Profile Edmonton » Marcelle Verster - Edmonton magazine found on and around the University of Alberta, MacEwan College, NAIT, and Concordia campuses

Marcelle Verster

Posted December 2, 2009 from December 2009

Profile

Program

Physical Education / Education

Year

Hometown

Cape Town, South Africa

Favourite Food

Mac and Cheese

Favourite Movie

Remember the Titans

Favorite Sport

Field Hockey

Favorite TV Show

Glee

Your Greatest Accomplishment

Canada West All-Star

Your Dream Job

Gynecologist

Favorite Item of Clothing

Block 'A' Sweater

Interview

As the president of the University Athletics Board, you pretty much know everything sports related that goes on at the U of A. I hear you have a tendency to go to every home game, and even out of town games, to support the teams.

Yeah, this weekend I’m traveling to Victoria to watch the Field Hockey team, paid out of my own pocket! In general, I see about three different sports every weekend. I try to be there for all the teams and support everyone. Sports are obviously a big part of my life.

You were born in South Africa where Rugby is more of a religion than a sport. How was the transition when you moved to Canada?

I moved here in 2000. I was a big field hockey player, having played for twelve years. Once I got here, I felt I needed a change, so I made the switch to Rugby. It was an easy choice seeing as how it is the top sport in South Africa. I had heard the Rugby program here was great too. They’ve won five national titles and a lot of ex-Pandas play for Team Canada now too.

As if watching three sports every weekend and playing Rugby wasn’t enough, you also decided to take up wresting?

Rugby is only in the fall, and I felt that it wasn’t going to motivate me enough to try and keep fit during the off-season. I took up the challenge of joining wrestling. It has really helped with my fitness, and my tackling and technique have gotten way better.

Tell me about the intimidating tattoos on your forearms. They appear to be written in Afrikaans, and if I were an opponent of yours, I’d be freaked out.

I had them done in a Zombie font. I like to tell most people that one of them says “Hate” and the other says “War”… Just to be intimidating. But in reality, they say “Love” and “Unique”. They’re to remind me about what’s important in life.