Jenna Caira, a physical education major in the School of Education and softball pitcher at Syracuse University, will represent Canada in the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. The entire Canadian team will travel to Mexico on Oct. 12 and participate in the games until Oct. 24.
Caira will be required to provide bi-weekly reports on her training, pass specific fitness standards and communicate with the national team’s coaching staff regularly in order to participate in the games. Caira and Team Canada will arrive in Mexico a few days earlier to have extra practices and exhibition games before the tournament.
Caira has been instrumental in SU’s softball success as one of the best fastpitch softball pitchers in the world. She has been on the roster of the Canadian national team for the past three years and recently competed in two North American tournaments with the team: one in British Columbia, Canada, and one in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Caira began her softball career at four years old, following in the footsteps of her two older sisters. Her parents and numerous pitching coaches, including the coaching team from SU, helped her improve her techniques as a pitcher and an athlete, as well as offered continuous support throughout her life. Caira says she’s grateful to have such a large support system and she is thrilled to be able to play and represent her country at the same time.
“I take every opportunity that I can get to play the sport that I’m so passionate about and to represent my country,” Caira says. “It is always an honor.”