Grewal and Bruce named UFV Cascades Athletes of the Year

Kyle Grewal, men’s basketball and Kayla Bruce, women’s volleyball, are 2012 University of the Fraser Valley Cascades athletes of the year.   Colton O’Neill, men’s soccer, and Krista Hogewoning, women’s volleyball, are the UFV Cascades Rookies of the Year.  The Cascades celebrated the 2011-12 varsity season, at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre, at the annual varsity banquet, in one of the department’s most successful campaigns in the school’s 34 years of interuniversity sport.
The Cascades teams earned two national medals (men’s golf and women’s volleyball), three conference medals (men’s basketball, men’s golf and women’s volleyball) and four of the nine programs participated in national and regional championship tournaments.  UFV participates in the CIS (men’s and women’s soccer and basketball), CCAA (men’s and women’s volleyball and men’s golf) and men’s and women’s rowing teams compete for the CURC title.
Kyle Grewal, a fourth year Kinesiology major from Surrey, BC led the Cascades men’s basketball team to a 13-5 Canada West regular season record.  The Cascades finished the 2011-12 CIS campaign as the country’s 4th ranked team and earned the Canada West silver medal. Grewal would finish the regular season with a 14.6 points per game average and 7.1 rebounds per game.  The veteran forward started 17 of the 18 regular season games.  In the Canada West post season, Grewal led UFV to the school’s first berth at the CIS men’s basketball “Final 8” national tournament with a 12 point performance in UFV’s 63-62 victory over the University of Victoria Vikes, in Saskatoon, SK.  Kyle was named “player of the game” for his team leading 12 points and 6 total rebounds.
At the CIS “Final 8” national championship tournament Kyle broke all the UFV Cascades playoff scoring records, scoring 63 points in the three-day tournament, including a 35 point performance against St. Francis Xavier in the bronze medal game.  Kyle was selected to the CIS national championship tournament all-star team. Kyle was named the UFV Cascades/Abbotsford Heat Athlete of the Week, three times during the season.
“Kyle had a fantastic season for our program and represented UFV well on the national stage,” said UFV men’s basketball head coach Barnaby Craddock.“Kyle has really developed into an all-round student-athlete, as he has brought his grades up to an “A” average, to combine with his national recognition on the court.”
Kayla Bruce, a third year middle from Surrey, BC, led the Cascades women’s volleyball team to the 2012 CCAA national bronze medal and a school record 21 win PACWEST regular and post season mark.  The Cascades would earn the 2012 PACWEST conference silver medal and be ranked 4th in CCAA top ten poll the majority of the year.
Bruce earned PACWEST first team all-star selection, named PACWEST Female Volleyball Player of the Year, named CCAA All-Canadian, was named to the CCAA national championship tournament all-star team and was selected as the PACWEST 2012 Female Athlete of the Year.  Kayla was named the UFV Cascades/Abbotsford Heat Athlete of the Week three times in 2011-12.
“This was one heck of a year for Kayla. A year with accomplishments one has never earned in our program. It is true that success does not happen on the volleyball court without a good team and contributions from everyone. Kayla’s stats shine brighter than most in the country,” said UFV women’s volleyball head coach Dennis Bokenfohr. “She has a very strong work ethic when it comes to training hard consistently in practice and is a role model to her teammates.”
Colton O’Neil, a rookie defender from Abbotsford, BC is the second straight men’s soccer player to be awarded the school’s male rookie of the year award, Ravi Singh, Abbotsford, BC in 2010-11.  O’Neill started all 14 Canada West regular season matches for UFV and started off his CIS career by helping shut out arch rival TWU Spartans, 1-0, on opening night by marking the Spartans top strikers.  O’Neill played 90 minutes each night and was named the Cascades “player of the match” six times in his inaugural season.  O’Neill played a big part in UFV’s victory in the 2012 annual spring “Keg Classic” in Victoria, BC.  The rookie defender shut down Victoria and TWU’s top forwards as the Cascades shut out Victoria, 1-0 and TWU, 4-0, to capture the classic title.
“Colton is the ultimate professional.  He played every minute of every game during his first CIS Season and was the most consistent player in the squad. He is a pleasure to work with every day and never lets you down,” said UFV men’s soccer head coach Alan Errington.  “Colton comes from a great soccer family and his two brothers will no doubt contribute, when they recover from their injuries.”
