INSTRUCTORS GO TO SCHOOL TO PREPARE FOR PLATINUM REALTY/TRU SPORTS CAMPS June 29, 2010
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Instructors Matt Loader and John Bantock
The start of summer vacation for the kids begin in a few days. Instructors employed at the Platinum Realty/TRU Sports Camps are gearing up for another busy season. The 16 instructors—many of whom are TRU WolfPack current or former athletes—have been going to ‘school’ to prepare for the 2010 season.
Camp Coordinator Duncan Olthuis has had the instructors going through a number of courses yesterday and today (June 28-29).
“We want to make sure our instructors are prepared for any situation and will help the children have the best experience they can.”
Olthuis had his father and long time football coach Brian teach the instructors the first level of the National Coaching Certification Program. This included a course on ethics. Laura Bantock ,Director, Western Region for Anaphylaxis Canada (a National Non Profit organization) also conducted a course preparing the instructors on management strategies to reduce the risk for those with severe allergies and to educate the instructors on how to effectively manage an emergency situation involving anaphylaxis.
Soccer players at sports camp 2009
Many of the instructors this season were employed with TRU in 2009 and had a first aid course.
“Our training for instructors definitely sets us apart from the other summer camps out there,” Olthuis believes. “ When a parent signs their child up for the Platinum Realty/TRU Sport Camps, they can rest assured that their children are in good hands.”
2010 Instructors warming up at Gymnastics club
The 2010 camps begin July 5 th. Olthuis says the first week should be one of the busiest of the year. As of yesterday (June 28), there were nearly 550 children signed up for the camps. That doesn’t include children who are signed up for the ‘French only’ camp. The number of children signed up thus far is 50 ahead of last season.
“I expect the phones will start to ring more this week with school coming to a close,” he adds.
Olthuis says at this point, there are very few spots open in the Golf Camps and the elite volleyball camps in the last few weeks of August.
If you are interested in signing your child up for a sport camp: contact Duncan by calling (250) 377-6116 or logging onto www.tru.ca/athletics and going to the sport camp icon.
WOLFPACK SCHOLAR ATHLETES HONORED June 23, 2010
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Brennan Arduini was a scholar athlete for a fourth straight year
Being an athlete and a top student is a challenge at the post secondary level. But no less than 29 members of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack athletic family did that in 2009-10. That was up substantially from 19 the previous year.
They have achieved Academic All-Canadian or National Scholar status. All of the student-athletes had passed a minimum 18 credits with a minimum 3.5 grade point average.
“When you take into account all that these athletes have going on in their life, its quite amazing,” said TRU Athletic Director Ken Olynyk. “Not only do they have practice three or four times a week, but there are games and traveling. Add to that, studying and the commitment for community work and it makes the life of a student-athlete very demanding.”
Michelle Dimond was an CIS Academic All Canadian (A. Snucins)
Thompson Rivers had 10 athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian standing through the CIS. They were led by the women’s basketball team with five: Michelle Dimond (Port Moody, BC), Kali Ellis (Campbell River, BC), Kayla and Karalyn Forsyth (Vernon, BC) and Kaitlyn Widsten (Tswwassen, BC).
Vanessa Wiebe (A. Snucins)
There were three women’s volleyball players: Amanda Frayne (Kamloops, BC), Ashley Koehn (Surrey, BC), and Vanessa Wiebe (South Surrey, BC) and two men’s volleyball players: Stephen Richter (White Rock, BC) and Kevin Tillie (Cagnes Sur Mer, France) were also recognized for their efforts.
The Canadian College Athletic Association deems their top student-athletes with National Scholar Status. Brennan Arduini (Kamloops, BC) played two sports(golf/badminton) and was named as a National Scholar. It was Arduini’s fourth selection for badminton and second for golf.
Brennan Arduini
Six of Arduini’s badminton teammates: Serena and Venita Colton (Kamloops, BC), Alex Perkin (Kamloops, BC), Kia Lidster (Kamloops, BC) and Caitlyn Sharp (Invermere, BC) also received the accolades. As did two of his golf teammates: Adam and Mark Gruber (Kamloops, BC).
Maddy Reid throws ball in (Snucins)
Three members of the WolfPack men’s and women’s soccer team were National Scholars in 2009-10. Blair Mackay and Maddie Reid (Kamloops, BC) were joined by Ashley Piggot (Prince George, BC). Lee Bauer and Justin Smeaton of Kamloops along with Firat Orenc (Turkey) of the men’s soccer team were honored for their achievements in the classroom.
David Gore takes faceoff (A. Snucins)
WolfPack baseball and hockey had seven Scholar Athletes. Hockey’s David Gore, Tyler Stothart, Nathan Michaels (all of Kamloops, BC) achieved the status . While Alex Condon and Kyle Sandulescu (both of Victoria, BC) and Aaron Lystang (Edmonton, AB) were proficient on the diamond and in the classroom in 2009-10.
Alex Condon (A. Snucins photo)
All 31 athletes will be honored in September.
WOLFPACK RELEASE FINAL SCHEDULE FOR VB , BB AND SOCCER June 23, 2010
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Lindsey Dekoff (Andrew Snucins)
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have announced the schedule for their soccer, volleyball and basketball teams for the 2010-11 season.
The athletic season for the ‘Pack will begin the weekend of September 11 th with the soccer teams paying a visit to Capilano University and Langara College. The WolfPack have their 2010 BC College Athletic Association home opener the following weekend. Saturday September 18 th will see the WolfPack play an hour earlier against Vancouver Island University Mariners. The women will play at 11 am with the men set to kick off at 1 pm. The hour early start is to accommodate a BC Junior Football League game. For that time only, the WolfPack will have a beverage garden at their match-which will be run by the Kamloops Junior Broncos.
