Image Credit: TRU WolfPack Athletics/A. Snucins

By Adam Donnelly

VOLLRATH & DE LA MARE

Package deal: WolfPack rookies from St. Albert, AB making an impact together on the court

Feb 8, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — At 5’4” and 6’2” respectively, the only time Sydney Vollrath can claim to tower over Kate De La Mare is when the latter is on the floor getting limber before hitting the hardwood.

The two St. Albert, Alberta products were teammates in high school before both decided to play basketball at Thompson Rivers University.

“When I’m on the floor, I just know where she is without seeing her,” Vollrath tells CFJC Today. “And she knows where I am without seeing me. We just have a different level of connection when we’re on the floor. I think it’s really cool that me and her get to experience this together, through high school and university basketball.”

“It’s really nice. I think it really helps on the floor when we play together,” De La Mare says. “We always just know where each other are. It’s really awesome.”

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The pair came as a package deal. Vollrath is the tenacious guard coaches dream about having.

“It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog, and Syd personifies that in everything she does,” WolfPack head coach Todd Warnick says. “She’s relentless, she can play against bigger players, she’ll fight endlessly for every ball, every possession and is starting to realize how good a basketball player she can be. I think her connection to Kate is what helped Kate decide she wanted to try this out.”

De La Mare has been more than just a presence in the paint for TRU this year. A ringette player growing up, she’s only been serious about basketball since Grade 10, when she and Vollrath first met. This year, she’s made an impact inside for the ‘Pack, as she’s third in Canada West in blocked shots and has led the way as a rebounder for TRU.

Image Credit: TRU WolfPack Athletics/UBCO Heat

“I kinda just like focus on, ‘Okay, today I’m going to rebound super good’ because maybe my skill level isn’t as high as some of the girls I’m playing against that have been playing for five years,” De La Mare explains. “But the effort is always there, and I can just push to be my best.”

That was how Warnick sold the WolfPack program to his rookie recruits — step in and have an opportunity to contribute right away.

“She’s going against some of the best players in the country, night in and night out,” Warnick says. “You’re not going to get more battle-tested than that. [Kate] has risen to the occasion, she’s putting in the work, and a lot of that is going to be experiential. That growth that comes from being able to battle, that’s kind of what we convinced these players that they were going get a chance to play and contribute. It wasn’t going to be a wait-and-see situation, they were going to come in and be part of the program immediately and contribute right away.”

Warnick says he’s excited about where this group of athletes is headed.

“We went out of our way to recruit young women who could be fearless,” Warnick says. “There are moments when an athlete two weeks ago was not as productive then all of a sudden steps out of the shadows and does something really exciting.”

This weekend, WolfPack basketball will play its final home games of the 2023-24 season. With no way into the Canada West playoffs, the ‘Pack will be playing for pride and for continued growth into next season.

“I think it’s been really good, especially with so many rookies,” De La Mare says. “I feel like we’re so bonded and so close together, and our team chemistry has gotten a lot better each game we play.”

“It’s just really good to have a big group of rookies. It’s a lot different than other teams in USports, which is nice,” Vollrath says. “From the start of the season until now, it’s been pretty crazy — our growth — so I’m really excited to see how it works out for us when a big group of rookies are playing together for a while.”

Image Credit: TRU WolfPack Athletics/University of Calgary Dinos

It’s a journey that is made easier when you have one of your best friends along with you on the ride.

“It’s awesome,” Vollrath says. “I couldn’t do it without her. Great teammate and a great friend. I live with her, too, in the dorms, so we spend a lot of time together, but it’s awesome.”