WOLFPACK ATHLETES NAMED AMONG FINALISTS FOR KAMLOOPS SPORTS COUNCIL AWARDS FOR 2008
Shantelle Cooper (left) and Gord Perrin (right) just some of the finalists
For Immediate Release: March 22, 2009
Kamloops, BC—Thompson Rivers University Athletics will be well represented when the Kamloops Sports Council hands out its awards next month (April 18). The awards go to athletic achievements in the year 2008.
The WolfPack have all three teams nominated in the “Team Of The Year” category: the men’s volleyball and men’s golf programs along with the women’s soccer team.. The Volleyball team, under the direction of Pat Hennelly were the first team from TRU to win both a Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport medal. They captured bronze medals in both the Canada West final four playoffs and the CIS Finals in Laval, Quebec.
Playing for the first time in a decade, the men’s golf team captured not only the BC College Athletic Association silver medal, but also won the Canadian College Athletic Association gold medal in Prince Edward Island. Coach Bill Bilton Junior, along with Pat Hennelly, are finalists for the Coach of the Year award. The other is baseball’s Sean Wandler of the Kamloops RiverDogs.
The women’s soccer program is being recognized for their first place finish in the BC College Athletic Association regular season. They wound up with the silver medal not only in the BC CAA finals but at the Nationals (hosted by TRU). They lost to Langara College Falcons late in the match. WolfPack Head Coach Eric Schweizer says "I am happy for the girls as they had one of the best seasons in recent years. The hard work, leadership, talent and 'never say die' attitude brought tem within a hair of winning a national championship. It was fun to be part of that success."
“It is great to be considered one of the top teams in Kamloops,” says Hennelly “We’ve had good attendance the last couple of years. I think people know we are proud to represent the city and TRU playing the highest level of Volleyball in the Country. Hopefully they’ll be cheering us on when we host the 2010 CIS Nationals next March.”
Gord Perrin of the WolfPack men’s volleyball team is a finalist for Male Athlete of The Year. Perrin was not only CIS rookie of the year, but he was also a CIS All rookie team selection. Perrin was also named to the CIS Finals All star team, named to Canada’s National Junior Men’s Volleyball team and was selected the Top Blocker at a NORCECA tournament in El Salvador. His competition are basketball player Kelly Olynyk (son of TRU Athletic Director Ken) and Olympic shot putter and defending male athlete of the year, Dylan Armstrong.
Soccer player Shantelle Cooper is a finalist for Female Athlete of the Year. Cooper was named to the BC CAA Allstar team, was an All-Canadian selection and the BC CAA Player of the Year. She is up against SFU wrestler and former winner Miranda Dick, and Olympians Sultana Frizzell (shot put) and Catharine Pendrel (mountain biking). Pendrel won the honor last year.
“This is a great honor for all our teams, coaches and athletes,” says Athletic Director Ken Olynyk. “We are proud that the community is recognizing their achievements. We are all proud that they have been chosen finalists in their respective catagories .”
The awards will be handed out as part of the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet, April 18 th at the TRU Campus Activity Center’s Grand Hall.