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Hayasaki Named Assistant to World University Squad; Valdez Named Assistant to Pan Am Team
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Head coach Yoshi Hayasaki named assistant coach of the World University Games squad.
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2007 Pan American Games • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
World University Games • Bangkok, Thailand
June 13, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois head coach Yoshi Hayasaki and assistant coach Jon Valdez were named assistant coaches of the World University Games and Pam American Games teams, respectively, as announced by USA Gymnastics today. Hayasaki, also holding the title as Team Leader for the University squad, will help lead the World University team as they compete in Bangkok, Thailand, while Valdez joins former Illini Justin Spring, member of the 2007 US Pan American team, to help lead the Pan Am squad when they compete in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"It's an honor to be named the team leader and assistant coach of the World University Games team," Hayasaki said about the honor. "World University Games are an event that, minus the Olympics and World Championships, is one of the largest competitions in the sport due to the amount of competitors from various different countries that are there to participate. This is definitely an honor."
Also known as the Universiade, World University Games is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and will be hosted by Thammasat University. The Men's Delegation for the 2007 World University Games will be comprised of five athletes. The format for the competition is a five-man team who will participate in team, all-around and individual event sessions. The dates of the 2007 World University Games are August 8-18. The artistic gymnastics competition is scheduled to take place on August 9-12. For any other questions or official information on the competition, visit the official 2007 Universiade website at http://www.bangkok2007.com/en/main/index2.php.
Hayasaki joins head coach of the University team, Kurt Golder - head coach of the University of Michigan - and will accompany current Illini Chris Silcox to Thailand as well. Silcox becomes the fifth Illini to compete at the World University Games and the first since current US Senior National team and Pan American Games team member Spring competed on the team in 2003.
"I am also very proud of Jon for his selection as assistant coach of the Pan American team," Hayasaki said. "He will be a great ambassador for the United States and for the University of Illinois. Also, to have Justin Spring on the team is a great honor for him and I am very proud of his accomplishments."
 Assistant coach Jon Valdez named assistant coach to the US Pan American Team.  |
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"I am excited to be a part of the Pan American team," Valdez said. "This is an honor from USA Gymnastics and for the University of Illinois, which has provided me the experience and now the opportunity to represent the university in the best way possible. We have a great group of guys on the team and I am looking forward to going out and trying to bring back as many titles as possible. I'm also looking forward to working with Mike, who is a great guy and coach. This is going to be just an exciting experience all around."