Krista Hogewoning, a rookie right side from Delta, BC, played a large role in UFV’s 21 win regular and post season PACWEST campaign.  Hogewoning was named PACWEST female volleyball athlete of the week in November, 2011 and was twice named UFV Cascades/Abbotsford Heat athlete of the week.  Hogewoning was named to the PACWEST all-rookie all-star team and finished  5th in kills with 2.95 average, 8th in total offense with 3.56 and 10th in aces with 0.39 average.
“Krista earned a starting spot as our P2 and never gave it back. Her passing skills improved throughout the year where at times in games she was our best passer. Krista’s statistics were very impressive for a first year student-athlete,” said Bokenfohr.  Krista had a very good rookie season and was not just a good rookie this year, but she was a force in our league. Her attack is very high and very aggressive.”
Alexa McCarthy, is the recipient of the UFV Cascades Outstanding Community Service award for the second straight year.  The women’s basketball player is active in several community service initiatives and takes on a key leadership role in the fundraising the department of athletics undertakes.
For the past three years McCarthy has been participating in the Fraser Valley’s chapter of the Operation Red Nose program. From mid-November, leading up to Christmas, volunteers transport people from Christmas parties who have had too much Christmas spirit to drive themselves home.  This year Alexa once again volunteered for the entire Christmas season and also recruited her teammates to volunteer their time for a weekend in December.  Alexa organized a campus wide food drive for the Abbotsford food bank centred around all of UFV’s athletic events in November and December.  She has grown this project over the past 3 years.  The drive has produced several hundred pounds of food annually as well as cash donations.
She volunteers her time at Menno House (senior’s home in Abbotsford) where she leads resistant band classes for the residents once a week. She also spends time visiting residents, doing a variety of projects with them.  This is a year-around commitment, where she spends 2 hours a week.
The past three years Alexa has led UFV’s Shoot for the Cure drive.  The Kinesiology major does the majority of the ground work, organization, recruitment of helpers and guest speakers.  She markets the event around campus, community and has been the major reason UFV have been able to increase our contribution to this cause in the three years she has been at UFV.
“I am very proud of Alexa’s contributions to our program and the community.  She is a true student-athlete playing, practicing, studying and contributing to the needs of others without asking for anything in return.  Alexa is a role model for our program,” said UFV women’s basketball head coach Al Tuchscherer.
Bethany Whitehead, a third year business major from Abbotsford, BC, is the 2012 recipient of the Jen Simpson Award. The veteran Cascade rower participates in the lightweight four and doubles crew.  This award is presented each year to a member of the men’s and women’s Rowing program.  The student-athlete must be eligible for an athletic financial award in terms of credit hours and grade point average.  The recipient should have strong leadership qualities and be eligible in the fall of 2012 to participate on the rowing team.
“Bethany is a very deserving candidate. Bethany excels in both the classroom and in the water,” said UFV rowing head coach Liz Chisholm.
The rowing program has won the UFV President’s Shield the past two seasons for earning the highest team grade point average.  Last year the programs collective GPA was 3.21.
The Cascades will be saying good bye to eight student-athletes, in a year which almost every team improved their standing in their respective conferences, UFV will only be losing six percent of its student-athletes. UFV would like to recognize the following graduating student-athletes for their accomplishments and dedication to UFV over their careers
representing the Cascades.
Women’s Soccer
Emma Broadfoot
Ellen Kuyer
Megan Webster
Men’s Basketball
Sheldon Bjorgaard
Mike James
Women’s Basketball
Tessa Klassen
Men’s Golf
Dan McArthur
Men’s Volleyball
Aaron Flanagan
2011-12 UFV Team Most Valuable Players
Basketball:
(M)Kyle Grewal
(W)Tessa Klassen
Golf:
(M) Aaron Pauls
Rowing:
Bryan Siemens/Scott Micona/Mat Morrison
Soccer:
(M) Sasa Plavsic
(W) Chelsea Steffen
Volleyball:
(M) Trevor Nickel
(W) Kayla Bruce/Jenna Evans
2011-12 UFV Individual Team Awards
Basketball:
(M)Sheldon Bjorgaard, Most Inspirational Player
(W) Kayli Sartori, Rookie of the Year
Golf:
(M) Dan McArthur, Most Inspirational Player
Rowing:
Becky Hildebrandt, Most Inspirational Player
Soccer:
(M) Colton O’Neill, Rookie of the Year
(W) McKenzie Shopland, Rookie of the Year
Volleyball:
(M) Adam Chaplin, Rookie of the Year
(W) Jillian Saunders, Most Inspirational Player
For further information on the UFV Cascades varsity athletics contact David Kent, Sports Information, 604-309-7658   david.kent@ufv.ca