HAMMOND SIGNS WITH WOLFPACK MVB
For immediate release: May 6, 2009
Kamloops, BC—The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men’s Volleyball team have made a key addition to their middle position. The WolfPack are pleased to announce the signing of 6’8” middle and leftside hitter Mike Hammond of Barrie Ontario.
The 19 year old Hammond played the last two seasons at Georgian College in Barrie. He was the schools Male Athlete of the Year in 2008-09. He earned OCAA East Region 1st All-Star Team honours for the second year in a row. After capturing the OCAA Rookie of the Year Award last season, Hammond showed no signs of suffering from a sophomore jinx. He was the OCAA East Region Scoring Champion with 281 points and averaged 4.76 points per game. He is looking forward to the challenge of participating in the CIS. “ It’ll be a step up,” Hammond states “It’ll be more intense and the calibre will be better. I’d like to try out for our national team sometime and coming to TRU will definitely help my chances.”
“My strengths are my height,” he says “ That makes the blocking part of the game that much easier. I’m also pretty versatile. I’ve played a couple of positions (outside hitter) over the years. I didn’t get taken out of the back court in college which allowed me to work on my passing.”
“He has some credentials behind him,” says WolfPack Head Coach Pat Hennelly. “ He’ll be trying out for Team Ontario for the upcoming Canada Summer Games. We had him work out with us. He has a great vertical (11’5”). That is as high as any of our middles from last year. He jumps well enough, he blocks well enough and at 6’8” he is a physical presence.”
Hammond, who started playing volleyball at age 12 was a member of the Ontario U-19 select squad last year (2008). They finished second at the National Championships.
Was a berth in next years CIS Nationals an incentive to come here? “Yes and no,” he states “ It’s a good opportunity to be in the spotlight but even if it wasn’t hosted here I would be coming. The program that Pat has developed is one of the best in the country (ranked among the CIS Top 10 last season). “
Hammond hopes to take courses with hopes of getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an eye to an eventual Education degree to become a teacher. “I’m coming to TRU because of the volleyball but mostly because of the Fine Arts program, “ he says. “It’s one of the best in the country.”
“I think that he will fit right in as he completes his final three years of CIS Eligibility.” stated Hennelly.
Hammond becomes the 2nd Ontario player vying for position on the WolfPack. Conor Eatch (2nd year middle, Aurora, Ont), one of four WolfPack players trying out for the junior national team saw action with TRU last season. “ I played against him in high school, “ says Hammond “He was there the first year I tried out for Team Ontario. I remember him being a very strong player.”
“I think Mike and Conor have very similar physical attributes. Same sort of height and jump. I think when both are on the floor we will be very intimidating—two 6’8” guys who move really well. I think Mike jumps higher than either Martin Korsbak or Stef Savoie from last year. One of the things I noticed when he was here was that he was a big man who jumps.”
A visit to Kamloops this week (April 22-23) was the first time he has been to the province. “Kamloops is a very beautiful place,” he says. “ I look forward to living here and going to school. I’ve always wanted to live out here and this is a perfect opportunity”