WOLFPACK SOCCER PLAYER/BADMINTON PLAYER NAMED CCAA ACADEMIC ALL CANADIANS
For release: April 2, 2009
Kamloops—Excelling in the classroom and on the field/court is a challenge when you are going to University. That’s why it’s such an honour when you can do both and be recognized for it. Two member of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletic Program have been awarded with the prestigious Academic All Canadian Award by the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association.
Soccer player Shannon Kelly (Kamloops, BC) and Badminton Player Marlee Mertens (Salmon Arm, BC) have been honoured. Kelly, a fifth year goal keeper had a grade point average of 3.667 taking Science.
“I feel excited, and a little shocked,” She said “ It wasn’t something that i was expecting, but it is a great feeling to have all of the hard work that i have put in over the past 5 years be recognized.”
Mertens played her second year with the WolfPack Badminton Unit. She notched a G.P.A. of 3.5 in Arts as she pursues a degree in Education. She says she was excited to learn of her “Academic All Canadian” status. “Sports teach a basic set of goal setting and if you apply those goals to other aspects of life you can do anything.” she adds.
Kelly was a BC College Athletic Association First Team All-Star in 2008-09. “Being involved in college sport has helped keep my life balanced and it has given me the focus and determination needed to succeed in school,” she says. “. Playing soccer at TRU has made school a little more interesting for me, and it has given me an outlet to release all of the stress that school can put on you. I don’t know if I feel like a role model, but I do think that it is important to set a good example for the new players each year. “
Kelly is very philosophical about the whole Student/Athlete concept. “I think that your first 2 years can be every distracting, but we are here for school first, and athletics second, so it is important to see people being successful at both. It is very possible to get good grades and be a contributor to your team. I think that for future players it is also important because it can give them something to strive for. I am not planning on being a professional soccer player, so the education that i take away from here is very important. Being able to play has really just been an added bonus for me. College sports have helped my life as a hole by helping me learn how to manage what little time I have. Your schedule is so crazy in the fall that you need to be organized and focused and playing soccer at this level has helped with that. As well it has given me something to look forward to each August. “
Her coach, Eric Schweizer is, not surprisingly, proud of Shannon’s accomplishments. “Great to see that Shannon Kelly is rewarded for her hard work in the classroom and yet committing to the demanding schedule of practices and
games in women's soccer and earning first team all star honours in the BCCAA. I congratulate her.” He goes onto say “it is proof that students can commit to a college team and still do well in the classroom. The women's soccer program is proud of our student athletes, and even though I get a far bigger thrill out of watching them perform well on the soccer pitch, I know that the academic side of things is probably more important in the end - as that is most likely where they will earn their livelihood. Cari Sutcliffe earned the same honour last year. “
As for Badminton Coach Brad Pape about Mertens: “Marlee is our female MVP this year and also the leader in team spirit. It’s great that she is now an Academic All Canadian. She is one of the most deserving on the team. She was a silver medalist with Ming (Wong) this year in Women’s doubles and she is also an accomplished singles player. “ Pape had two players last year—Brennan Arduini and Whitney MacKenny who were Academic All Canadians last season.
Kelly looks at her five year career as a player and student at Thompson Rivers with a lot of pride. “I think the life skills that playing soccer has taught me will be of great value in what ever i choose to do with my life, and I will be able to handle what ever stressful situations come my way. I would just like to add that none of the success that I have had over the last few years would have been possible without my family support, the great group of girl that i have had a the privilege to play with, my coaches and my teachers.”
Mertens and Kelly will be receiving their honour from the Canadian College Athletic Association and will be presented them during the WolfPack’s Annual year-end banquet April 9 th.