Who says you can’t come home again? Greg Stewart of Kamloops will be proving that this fall when he returns to Thompson Rivers University. However, Stewart will be playing a new sport.
The 7' 2", 22 year old played his first two years of Post Secondary Athletics as a member of the University College of the Cariboo Sun Demons and then TRU WolfPack mens basketball team (2004-06). Now, he’s committed to playing for the CIS Bronze Medal winning WolfPack mens volleyball team.
“I’ve been playing volleyball for such a long time now,” said Stewart from Edmonton Alberta, where he has been living and working since leaving TRU. “It just seems natural to me.”
Stewart has never played Volleyball at the CIS level. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have big game experience. He has been the starting middle for the Canadian Standing Mens Volleyball team for the last six years.
“My big goal is to be the number one disabled volleyball player in the country, “ he says. “ Coming to a talented team with a great coaching staff can only help me in achieving that. “
“Greg is a guy with a lot of potential in volleyball. You can't teach height and Greg will be the tallest guy I have ever coached.” Says WolfPack Coach Pat Hennelly.
Stewart says his main role on the WolfPack will be to provide some experience and veteran leadership. “ I think Greg will red shirt this year and work on his movement skills and blocking,” states Hennelly. “ He is a big guy and surprisingly agile and could make an impact in this league .”
Returning to school to upgrade his marks while taking general arts courses, He isn’t afraid of the prospect of possibly ‘red shirting’ this season. “Just the year of practicing with these guys will definitely help me in developing my game” stated Stewart, who hopes to be joining Canada for the World Standing Volleyball Championships this October in Slovakia if his classes allow.
When asked about the prospect of being available to play when the WolfPack host the CIS Championships in 2010, Stewart admitted he never really thought about it. But says being the host team knowing you have a more than legitimate chance to win it all is more of a thrill than just being there.
Stewart will move home from Edmonton at the end of August to begin preparing for school and for a shot with the WolfPack. “It is nice to have a player from Kamloops on the roster.” Added Hennelly, who’s training camp will begin in early September