Windsor Inks Team Canada Athlete
With the London Fire Volleyball Club, MacNeil has led his team to three podium finishes at three tournaments, including a bronze, silver and gold. Simultaneously with his high school team, the Georgetown District High School Rebels, MacNeil helped his team to an OFSAA AAAA senior boys silver medal. For his efforts MacNeil has been named Georgetown District High School senior athlete of the year for the past two years.
On the beach, MacNeil has captured consecutive under-18 and under-16 national championships amongst a boatload of provincial titles and accolades. One of those honours was the Jason Senechal Award. The award is name after a former athlete who died suddenly when his heart stopped during a 2003 beach volleyball tournament. The award details are as follows:
In his time on the OVA Beach Tour, Jason managed to make a tremendous impact on all participants including athletes, parents, OVA Staff and Crew. With this award we aim to encourage all the values that Jason personified. Jason’s athleticism, skill and dedication to excellence helped him excel in volleyball throughout his high school career and beyond. Jason’s talent also allowed him to excel in downhill skiing, badminton and table tennis. While playing on the OVA Beach Tour, Jason was able to capture a Provincial Championship and place 3rd at the National Championships. Jason’s accomplishments go beyond podium finishes. He was involved with Athletes In Action doing outreach volleyball camps. Jason also had the opportunity to compete in Thailand while teaching volleyball to children.
Clearly the Lancers are getting a truly incredible individual and head coach James Gravelle is excited to add MacNeil's "intensity, energy attitude" to the program and "will bring that experience of winning at high level competitions." One of those noteable high level competitions was the 2013 North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Championships. MacNeil and partner Andrew Richards qualified to compete at the NORCECA Championships through the Team Canada Developmental Program Trials after competing against hundreds of hopeful athletes. You would think that competing at a championship this size would be enough for these young athletes, but it was not enough for the duo as they won the entire tournament, qualifying them for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
MacNeil (left) and his partner Andrew Richards after winning the 2013 NORCECA Championships.
MacNeil told NORCECA, "I am thrilled and speechless after this great moment...We won the trials in Canada six months ago to come to this tournament and we have been training very hard since then. The hard work has paid off” (read the article HERE).
Windsor is excited to see MacNeil in action in the fall, but fans can check him out at Ashbridges Bay in Toronto this summer where the majority of the Ontario Volleyball Association's Beach Tour is held.
(posted: March 10, 2014)
(photo source: Windsor Lancers & NORCECA).