Lawrick Selected for Canadian Olympic Team

Junior first baseman Sheena Lawrick was chosen as one of 15 players to represent Canada in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Softball Canada announced on Wednesday.

Lawrick made the team despite tearing her ACL on April 4 against Baylor. She is expected to be cleared to play by August, just as Team Canada’s schedule intensifies. The team will train in Prague, Czechoslovakia, August 2-5, before training in Athens August 7-13. The Olympic Games run from August 14-23.

Before the injury, the Calgary, Alberta, native was enjoying a tremendous season for the Huskers.. In 36 games, Lawrick hit .337 and led the team with two triples, a .596 slugging percentage, 28 walks and a .508 on-base percentage. Her 28 walks still rank fourth in the Big 12 Conference even though she has missed the last 16 games.

Lawrick becomes the second Husker to represent Canada in the Olympic games, along side NU Associate Head Coach Lori Sippel. After her collegiate days at Nebraska from 1985-88, Sippel was a 13-year member of the Canadian National Team and appeared in the 1996 Olympics, softball’s first as an Olympic sport.

Team members were chosen from an Olympic Pool consisting of 23 athletes. The evaluation process took place during various events, including tours throughout the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Lawrick played for Team Canada this past summer.

The 15-member Olympic Softball Roster includes:
Lauren Bay, Pitcher, Trail, British Columbia
Alison Bradley, Outfield, Pinkerton, Ontario
Erin Cumpstone, Catcher/1st base, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
*Cindy Eadie, 3rd base/1st base, Brantford, Ontario
*Kaila Holtz Pitcher, Massachusetts,USA (Hometown-North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Jackie Lance, Short Stop, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Hometown-South Delta, British Columbia)
*Sheena Lawrick, 2nd base/1st base, Calgary, Alberta
Angela Lichty, Short Stop, Guelph, Ontario
*Ani Nyhus, Pitcher, White Rock, British Columbia
Kristy Odamura, 2nd base, Richmond, British Columbia (Captain)
*Sasha Olson, Outfield, Valemount, British Colubmia
Kim Sarrazin, Catcher, St-Eustache, Quebec
Rachel Schill, Outfield, Kitchener, Ontario
*Auburn Sigurdson, Pitcher, Surrey, British Columbia
Erin White (Woods), 1st base/Catcher, Iowa, USA (Hometown-Richmond, British Columbia)

*Latest additions to the Olympic Team

Coaching Staff:
Mike Renney, Burnaby British Columbia, Head Coach
Glenn Boles, St. Catharines, Ontario, Assistant Coach
Gil Read, Kanata, Ontario, Team Leader