthy enough to compete this coming weekend.
Simon-Holmes had a good showing but were eliminated after a tough third set loss to Moser-Benn 15-13 in the quarter finals. Wheelan-Kung were flying high all day but also lost in the quarters when they faced the talented team of Hauser-Redmann. Anton Hauser won the first OVA event with Matt Fugard while Christian Redmann is just back from his 17th place finish, in Poland on the FIVB World Tour with Rich Van Huizen.
Hall-Podstawka had the best day out of the Team Ontario hopefuls, as they beat Moser-Benn in the semi-final to advance to the finals against Hauser-Redmann. They battled for every point as both teams found a way to win a set, leading to an exciting third and final set. Hall continued to serve tough and Podstawka was making plays at the net, but the international experience of Hauser-Redmann came into play as they pulled ahead to win the third, 17-15.
JT