Ashley Piggott (A. Snucins photo)
The WolfPack soccer squads will have six home dates this season.
The TRU Basketball teams will open their 2010-11 Canada West season on the road as well. They visit the Bobcats in Brandon on October 22nd. The ‘Pack’s home opener is set for Friday October 29 th at the Tournament Capital Center when they entertain the Alberta Pandas and Golden Bears. The gate and proceeds from related activities on that night will go to the CIBC Run for the Cure. It is part of a CIS wide initiative by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Game times that night will be 6 pm for the women and 8 pm for the men.
Kristen Knudskov (A. Snucins photo)
The WolfPack volleyball teams kick off their 2010-11 Canada West campaign November 5th at Trinity Western University. Their home opener is Friday November 12 th when the Manitoba Bison pay a visit to the Tournament Capital Center. The women will play at 6 pm with the men at 7:45 pm.
That will be the only regular season Friday night that Pat Hennelly’s men will play at 7:45 pm. In 2010-11, the men’s volleyball team will play Friday nights at 6 pm.
There is one weekend where both the basketball and volleyball teams will be at home at the same time. That occurs on the February 4-6 th weekend. The WolfPack basketball teams close out the home portion of their schedule hosting the University of Victoria Vikes. The volleyball teams entertain the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. The basketball games are set for Friday night (Feb 4) and Saturday night (Feb5) at 6 pm and 8 pm. The volleyball will go Saturday (Feb 5) and Sunday (Feb 6) in the afternoon. The women’s match will begin at 1 pm with the men going at 2:45 pm.
Mark Gruber (A. Snucins)
Also of note: the WolfPack Golf team will host the Canadian College Athletic Association Championships at the Dunes. That event begins October 12 th and runs until October 16 th at the Dunes. The TRU Badminton team will host a BCCAA tournament November 28 th and 29 th at the TRU Gym.
KAMLOOPS TRU ATHLETICS AND RECREATION TO BENEFIT THANKS TO THREE WAY PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING TRU WOLFPACK June 21, 2010
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Athletic Director Ken Olynyk, Bob Smillie of Blazers Legacy Society, Parks, Rec and Culture Director Byron McCorkell
Future volleyball events in Kamloops will benefit as a result of the formalization of a three way partnership involving the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society Legacy Fund, the City of Kamloops and Thompson Rivers University Athletics and Recreation.
TRU Athletic Director Ken Olynyk was presented with a cheque for $ 23, 899.11 by Blazers Sports Society Legacy Fund Chair Bob Smilllie.
Olynyk applied for the grant last winter. The money will be used to aid in transforming the floor at the Tournament Capital Center into five volleyball courts.
“This will allow TRU and the City of Kamloops to host a number of different events, “ says Olynyk. “This includes our Sports Camps, Special Tournaments, Recreation and other events.”
Olynyk points to next months Baden Cup event through Volleyball BC as a perfect example of how the new configuration of the TCC will be used to attract and sustain large volleyball events. Some 200 athletes from around the province will be part of the Baden Cup next month.
“We’d like to thank Jeff Putnam and Byron McCorkell (City Parks, Rec and Culture) and the City of Kamloops along with the Blazers Sports Legacy Fund for making this venture possible.”
LIONS INVADE TRU FOR TRAINING CAMP June 2, 2010
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The campus of Thompson Rivers University will be the backdrop of the CFL BC Lions training camp for the next two weeks. The Lions have moved their camp back into the Interior and are using the TRU Residences, Campus Activity Center along with the Tournament Capital Center and Hillside Stadium (the venues for TRU WolfPack Athletics) for their operations.
“Kamloops has been on our radar for a few years now,” said Lions Coach and General Manager Wally Buono. “ We had a great relationship with the folks in Abbotsford so we weren’t looking for a new training camp home until the timing was right.”
But what Kamloops and Thompson Rivers University had to offer was too good to pass up. “The most important factors are the combination of facilities and living arrangements,” Buono stated. “ Some potential sites offer great living facilities but their dressing rooms, work out area, fields etc weren’t up to CFL standards while others have great practice facilities but the living arrangements leave something to be desired. Kamloops is now a perfect combination of both and we are happy to be here for at least the next three years.”
Buono added “ We believe strongly that we represent the entire province and we owe it to folks across the province to bring training camp to their cities. We have worked hard in 2010 to secure more home games on weekend days which enable fans from the Interior to travel to Vancouver to see our games. We hope they take advantage of the fan friendly schedule.”
The Lions boss says coming to TRU and Kamloops plays a more significant role in his team’s formation and preparation for the 2010 season. “The stadium (Hillside), and more specifically, the field is exactly what we will be playing on at Empire Field. It’s a perfect way to prepare for the season. The stadium itself is excellent from the standpoint of securing equipment and giving our fans a great vantage point to take in practice. The Tournament Capital Center is probably one of the best all-inclusive facilities I have seen. The dressing areas and weight room are first rate and will be an extremely important part of our preparation. The residences are like staying in a hotel and when guys are coming here from the U.S., its great to provide them with all the amenities of home which remove distractions and allow them to perform at their best. When small details are looked after then everything else just falls into place.”
The Lions are bringing in close to 75 players for the camp. In addition, there will be 20-25 coaches, staff and associated personnel. “Training camp is the biggest single undertaking of our season and takes dozens of hours of planning each year,” Buono explained.
“We are happy we can assist the Lions in their training camp,” said TRU Athletic Director Ken Olynyk. “ We look forward to helping them this year and for years to come.”
The Lions rookie camp will run for four days starting today (June 2nd) at Hillside Stadium. Main Camp begins Sunday (June 6) with two-a-day workouts.
The Lions have a special day planned on June 12 th where the public can meet the players and get autographs.