A story book season in 2008 has resulted in two more awards for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Golf Team. The team won the 2008 Kamloops Sports Council Team of the Year honor. Bill Bilton was named Coach of the year. Both honors were handed out at a gala held at the Campus Activity Center.

"This was truly a surprise," said Bilton who, like the four representatives of his team (Shawn Vanderwal,Kevin Ricalton, Geoff Fahlman and Brett Martin) couldn't wipe the grins off their faces. "If you wanted to write a book on how to put together a winning team, you could base it on what happened to us."

Bilton had coached the golf team at TRU (known as the University College of the Cariboo at the time) in 1996. He returned home to Kamloops last August with the dream of resurrecting the program. With the help of some community sponsors and his dads course (The Dunes of Kamloops), he held tryouts which led to an 11 man team.

That club took Canadian College Golf by a storm--finishing second in the BC College Athletic Association tour before capturing the CCAA National Championship last October in PEI.

"We were such a tight group, both on and off the course," explained Martin. "Shawn, Kevin and Riley (Balson) had all played together at South Kam. That cohesiveness helped lead the way."

"I think we got better and better every week," stated Vanderwal, who won the CCAA Top Golfer honors at the Nationals.

"We had no real dog days during the season." added Ricalton.

"I've played on a number of sports teams," said Fahlman "I have to give the credit to Bill. He put countless hours into helping us and it truly paid off."

The Golf team edged out two other TRU squads for the Team of the Year honor. The 'Pack women's soccer team and the TRU men's volleyball squad.

Bilton called the team's selection the greatest achievement of his sporting career which included being part of an NCAA championship squad and some pro tour victories. His selection as Coach of the Year came ahead of fellow TRU coach Pat Hennelly (men's volleyball) and Sean Wandler (Kamloops Midget Riverdogs baseball).

How does he and the team expect to build on 2009? "We have lost a top five player from last year due to academic problems. Depending on the educational paths of two others, we could have as many as three holes. I"ll be actively recruiting to fill them. Our personal goal is to not only repeat but win the BC CAA title as well."

But unlike last season, other schools will know what the WolfPack will bring to the course ever week. " We need to prove that we were no flash in the pan," said Ricalton. "I want to prove that we'll be a powerhouse for years to come".

"When you look at how far we've come in the last two years--from nothing to a National Championship. It's pretty amazing" stated Martin.

Other winners at the Kamloops Sports Council Awards were Heather Archer (Synchro Swimming) as Sportsperson of the Year, Paul Reibin (Target Shooting) as Senior Athlete of the Year. Olympians Dylan Armstrong and Catherine Pendrel were named Male and Female Athlete of the Year.