Trinity Western women’s volleyball star Alicia Perrin (Creston, B.C.) will lead the 333 members of Team Canada into the Opening Ceremonies of the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea July 3 after being selected as the nation’s flag bearer at a team reception on Tuesday.
The Opening Ceremonies will welcome over 11,000 athletes and staff from 140 countries at 7 p.m. local time (6 a.m. EST), July 3 at the Universiade’s Main Stadium.
Perrin captured the 2015 CIS Championship with the Spartans to cap a brilliant five-year career with TWU.
Gwangju marks the third Universiade tournament for the 6-foot-2 middle as she previously wore the maple leaf in 2013 in Kazan, Russia, and in 2011 in Shenzhen, China.
“I’m excited and proud and it’s the best way that I could spend my Canada Day,” said Perrin after receiving the honour.
“This is my third FISU Games and I am looking forward to playing more of a leadership role. At my previous Games I was a younger athlete and didn’t have a lot of international experience. I’m really excited to help lead my team with their first international experiences.”
Perrin had an accomplished career with TWU and was named a first team All-Canadian in 2015 and a second team All-Canadian in 2012 and 2013.
She was the Canada West rookie of the year in 2011, and also earned international experience in 2012 at the U23 Pan American Cup when the Spartans attended to represent Canada.
“There are many wonderful athletes as part of our team, and Alicia will be a great representative for all of us,” said Canada’s Chef de Misson, Gilles Lépine, who introduced Perrin as the flag bearer. “She is a person who has shown a lot of leadership and team spirit during her previous Universiades. She is a proud student-athlete who has proven herself and we are very proud of her.”
“I hope to leave a lasting impression with the way that I played with them as a team mate and a leader,” added Perrin.
The flag bearer was announced at a reception hosted by His Excellency Eric Walsh, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Korea at the Hotel Prado in Gwangju.
Team members gathered for an evening of socializing to celebrate Canada Day, and official members of the delegation welcomed the team to the Games.
Perrin is one of seven Spartans to compete in the 2015 Summer Universiade. She is joined on the women’s volleyball team by Kristen Moncks (Standard, Alta.), Nikki Cornwall (Coquitlam, B.C.), and Sophie Carpentier (Ottawa).
The Spartans Elly Wendel (Caronport, Sask.) was initially named to Canada’s women’s volleyball team but was replace by Carpentier after suffering an injury. TWU coach Ryan Hofer is also with the team as the associate head coach.
The Spartans will also be represented on the men’s volleyball court as Blake Scheerhoorn (Belleville, Ont.) will don the Red and White in South Korea.
On the track, TWU’s Regan Yee (South Hazelton, B.C.) will become the first TWU athlete to compete in track and field at the Summer Universiade as she will run in the 3000m steeplechase.
TWU’s head athletic therapist Natalie Ghobrial will also be in South Korea as she is one of Canada’s therapists.
About the Summer Universiade
The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries.
The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games.
Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
The ceremony will be webcast live on www.LiveFISU.tv.
Thanks to Mark Janzen, Assistant Sports Information Director, Trinity Western University for the info.
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