By Sam Cortes, Communications Coordinator
Next year will be Trevor Borland’s sixth Canada Games. While the Head Coach for squash is certainly familiar with the national, multi-sport event, he is excited to lead the upcoming female and men’s squash teams in PEI – in the same city of his first-ever Games experience.
The four females and four females will compete at the brand new Eastlink Centre in both individual and a team event.
A roster hasn’t been announced just yet, but the Team Toba hopefuls have been intentional in their preparation for the courts in Charlottetown.
Training for the Games Environment
The athletes train as a group with Trevor twice a week, with a match day on Saturdays and off-court training on Mondays.
“One cool thing we’ve done in the past that we’re going to do this year, too, probably, is [a competition of] current team vs alumni team,” said Trevor. “We bring in cowbells and noisemakers to get [the athletes] used to what it’ll be like [at the Canada Games].”
Replicating the Games atmosphere beforehand is key to getting in the headspace for what the actual competition will be like.
Because it’s not just your squash teammates in the stands, it’s parents, spectators, and Team Toba teammates from other sports cheering on The Herd and taking in the action.
“It is different. It can be overwhelming, almost,” said Trevor.
The athletes will also get in a couple big competitions, including the BC Junior Open last month and the Alberta Junior Jesters coming up on November 11-13.
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To learn more about squash in Manitoba, visit Squash Manitoba’s website and follow them on Twitter.
