Several University of Western Ontario athletes – both current and former – are representing Canada at the 2011 Pan/Para Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Running until Oct. 30, the 2011 Pan/Para Pan American Games welcome athletes from across the Americas to participate in an international celebration of friendship and sports. The games are held every four years, the year prior to the Olympic Games. The Canadian team is comprised of approximately 493 athletes competing in 36 sports against 42 different nations.
Western’s connections include:
Alexandra Bruce – Badminton
Alexandra Bruce is a social science graduate. In 2010, Bruce brought home a national gold medal in doubles badminton with Jenn Lam. In the same year, Bruce was the recipient of the Durch Decker Trophy for Most Valuable Player.
Peter McClelland – Rowing
Peter McClelland studied kinesiology. In 2005, McClelland won Silver at the OUA Rowing Championships. In 2008, he was awarded the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy (for Most Valuable Player) for Rowing. He was also the recipient of the Duncan McLaren Award for Exceptional Contributions in Rowing.
Steven Takahashi – Wrestling
Steven Takahashi has a distinguished wrestling career and is a current student. He was the recipient of the OUA Rookie of the Year Award and Most Valuable Player Award for 2011, and won the CIS Gold Medal for wrestling in the same year. He won the prestigious Keegan Trophy as the top wrestler in the Ontario Wrestling Tournament, the first Mustang to win the award since Grant Myers in 1990. His father, Ray Takahashi (current head coach of Mustangs wrestling), won the Keegan Trophy in 1978.
Conor Trainor – Rugby
Conor Trainor is currently a fourth-year civil and environmental engineering student. This September, Trainor represented Canada at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand where the Canadians held rank with Tonga, France, Japan and New Zealand.
Jake Armstrong – Swimming
Jake Armstrong is an avid swimmer with a great deal of recognition at Western. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Most Improved Swimmer Award. In 2011, he earned top place in the 50m breaststroke at the OUA Finals.
Reid Halpenny – Volleyball
Reid Halpenny studied civil engineering, and was the recipient of the Honorable Howard G. Ferguson Award (recognizing a student who has shown the highest career achievement in athletics, scholarship and university life). With fellow civil engineering students, Reid designed a road bridge that won first place in the Western Design Competition and second place in the 2011 City of London Design Competition.
Stephanie Edmison – Squash
Stephanie Edmison studied economics. In 2009, Edmison was awarded the Purple Blanket (awarded to student athletes who have achieved superior distinction at the provincial and/or national level). In the same year, she was named the OUA Women’s Squash player of the year. Edmison has already medaled at the 2011 Pan-Ams, claiming bronze in the doubles event and will be playing in the women’s team gold medal match on Friday.
Jacqueline Rennebohm – Para Pan-Am swimming and track
Jacqueline Rennebohm studies environmetal health and competes as a visually impaired athlete. In 2008, Rennebohm competed at the Para-Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In 2010, Rennebohm was awarded the Silver Medal at the Senior National Track and Field Championships in Toronto.
For full details on the 2011 Pan/Para Pan American Games, including profiles and schedule information for Mustangs athletes, visit the official website.