University of Minnesota Athletics
Sara Groenewegen Named to Canadian Olympic Team
5/12/2021 2:23:00 PM | Softball
Former University of Minnesota softball standout Sara Groenewegen (White Rock, B.C.) is one of 15 athletes named to Softball Canada's 2020 Tokyo Olympic roster. The 15 athletes were selected by Softball Canada's coaching staff in accordance with the Women's National Team Olympic Team Selection Process.
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Canada qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the 2019 WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier held in Surrey, B.C. by finishing in the top two of the 12-team event along with Mexico. Softball returns to the Olympic Games after being left off at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Canada narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish the last time the sport appeared at Beijing 2008.Â
"The naming of the Olympic roster is another phase completed in our 2021 gold medal mission,"Â Groenewegen said. "I am excited for the opportunity to represent Canada with the 14 other women named to the team. It takes a village to prepare for the Olympic Games, and even though 15 women were named to this roster, there were countless other people involved to prepare us for this moment. We are excited and ready for the chance to make history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."
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Canada is ranked third in the WBSC Women's Softball World Rankings and has won three bronze medals over the last five WBSC World Championships, including back-to-back bronze medals in 2016 and 2018. The team won gold at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and captured silver medals at Guadalajara 2011 and Lima 2019. Softball will take place July 22 to July 27 (Day -2 to 4) at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium and the Yokohama Baseball Stadium.
Groenewegen was a three-time All-American for the Golden Gophers from 2014-17. Busting onto the Big Ten scene as a freshman in 2014, Groenewegen was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She followed that with Big Ten Player of the Year accolades in 2015. Named the 2017 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year her senior season, Groenewegen was a four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. She finished her career with a 107-21 record, a program best 1,214 career strikeouts, a 1.58 career earned run average and 82 complete games in 797 innings pitched. As a hitter, Groenewegen was hit .305 and started in 231 career games. Â
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Canada qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the 2019 WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier held in Surrey, B.C. by finishing in the top two of the 12-team event along with Mexico. Softball returns to the Olympic Games after being left off at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Canada narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish the last time the sport appeared at Beijing 2008.Â
"The naming of the Olympic roster is another phase completed in our 2021 gold medal mission,"Â Groenewegen said. "I am excited for the opportunity to represent Canada with the 14 other women named to the team. It takes a village to prepare for the Olympic Games, and even though 15 women were named to this roster, there were countless other people involved to prepare us for this moment. We are excited and ready for the chance to make history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."
Â
Canada is ranked third in the WBSC Women's Softball World Rankings and has won three bronze medals over the last five WBSC World Championships, including back-to-back bronze medals in 2016 and 2018. The team won gold at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and captured silver medals at Guadalajara 2011 and Lima 2019. Softball will take place July 22 to July 27 (Day -2 to 4) at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium and the Yokohama Baseball Stadium.
Groenewegen was a three-time All-American for the Golden Gophers from 2014-17. Busting onto the Big Ten scene as a freshman in 2014, Groenewegen was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She followed that with Big Ten Player of the Year accolades in 2015. Named the 2017 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year her senior season, Groenewegen was a four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. She finished her career with a 107-21 record, a program best 1,214 career strikeouts, a 1.58 career earned run average and 82 complete games in 797 innings pitched. As a hitter, Groenewegen was hit .305 and started in 231 career games. Â
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