Success at Davis Cup and World Championships
Canada Advances to World Group at Davis Cup: On Sunday, team Canada defeated team Israel at the Davis Cup to advance to the World Group for the first time since 2004. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Canadian Tennis as only 16 of the 125 Davis Cup teams qualify to the World Group. After Peter Polanski of Thornhill lost his singles match Sunday morning, it was up to Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil to win the afternoon rubber match against Israel’s Amir Weintraub. Pospisil was up to the challenge, cruising to a 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 victory. Canada will face France in the World Group next February on home soil.
Wrestling the World: Canada won two medals at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships. Two-time Olympic medal winner Tonya Verbeek won silver in the 55 kg Freestyle while Jessica Macdonald took home bronze in the 51 Kg Freestyle. Both wrestlers are coached by Marty Calder.
Bowling Over the Competition: Canada’s Caroline Lagrange came away with a silver medal at the 2011 World Tenpin Bowling Championships. The Montreal native earned second place with a 24-game score of 5,687.
Great Day for Canadian Triathlon in Japan: Monday was a successful and encouraging day at the ITU triathlon World Championship Series for Canada’s Simon Whitfield and Brent McMahon. Whitfield, the two-time Olympic medallist, placed 4th, while 2004 Olympian McMahon placed 9th. The top 10 finishes for both Whitfield and McMahon move them one step closer to securing spots at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The turnaround seasons for both athletes have been remarkable. Whitfield did not have great competition results early on while McMahon was recovering from a serious knee injury. This weekend was certainly a testament to the hard work and dedication of both athletes.
JF Cussen appointed coach for National Slopestyle Ski Team: In a continued shift to the “new-school” of coaches, JF Cusson becomes the most recent coaching addition made by the National Freestyle Skiing Association. Cusson will coach the newly named National Slopestyle Ski Team. Cusson brings technical knowledge and experience as an accomplished athlete. Previously, Cusson was a member of the National Mogul Team and won the first X Games Big Air event in 1999. With his competitive attitude and passion for coaching, Cusson will be a great addition to the NFSA.
