TRU HONORS BIGGEST ALL-CANADIAN CLASS EVER January 13, 2010
Posted by lread in Uncategorized, WolfPack.trackback
Amanda Frayne with Christopher Seguin (VP Advancement) and Ule Shreck (Vice Provost)
Thompson Rivers University and the WolfPack athletics program have formally recognized its biggest Academic All-Canadian list ever.
Twenty four athletes representing eight sports and cheerleading were honored at a luncheon hosted by Interim President and Vice Chancellor Doctor Roger H. Barnsley. These were CIS and Canadian College Athletic Association Academic All-Canadians for the school year 2008-09.
“We are very proud of all these athletes,” said WolfPack Athletic Director Ken Olynyk. “The fact they can maintain a rigorous athletic schedule of practices and games along with maintaining an “A” or better average is a true testament to their character. They are role models for their teammates and other students.”
Badminton had the most Academic All-Canadians with five. One of them, Brennan Arduini of Kamloops (4th year, Sciences) received the honour for the third straight year.
“ I feel its pretty important that the school recognizes athletes who do well in school,” he says. “I feel privileged to be given this award three times in a row. Its great that hard work on the court and in the classroom is being acknowledged.”
Arduini, not only is a star in the classroom, but is also the only athlete at TRU to be a member of two teams: badminton and golf.
When asked how he can juggle all those balls: “ I have a pretty good memory,” he laughs “I organize my time well but I think the fact I have a good memory definitely helps.”
Women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and cheerleading each had four members earning Academic All Canadian Status. Volleyball player Amanda Frayne (4th year, biological sciences) says balancing being a starter and keeping your grades up is difficult to balance.
“Especially when we are on the road, “ she says. “ We have girls in the hotel room doing their homework . We try to fit in studying before and after practice. It’s pretty challenging. It’s taken me three years to balance it all, but I am doing better at it now.”
Frayne says using every spare moment to study is key. “Even if it is reading one page out of a text book,” she laughs.
When asked if they think they are role models both Frayne and Arduini are quick to say. “ I think the rest of the student body in general think that,” she says. “ Some of my friends find it difficult to believe that I play sports and do well in school. For the younger girls on the team, they definitely look up to us (older players who carry heavy course loads). They ask how do we handle it and we give them any piece of advice we can.”
Arduini believes that playing sports at a high level does pay off in the classroom “ Certainly, it helps you focused and determined to well. When you are doing sports you want to be the best at it what you are doing. It’s the same philosophy in the classroom. It makes it competitive. It is not like you want to beat other people in school, it is more like you want to do the best and not slack off.”
Arduini is into his last year at TRU. He has plans to attend medical school in the fall, likely UBC.
Two other former TRU Athletes who were recognized for their excellence on the field and in the classroom for 2008-09 are in medical school overseas. Volleyball player Martin Korsbak returned to study in his native Denmark. Soccer player Shannon Kelly is going to medical school in Ireland.
Here’s a list of 2008-09 Academic All Canadians:
Badminton: Brennan Arduini (Kamloops, BC), Veneta Colton (Kamloops, BC), Kia Lidster (Kamloops, BC), Marlee Mertens (Salmon Arm, BC), Caitlyn Sharp (Invermere, BC)
Men’s Soccer: Oliver Schwuchow (Smithers, BC)
Women’s Soccer: Shannon Kelly (Kamloops, BC), Marleah Oginski (Kamloops, BC), Danielle Fauteux (Kamloops, BC), Cari Sutcliffe (Kamloops, BC)
Women’s Volleyball: Daniela Bercelli (Brazil), Amanda Frayne (Kamloops, BC), Stine Christainsen (Denmark), Marisa Koch (Germany).
Men’s Volleyball: Martin Korsbak (Denmark)
Women’s Basketball: Kaitlyn Widsten, (Tswwassen, BC), Michelle Dimond (Port Moody, BC), Kayla Forsyth (Vernon, BC)
Men’s Basketball: Jeff Friesen (Duncan, BC)
Baseball: Mike Tomlinson (Campbell River, BC)
Cheerleading: Philip Haslam (England), Ali Nuyens (Vernon, BC), Stevie Felton (Kamloops, BC), Shelby Lindley (Merritt, BC)
Brennan Arduini with Christopher Seguin and Ule Shreck
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