SOCCER PLAYERS NAMED WOLFPACK ATHLETES OF THE YEAR FOR 2008-09

 
James Byra and Shantelle Cooper: athletes of the year (left)
Kyle Bowman and Katie Clark pose with Kelly Shantz: Sports Task Force Scholar Athletes of the year (right)


For release: 8 pm  April 9, 2009

Kamloops, BC—Two All Canadian soccer players were honoured as the Athletes of the Year by Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletics this evening (April 9).  Fifth year midfielders Shantelle Cooper (Nanaimo, BC) and James Byra (Chilliwack, BC) were given the award at the Athletic Department’s annual wind up banquet.

Both were not only captains on their respective teams, but the honor put a capper on great university careers for the two.  This season, Cooper was the BC College Athletic Association Player of the Year.  Byra was a first team BC CAA All star for a third straight season.

“James is definitely a physical presence on the field and he carries himself with a lot of confidence. “ says his coach of the past five years, Sean Wallace.“ I think his biggest asset to the team this year was the maturity he showed and the way he carried himself and approached the year showed he was a good role model for his younger team mates.  His play on the field was definitely a benefit to his team as he nearly played every minute of every game during the season and was his play was noticed league wide being voted a 1st Team Allstar and an All-Canadian by the coaches in the league.  He should be very proud of his contribution to this program and to it returning to one of the strong programs in the BCCAA.  It has been an honour for me to see James transform from an 18 year old freshmen in to a 5th year senior that I am confident will benefit society in the future in whatever he does.  I have been proud to have him on our team and to be apart of his development in becoming a Provincial Champ and an All-Canadian.”

Cooper’s head coach, Eric Schweizer had high praise for her as he reflected on her five year career at TRU. “Shantelle's stay over 5 years with the women's soccer team has been quite simply - a success story. She struggled big time in her first couple of years with us - in school; with her health;with  commitment; with fitness. But in spite of all that, Shantelle had the skill and size and toughness for us not to give up on her. She rewarded us and her team mates in spades over the past 3 seasons by becoming an excellent captain in the past 2 years, by demanding all she could get out of her team mates, by leading by example in fitness and play and by becoming involved in helping and leading community functions that provided aide for people less fortunate than she is. “

The Sports Task Force Student/Athlete of the Year awards were also  both won by soccer players.  Katie Clark (Kamloops, BC)  a co captain on the women’s team was honoured while Kyle Bowman (Kamloops, BC) , who played for the men’s team at the same time as was TRU Student Council President were given honors. 

Clark’s coach for the last five years, Eric Schweizer had this to say about her. “Katie is the perfect candidate for this award. She has shown over the past couple of years a perseverance to be the best she could be in spite of some very difficult times with her health. Although her actual play time was reduced dramatically (because she could only handle so many minutes at a time) Katie substituted that with her willingness to lead the team as a captain both on and off the field. She organized fund raisers, mentored some of the younger players and acted as a liaison between coaches and players. She complemented Shantelle (the other captain) perfectly.  She started getting her feet wet as a coach and is planning to continue with that.”

Bowman’s coach Sean Wallace: “I think Kyle has shown a good balance between being a student, an athlete, a student council president and an ambassador to TRU.  He has given of himself to the school and his community and shows that hard work and good time management can be a very fulfilling endeavour.    He worked hard in the off season and came to camp  this year in tremendous shape and showed the coaching staff that we could rely on him as one of our captains.  His energy that he brought to the field helped with our team success and solidified Kyle’s status as a league threat on the field.”

The winners of the Dr. Roger H. Barnsley award for Top Scholar Athletes were volleyball player Martin Korsbak  (Nyborg, Denmark) and soccer keeper Shannon Kelly (Kamloops, BC).   Korsbak had a Grade Point Average of 3.835 in the third year of the Arts program. Kelly, the Canadian College Athletic Association Academic Excellence Award winner for 2008-09 had a GPA of 3.667 as she graduates from the Science program with an eye at Medical School in Ireland in the fall.

WolfPack Men’s Volleyball head coach Pat Hennelly said Korsbak was a great choice. “Martin epitomizes what a student athlete should be, a serious student and a one of the best players in the country in his position.” He stated.  “ Martin has been a pleasure to coach, he is committed and serious both as a student and an athlete. I am glad that Martin is being recognized, since he brings both aspects of varsity life to the table. To be a great athlete at this level is commendable, to be a great student as this level is also commendable, but to combine both and be great in both fields is awe inspiring. To start on a nationally ranked team and be an academic all Canadian is a feat that should be recognized and these are the athletes that TRU and Kamloops should celebrate. I am very proud to have Martin Korsbak part of our program.  “
 
As for Kelly, Schweizer says “I am pleased for Shannon. She has been a top academic performer throughout her career with the Sun Demons/WolfPack and has always put school ahead of sports - which is the way it should be. Well done. “ He adds that she has blossomed both in the classroom and in the goal. “Shannon - with the help of Glen Archer - has matured into a very good goalkeeper. It is a very unforgiving position that requires a lot of work to excel in. Her technical skills are good. She has taken over some leadership responsibilities and her experience and skill has given the team confidence that she will stop the balls that would get through. She is a big part of the team winning a national silver medal. Her performance over the past 2 seasons was exceptional. The team will miss her.“

There were two other special awards handed out at the awards banquet.  Schweizer was given the “WolfPack  Recgonition Award” for his long service as a coach with the UCC/TRU Women’s Soccer Program.  He has been with the program since 1995.   Tina Buser, who helped create the WolfPack Cheerleading Squad was also given a plaque to honor her achievements.