It is with tremendous excitement that Special Olympics PEI shares the news that 3 Islanders have been named to the Special Olympics Canada 2023 Training Squad: Keegan Waite (Basketball), Jeremy Wall (Athletics), and Alyssa Chapman (Soccer). These athletes have the potential to represent Canada at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany. Keegan, Jeremy, and Alyssa qualified for the Special Olympics Canada 2023 Training Squad through their performance at the Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games in July 2022. With the cancelation of the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games 2022, due to COVID-19, team sports for the 2023 World Games look a bit different. Keegan (Basketball) and Alyssa (Soccer) join pan-Canadian teams, with athletes from across the country.
Meet PEI's Members of the Special Olympics Canada 2022 Training Squad:
Keegan waite - basketball
Keegan has been involved with Special Olympics PEI for 8 years. He started playing basketball in elementary after attending a Steve Nash youth camp. Having played on his junior high team, Keegan was eager to join when the Special Olympics Summerside basketball program began 6 years ago. The Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games was Keegan's first time competing off-Island in the sport of basketball. Reflecting on the Games, Keegan said he was just happy to playing basketball again, and that the Gold medal was an added bonus.
In preparation for the Games, Keegan is supported by local training coach, Allan Gillis. Allan has been coaching the Special Olympics basketball program in Summerside for the last 6 years, and was a member of the coaching staff at the Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games. Read more about Keegan!
Jeremy Wall - Athletics
Jeremy has been a Special Olympics PEI athlete for over 15 years. In addition to athletics, Jeremy also participates in floor hockey and basketball. The highlight of the Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games for Jeremy was competing in front of family and friends, after not having the opportunity to compete for 2 years, and showing everyone that he's still got it!
Jeremy is supported by local training coach, Jodi Harper. Jodi has been volunteering with Special Olympics PEI for 19 years, and is the Head Coach of the Charlottetown athletics program. Jodi attended the Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games as the Head Coach of the Athletics team. Read more about Jeremy!
Alyssa chapman - Soccer
Alyssa has been an athlete with Special Olympics PEI for 20 years. An accomplished figure skater (who has attended 2 Special Olympics World Games in the sport), Alyssa was pretty surprised to have this opportunity for soccer. Despite this being her first World Games opportunity for soccer, Alyssa is no stranger to the sport, having played since she was a kid.
Kieran Goodwin, a member of the soccer coaching staff at the Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games, will be supporting Alyssa as her training coach. Kieran has been a volunteer coach with Special Olympics PEI for 6 years. Read more about Alyssa!
