WESMEN NEWS  JANUARY 26 – FEBRUARY 1, 2009 “SPECIAL EDITION”

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Fri. – Sat. Jan 30 – 31  Men’s and Women’s Volleyball vs UBC
(Fri: Women @ 6:00 p.m.  Men @ 8:00 p.m.)
(Sat. Men @ 6:00 p.m.  Women @ 8:00 p.m.)

Sun. Feb. 1 – Men’s and Women’s Basketball vs Brandon
(Women @ 6:00 p.m. Men @ 8:00 p.m. Live on 1290 CFRW)

AWAY:

Thu. Jan.29 – Men’s and Women’s Basketball @ Brandon
(Women @ 6:00 p.m.  Men @ 8:00 p.m.)

WESMEN GONDOLA PIZZA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Mike James, men’s basketball
Mike, third year wing played a huge part in helping the Wesmen to a two game sweep against the Regina Cougars this past weekend at the Duckworth Centre. In Friday’s 77-64 victory, James scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and was stellar on the defensive end finishing the game with three steals and three blocks.
• 34 points in the two games
• 15 rebounds
• Three blocks, four steals
• Leads team in rebounds 6.6 rpg and third in team scoring 12.6 ppg

Ariel Smith, women’s volleyball
Ariel, first year right/left side continued her impressive rookie season this past weekend against the Alberta Pandas in Edmonton. In Saturday’s match Smith led the Wesmen with a match high nine kills and eight defensive digs.
• 22 total kills in two matches
• 14 defensive digs
• Leads team in points (157), service aces (13), and defensive digs (155)
• Second on the team in kills (134)

GENERAL WESMEN NEWS

The Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters held their annual dinner and awards night last evening. The University of Winnipeg was well represented on the evening. Special congratulations to the following: Former Athletic Director Bill Wedlake, who was named the recipient of the Dallis Beck Good Guy Award, for exceptional guidance and service to the provincial sports media. Men’s Volleyball star Ben Schellenberg was a finalist for the Male Athlete of the Year. The 2007-08 Men’s Volleyball Team was a finalist in the Team of the Year category and a special acknowledgement to Olympian and third year University of Winnipeg Kinesiology student Jay Lyon for being named the Male Athlete of the Year. Lyon helped kick off the current Wesmen season back in October with a special archery display.

Attention all Wesmen fans….how does a trip to Las Vegas sound, well it is possible. The Winnipeg Wesmen in conjunction with Out n’ About Travel is giving away a weekend trip to Las Vegas. Draw ballots are available at all Wesmen home games/matches. Each ballot cost $2.00 with all proceeds going towards the University of Winnipeg’s Athletic Scholarship Fund. The draw will be made at the Sat, Feb. 6th basketball game vs Simon Fraser. All entrants must be in attendance to win.

The 2009 Wesmen Summer Sports Camps will once again be taking place at the Duckworth Centre in July and August. Information and on line registration will soon be available at www.wesmen.ca

WESMEN IN THE COMMUNITY

The Inner City Jr. Wesmen Youth Basketball team has organized the inaugural "Heart of the Community" Basketball Tournament for 14 and under girls and boys teams. The tournament will take place February 13 and 14, 2009. For more information and to register please log onto www.wesmen.ca

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Head Coach Dave Crook and his team had a very successful weekend winning both games against the Regina Cougars at the Duckworth Centre. In Friday’s opening game the Wesmen snapped a four game losing streak with an impressive 77-64 victory. Nick Lother led the way with a game high 20 points, including four-three pointers and seven assists. Mike James had one of his best games of the season scoring 18 points. Peter Lomuro scored 16 points, added four assists and four steals. Jeff Shynkaryk hauled down a team high nine rebounds. Winnipeg made it a perfect weekend on Saturday night downing the Cougars 64-62. Nick Lother led the Wesmen with 24 points, four three pointers, three assists and three steals. Mike James scored 16 points and hauled down a team high nine rebounds. The pair of wins improves Winnipeg’s record to 5-13 and in sole possession of third place in the Great Plains Division. Winnipeg will travel to Brandon on Thursday to take on the division leading Bobcats (10-8). The teams will play in Winnipeg on Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. The game will be carried live on 1290 CFRW.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Women’s team had a tough weekend losing both games to the first place Regina Cougars at the Duckworth Centre. On Friday night the Cougars defeated the Wesmen 71-62. Jessica Stromberg led the team with 15 points, including a pair of three pointers. Catie Gooch added 14 points, four assists and four steals. Sarah Reilly finished with 10 points and a team leading seven rebounds. On Saturday, the Cougars completed the sweep with a convincing 68-44 victory. Catie Gooch led the team with 14 points and four steals. Amy Ogidan scored 10 points. Jessica Stromberg had a team leading seven rebounds. Winnipeg sits with a record of 10-8, second place in the Great Plains Division. Winnipeg will travel to Brandon on Thursday for a date against the Bobcats (1-17). The teams will meet at the Duckworth Centre on Sunday evening. Game time is 6:00 p.m.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Head Coach Diane Scott and her team were in Edmonton for a pair of matches against the fourth ranked Alberta Pandas. In Friday’s opening match the Wesmen started strong in a four set loss 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-17) to the Pandas. Ariel Smith led the team with 13 kills. Marlee Bragg added 12 kills. Libero Tessa Peteson finished with 10 defensive digs and first year setter Amanda Bakker had 32 set assists and two service aces. In Saturday’s match the Pandas defeated the Wesmen 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-10). Ariel Smith led the Wesmen with a match high nine kills, eight defensive digs. Marlee Bragg led the team with four blocks. Winnipeg sits with a record of 1-15 and will host the UBC Thunderbirds (11-5) on Friday and Saturday at the Duckworth Centre.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Wesmen were in Edmonton to face the top ranked and unbeaten Alberta Golden Bears in a pair of matches. On Friday night the Golden Bears defeated the Wesmen 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-23). Andrew Town led the Wesmen with 11 kills followed by Alan Ahow and Justin Duff each with six kills. Duff added five blocks and Ahow also led the team with five defensive digs. On Saturday night the Golden Bears beat the Wesmen in four tough sets 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-22, 25-21). Andrew Town had a match high 18 kills. Justin Duff added 12 kills to go along with three blocks. Chad Rempel led the Wesmen with nine defensive digs. Winnipeg (7-7) was able to clinch the final playoff spot in the tough Canada West Conference. The Wesmen will host UBC (8-6) for a weekend series on Friday and Saturday nights at the Duckworth Centre.