Canada’s Lima 2019 bowling team announced
TORONTO (April 9, 2019) – The Canadian Tenpin Federation and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s bowling team nominated to compete at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.
The athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances at the 2017 World Games, 2018 Pabcon Champion of Champions and the 2018 World Men’s Championships.
Daniel MacLelland, 34, joined the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour in 2009 and won two regional titles. The Windsor, Ontario, native has bowled for 30 years, carries a 245 average and has rolled more than 65 perfect 300 games and more than 40 series of 800 or better. MacLelland recently earned five medals at the World Men’s Championships in Hong Kong including two silvers and three bronze. In 2018, he was named Bowler of the Year by the Canadian Tenpin Federation.
The 26-year-old François Lavoie from Quebec City has been a member of the Canadian Men’s Team since 2013 and previously was a Youth Canadian National Champion in 2009 and 2012. Nicknamed Frankie, Lavoie is in his third year on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). Titles include the 2016 US Open and the 2016 Rookie of the Year. In 2017, Lavoie was part of the gold in men’s doubles at World Games and the World Championships Masters Event and most recently part of the successful showing at the 2018 World Championships that earned the team a silver medal.
“I’m glad to be given the chance to compete for Canada once again, and I’m especially excited to continue building on the legacy that Dan and I have created together,” said Lavoie.
Valerie Bercier, 28, hails from Brampton, Ontario and has bowled for 25 years. She is a 10-time Team Canada member, including three years on the Youth Team. Bercier’s most recent achievement was a silver medal in singles and a bronze medal in All-Events at the Champion of Champions in Brazil in 2018. She was the reigning Canadian Champion in 2017 with an impressive silver in 2018.
Miranda Panas, 24, is from St. Catharines, Ontario, Panas has won several medals as a youth and adult team member and was named Bowler of the Year in 2018 by the Canadian Tenpin Federation. Panas teamed up with Bercier at the 2017 World Games in Poland, posting impressive results as a rookie. Panas played an integral part of the team competing at the 2018 Pabcon Championships where Canada qualified for Pan American Games.
“I’m always incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent my country on the international stage,” said Team Canada athlete Miranda Panas. “I’m especially honoured to be selected for this event because it only comes once every four years and it’s currently the closest thing we have to the Olympics for bowling. I couldn’t be more ready and excited to put in the hard work it takes to compete at the Pan American Games.”
Canada has won four gold, three silver and six bronze medals since bowling was introduced at the Pan American Games in 1991. At TORONTO 2015, Dan MacLelland and François Lavoie won gold in men’s doubles and MacLelland won a bronze in singles.
Bowling will take place July 25 – July 30 at the VIDENA in Lima, Peru.
The athletes and coach nominated are:
1. Valerie Bercier (Brampton, ON) – Women’s Individual/Double
2. François Lavoie (Quebec City, QC) – Men’s Individual/Double
3. Daniel MacLelland (Windsor, ON) – Men’s Individual/Double
4. Miranda Panas (St. Catharine’s, ON) – Women’s Individual/Double
1. David Poupart (Châteauguay, QC) – National Coach
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the COC’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations in late June 2019.
Lima 2019, which will run from July 26 to August 11, will bring together approximately 6,700 athletes from 41 nations of the Americas and feature 62 disciplines in 39 sports. It will be the largest sporting event ever held in Peru.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cathy Innes, Executive Director
Canadian Tenpin Federation
T: 604-256-5053
E: cinnes@tenpincanada.com
Josh Su, Specialist, Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-464-4060
E: jsu@olympic.ca