Erika Markentin

• Motivated
• Friendly
• Considerate
• Dedicated
• Supportive

On a team, I usually end up in a leadership role. I enjoy motivating the other players on the court and helping them stay positive and focused. I like to talk through play options and keep everyone working together. I notice the strengths my teammates bring to the court and bring it to their attention when they are feeling down about a mistake. I stay optimistic because mistakes will happen and they provide opportunities to learn and improve.

Selected for the Canada Cup Team 2022
Selected to Team Sask 17U 2022
Invited to Team Sask Regional Selects 17U 2022
Selected to Team Sask 17U 2021
Invited to Team Sask Regional Selects 17U 2021

When I was selected for these teams, I felt excited about the new opportunities to play volleyball at a more competitive level with highly dedicated athletes and coaches and proud of where my hard work and commitment had taken me. I also felt grateful for all of the support from my family, coaches, and teammates.

My interests outside of sports include; spending time with family and friends, and going on adventures outdoors. I love sharing new experiences with others and creating memories that we can hold onto forever. Ever since I was little my family has gone on motor home trips across the country, going on adventures and exploring the outdoors. Spending so much time together as a family made me grow closer to my siblings and appreciate the comfort of our relationships. I also developed a passion for traveling and a love for nature.

My biggest role model is my older brother, Bjorn. He has always demonstrated the important values of an athlete. Ever since he was little, his dream has been to compete as an Olympic diver. Throughout every injury and setback in his career, he has never strayed from his goal, teaching me the importance of perseverance and dedication. At 6’4″ he is much taller than most divers, which makes spinning and twisting a lot harder for him. He has been told that he is too tall to be competitive internationally. However, he secured a diving scholarship at the University of Arizona in 2019, won the Pac-12 Platform Championships in 2020, was an All-American on springboard in 2022, competed for Canada in the UK, winning a silver medal on 3-metre, and secured a spot in Finals at a Fina Grand Prix event in June 2022. His hard work and continued dedication to training toward his goals have inspired me to pursue my dream of playing volleyball internationally.

I have been involved in sports since I was old enough to run. Starting with soccer, gymnastics, and swimming, I became a competitive diver at age five. I competed at Diving Nationals when I was eight, and learned how to focus and train hard at an early age. I love learning new skills and working hard to perfect them. Getting feedback and instruction from coaches motivates me to put my best effort into my training and competitions. I have also competed in track and field, trampoline, waterpolo, and most recently, sailing. This summer, my sister and I are competing at the Jeux du Canada Games in a 29er sailboat. Each sport I have been involved in has taught me new skills and given me opportunities to meet new people and build lasting friendships.

I am a dedicated student-athlete and enjoy learning. I attend a sports school that allows students to work at their own pace, both in the classroom and online. This has allowed me to develop organizational and time management skills. I am a strong student and have achieved Honour Roll with Distinction throughout my high school years. I hold myself to a very high standard and have set some ambitious goals for myself. Each time I have achieved Honour Roll, I have felt satisfied and motivated to continue towards my goals.

I would like to attend Health Science at University. I excel in sciences and math and have a keen interest in the human body. My career goal is to go through Med School and become a neurologist.

I imagine that school life will be busy with a lot of homework and volleyball training. I also envision spending time with new friends and making many new memories along the way. I am excited to continue improving my volleyball skills throughout my post-secondary career, and I look forward to studying classes I’m interested in. I know that being a student-athlete will be challenging and full of ups and downs, but most importantly, it will be an exciting chapter of my life.