WOLFPACK TO SAY GOOD BYE TO BLETH, FRIESEN AND GARVEY February 3, 2010
Posted by lread in Men's Basketball.trackback
Drew Bleth (A. Snucins)
Jeff Friesen (A. Snucins)
Sean Garvey (A. Snucins)
As the Thompson Rivers Universithy WolfPack men’s basketball team closes the book on its 2009-10 Canada West season this weekend (Feb 5-6), they also will say good bye to their three veteran players.
Guards Drew Bleth (Ridgefield, Wash) and Sean Garvey (Kamloops, BC) along with forward Jeff Friesen (Duncan, BC) will be playing out their university eligibility against the seventh ranked team in the CIS: the Simon Fraser University Clan at the Tournament Capital Center.
The three players admit that they haven’t thought much about the significance of this week in their basketball careers. “ It is just starting to hit me,” says Bleth, who came to TRU in 2008 from junior college in the U.S. . Friesen and Garvey returned to school to play out their eligibility. Friesen came back last year, Garvey this season. Both had started University when TRU was known as the University College of the Cariboo.
“I think as we get a day away, or after Saturday’s game is when I think I’ll come to the conclusion that its actually all over,” Friesen explains.
All three players have enjoyed some personal success in their final year. Bleth is among the Canada West’s top free throw shooters (2nd: good 39 of 45 times for a percentage of .867), Friesen enters the final weekend ninth in the league in rebounding (7.5 per game average), Garvey is eighth in scoring (averaging 17.5 points per game) and second in three point field goals (53 in 16 games for an average of 3.31).
While all three say they have had a great time playing at the highest level, they say the friendships they gained through playing with the WolfPack is what they will remember most. “ Having the opportunity to come back and play with one of my best friends (Friesen),” is something I’ll cherish most.” Garvey explains.
Garvey and Friesen were part of the U.C.C. Team which won the Canadian College Athletic Association title in 2005. It was the final year in that league before moving to the CIS. Both have fond memories of that experience. “I just remember everything coming together perfectly and it being a very satisfying experience at the end of the year,” says Friesen, who completed his final two years of eligibility while holding down a full time job at CIBC. “We were actually rewarded for all the hard work we put in. Only one team in the nation each year gets to feel that way, it was amazing.”
Says Garvey: “ the 2005 national championship….holding the banner and cutting down the nets. But, my fondest memory of that was when a NAIT fan pulled the fire alarm at our morning shoot and we went to the next building and sang and danced in the main lobby area. It was incredible fun.’
The time Garvey and Friesen spent away from the university environment gave them a special insight into being a student athlete, one they hope that their current teammates and future players with the WolfPack Athletic program don’t take for granted. “ If you ever get a chance to be a student/athlete, take advantage of it and play for as long as you can,” says Friesen. “ I took 2 years off and regretted every second of it. I was lucky enough to get a second chance. Even if you think the team might be as strong, you should still play. Not to sound cliché, but it really isn’t about the wins and losses: it’s about the experiences you gain from being apart of something special. If you ask any players about their favourite experiences while playing, I can guarantee the first thing they will talk about are the people and stuff that happened along the way before they mention any game they won. That is what they miss the most. That already, is what I will miss the most.”
So, what will it be like on Saturday night when the clock ticks down?
Bleth: “ It is definitely going to be weird. I don’t think I’ll cry but it’ll be sad and crazy to think that it’s my last university basketball game that I’ll ever play.”
Garvey: “ I’m not sure how emotional it’ll be because I have already walked away with the intent of never playing again. But, I think this will be a little different because I will never plahy again. I think taking the jersey off will be tough.”
Friesen: “ I’m not really an emotional guy. I will be mostly happy. I think Sean will cry. He is a lot more emotional than me (Iaughing).
All three players will be honoured before their final game and will have parents, siblings and friends in attendance.
NOTES: Both Garvey and Friesen should pass former teammate (and current friend) Ryan Porter atop of the all-time Cariboo College/UCC/TRU scoring list. Entering this weekend, Garvey sits at 1295 points, Friesen is at 1249. Porters record is 1274.
Garvey took time to thank both former coach Nevin Gleddie and current coach Thom Gillespie for giving him the chance to play the sport he loved.
Game times this weekend are 8 pm on Friday (Feb 5) and 7 pm on Saturday (Feb 6). At halftime on Friday, the TRU Sports Task force will honor 2009-10 scholarship/bursary winners: Robin Schoebel, Kevin Tillie and Kyle Donen (Men’s Volleyball), Brittany Bureau (Women’s Volleyball) and Garrett Babichuk (Badminton). On Saturday, it’ll be Ashley Shannik (Women’s Volleyball), Casey Cullen (Men’s Soccer) and Jessie Lebert (Women’s Soccer).
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC
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