June Snapshots: A roundup of local sports action

By Ottawa Sportspage

OTTAWA WATER POLO COACH SUSPENDED AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES LAID

Water Polo Canada gave Ottawa-based Water Polo coach, Celso Rojas, an interim suspension, for “alleged violations of the Water Polo Canada Code of Conduct.” According to a Water Polo Canada June 5 press release, the interim suspension was in effect immediately and at the time of the release, was pending resolution of criminal charges laid by the Ottawa Police Service. According to the Ottawa Police Service June 5 press release, the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit charged Rojas with 1 count of Sexual Assault and 1 count of Sexual Interference on a teenaged female as result of incidents that occurred over the first seven months of 2018. Police say the alleged incidents occurred while Rojas was working as an Ottawa water polo coach.

RUSSELL PARTICPATES IN EUROPEAN BASKETBALL EXHIBITION TOUR

Barrhaven’s Merissah Russell was selected as part of the senior women’s Canadian national team roster to be part of a five-game European exhibition tour. The tour took place first in Belgium from June 14 to 16 and then went to Great Britain from June 18 to 19. There were 12 athletes selected from Canada Basketball to participate in this tour. The tour would see Russell gain some international game experience, while playing games against world-class talent with teams also competing from Belgium, China, Spain and Great Britain.

CYCLIST PLACES IN TOP FIVE DURING GATINEAU GRANDE PRIX

Gatineau’s Ariane Bonhomme, who represents Ottawa’s The Cyclery Racing, placed 4th at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau event on June 6, 2019. Bonhomme finished the race behind two other Canadian’s and one American cyclist.

OTTAWA GOALBALL PLAYERS GOING TO PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

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Amy Burk and Whitney Bogart are set to head to Lima, Peru, as part of Canada’s Goalball Team heading to the 2019 ParaPan American Games from Aug.17 to Sept 1. The Ottawa-based athletes were selected by the Canadian Blind Sports Association (CBSA) Selection Committee to make the team, which was based off of the 2019-2020 National Team Pool and Selection docu- ment as the best combination of centers and wingers from the National Team Pool. Both Burk and Bogart have been to various competitive events before, including the worlds and for Burk, the Paralympics.

MADELINE SCHMIDT PADDLES HER WAY TO SPRINT WORLD CUP 2

Ottawa’s Madeline Schmidt had a successful run at the Sprint World Cup 2, by finishing in an impressive 8th place in the K1 1000m division. The second International Canoe Federations’ (ICF) Sprint World Cup, had outstanding performances from twenty Canadian top sprint paddlers. The event took place from the end of May to June 2.

LOCAL SOCCER STAR REPRESENTS CANADA AT CONCACAF GOLD CUP

Ottawa’s Jonathan David is playing hard at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup event in host countries of the United States, Costa Rica and Jamaica. David, one of Team Canada’s strikers who previously played for Louis-Riel’s study-program team has also taken a place for the KAA Gent in the Europa League. So far, Team Canada’s first match of the tournament on June 15 ended with them winning 4-0 against Martinique, with David scoring two of those goals. The final game of the tournament will be on July 7.

OTTAWANS MAKING WAVES IN WATER POLO WORLD

Ottawa’s Mackenzie Greco was selected as one of the water polo athletes on this year’s youth women’s national team. Greco currently represents the Capital Wave Ottawa Water Polo Club.The Ottawa Titans Water Polo Club won a national bronze medal, while Team Canada’s women’s team came on top at the end of the FINA World League Super Final in Budapest, Hun. from June 4 to 9. They finished the event by beating China 13-10, coming in 7th place overall.

EMMA KELLY GLIDES HER WAY TO JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM

Nepean’s Emma Kelly was selected as one of the ringette players to be on the junior national team, which will compete at the 2019 World Ringette Championship. The event will take place in Burnaby, B.C. from Nov. 25 to 30, 2019. Kelly is among a total of 22 athletes who were chosen for the team, based off a selection camp that took place in Ottawa in May. The teen will not only represent Canada, but also Ontario. Kelly previously played in the Canada Winter Games and the Ontario Winter Games.