Emerging Opals and Boomers name teams for 30th Summer Universiade

Also known as the World University Games, the tournament is the largest multi-sport event apart from the Olympic Games and features almost 10,000 athletes who are currently completing university studies competing across 18 disciplines.

The Emerging Opals welcome back Abigail Wehrung, Alex Sharp, Keely Froling and Lauren Scherf who will aim to defend their gold medal winning feats from two years ago in Taipei.

That success follows on from a previous gold medal in 2007 as well as bronze medals in 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Keely Froling (University of Canberra Capitals), Scherf (Brydens Sydney Uni Flames), and Wehrung (Bendigo Bank Spirit) are joined by fellow Chemist Warehouse WNBL players from 2018/19 in Lara McSpadden (Flames), Stephanie Reid (Free Agent) and Maddi Rocci (UC Capitals).

2018 FIBA World Cup silver medalist and first-round pick for the Seattle Storm in the 2019 WNBA Draft, Ezi Magbegor also adds a wealth of experience to this already talented group.

The Emerging Boomers will utilise the experience of returning players from the 2017 World University Games in Dejan Vasiljevic and Tanner Krebs while NBL players Will Magnay (Brisbane Bullets) and Alex Mudronja, who recently signed with the Adelaide 36ers, also feature.

A plethora of talented college players will don the green and gold alongside them including Duke University’s Jack White and Jock Perry who has attended St. Mary’s alongside Krebs and Mudronja.

The Emerging Boomers medaled at the 2013 World Uni Games, winning silver with a team including future Olympians Cameron Bairstow and Ryan Broekhoff.

16 teams will battle for the gold medal in the men’s and women’s competitions with the Emerging Opals drawn into Group D alongside China, Finland and Canada while the Emerging Boomers will take on Czech Republic, Israel and Mexico in Group A.

The Australians must finish in the top two from their group to advance to the finals but classification games are played through to the last day to determine final standings.

Stay tuned for live stream and stats information via the official tournament website here.

The Emerging Opals team for the 2019 World Uni Games (all times AEST):

NAME	STATE	UNIVERSITY/EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE	BACHELOR
Alicia Froling	Queensland	Southern Methodist University	Psychology
Keely Froling	Queensland	University of Canberra	Physiotherapy
Lara McSpadden	New South Wales	University of Sydney	Health and Physical Education
Ezi Magbegor	Victoria	Deakin University	Psychology (HONS.)
Anneli Maley	Victoria	LCI Melbourne	Graphic Design
Tiana Mangakahia	Queensland	Syracuse	Communications
Stephanie Reid	Victoria	Curtin University	Primary Education
Maddison Rocci	Victoria	Swinburne/Victoria University	Sport Development
Lauren Scherf	Victoria	Victoria University	Sports Science
Alex Sharp	Victoria	Wake Forest	Psychology
Jasmine Simmons	New South Wales	Oregon State University	Psychology
Abbey Wehrung	Victoria	University of Canberra	Business
STAFF	ROLE
Shannon Seebohm	Head Coach
Mark Wrobel	Coach
Cherie Cordoba	Coach
Trudy Pearce	Team Manager
Casey Abblitt	Physiotherapist

The Emerging Boomers team for the 2019 World Uni Games:

NAME	STATE	UNIVERSITY/EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE	BACHELOR
Jonah Antonio	Western Australia	University of Las Vegas Nevada	Communications
George Blagojevic	Victoria	University of Hartford	Business Management
Kyrin Galloway	Georgia (USA)	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Finance
Tanner Krebs	Tasmania	St. Mary’s	Marketing
Will Magnay	Queensland	Open Universities/University of South Australia	Business
Alex Mudronja	South Australia	St. Mary’s/Adelaide 36ers	Communications
Jock Perry	Victoria	St. Mary’s	Environmental Science
Jack Purchase	Victoria	University of Hawaii	Social Science
Dejan Vasiljevic	Victoria	University of Miami	Sports Administration
Isaac White	South Australia	Stanford	Arts
Jack White	Victoria	Duke University	Sociology
Kyle Zunic	New South Wales	Winthrop University	Sports Management
STAFF	ROLE
Rob Beveridge	Head Coach
Adam Forde	Coach
Jamie O’Loughlin	Coach
Joe Tertzakian	Team Manager
Jamie Phillips	Physiotherapist

The Emerging Opals and Emerging Boomers Schedule for the 2019 World Uni Games:

July 3: Women vs. Finland at 10.00pm
July 5: Women vs. Canada at 2.30am
July 5: Men vs. Israel at 2.30am
July 5: Women vs. China at 7.30pm
July 5: Men vs. Mexico at 7.30pm
July 7: Men vs. Czech Republic at 5am
July 8: Women’s Quarter-Finals at 2.30am or 5am
July 8/9: Men’s Quarter-Finals at 7.30pm, 2.30am or 5am
July 9: Women’s Semi-Finals at 2.30am or 5am
July 10: Men’s Semi-Finals at 2.30am or 5am
July 11: Women’s medal games at 2.30am and 5am
July 12: Men’s medal games at 2.30am and 5am

UniSport Australia has announced the teams for the Emerging Opals and Emerging Boomers ahead of the 2019 Summer Universiade to be held in Naples, Italy from July 3-14.