Wesmen Athletics
UWinnipeg Adds Baseball To It's Wesmen Sports Programs
The University of Winnipeg Announced Today That It Is Adding Baseball To The List Of Wesmen Sports Programs..
(Original Release Date - January 17, 2011)
UWINNIPEG ADDS BASEBALL TO ITS WESMEN SPORTS PROGRAM
MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2011 - The University of Winnipeg announced today that it is adding baseball to its family of Wesmen sports teams. Student-athletes in the Wesmen baseball program will begin classes and training in September 2011 with its full slate of games beginning in the Spring of 2012.
In its first full season of competition, the team will play 35 to 40 spring games against National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Junior Colleges Athletic Association (NJCAA) competition. The goal is to have the program compete as a full member of the NAIA within a few years. The closest NAIA conference is the Dakota Athletic Conference, which features schools in North and South Dakota.
“The addition of a baseball program is another example of how we are meeting the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on Athletics and Academics,” said UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. “One of the mandates from the Task Force was that we broaden and deepen our athletic programs, both from a community and competitive perspective. There are increasing demands for university and community sports programming - meaningful programming that goes beyond our traditional views of sport. By adding baseball, we further meet these demands in a positive way.”
Like all Wesmen teams, the baseball team will do more than just play games.
“The student-athletes in our baseball program will give back to the community at large and, in particular, the inner-city community by holding camps, workshops and clinics,” said Athletic Director Doran Reid. “Baseball is a popular sport that continues to show growth in the downtown and in the Aboriginal communities. We look forward to working with partners like Baseball Manitoba and the Winnipeg Goldeyes to develop the sport within our community.”
The University announced that Guy Yerama and Mike Krykewich will coach the Wesmen baseball team. Both individuals have significant coaching experience within the province. The team will play its games at Shaw Park - home of the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association. Shaw Park is one of the top minor professional parks in North America.
Funding for the program will come entirely from outside sources, such as donations, sponsorship, game receipts, camps and other fundraising efforts.
HUNTER, POMARENSKY FIRST COMMITMENTS TO WESMEN BASEBALL
The University of Winnipeg is also pleased to announce the commitments of it’s first two players to the Wesmen Baseball program. Head Coach Guy Yerama announced that local players Cody Hunter and Wes Pomarensky have become the first players to commit to the newly formed Wesmen Baseball program.
Cody Hunter Bio
· Member of the 2010 Western Canadian Junior Champions Elmwood Giants team.
· Played for the AAA Red River Pioneers bantam and midget teams
· Played for the Team Manitoba Baseball 15 and 16 year old prospects team
· Starting second baseman for the Youth Selects (2007), coached by Guy Yerama
· Named the 2008 Midget Provincial All-Star and played for the Elmwood Giants Junior as an underage player.
· Named the Manitoba Junior Baseball League all star second baseman in 2008
· In 2009 played for the provincial Champion Elmwood Junior Giants and was a member of the 2009 Canada Summer Games team.
· Recently named a 2010 MJBL all star and was a member of Team Manitoba that captured it’s first national title in 28 years.
· Currently in his second year at the U of W in the Faculty of Education with a major in kinesiology and minor in mathematics.
· Active member in instructing youth player camps for Baseball Manitoba
Wes Pomarensky Bio
· Member of the 2010 Western Canadian Junior Champions Elmwood Giants team and Team Manitoba.
· Played bantam and midget baseball for the AAA North Winnipeg Pirates
· Played for the Elmwood Giants Junior Team (2001-2010) winning two junior championships in 2007 and 2009
· Named the 2009 Manitoba Junior Baseball League all star short stop
· Honoured by the MJBL coaches as the winner of the Jacobucci Domes Award which combines sportsmanship and ability
· Currently in his fourth year in the Bachelor of Arts/Kinesiology program at the U of Winnipeg
· Active in working youth player camps and as a assistant coach with Team Manitoba Western Canada Games team
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