Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS

WolfPack basketball set to start season at TCC Friday night

Nov 2, 2023 | 12:30 PM

KAMLOOPS —On Friday night (Nov. 3), both Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack basketball teams open up Canada West conference play at the Tournament Capital Centre.

“We’ll be in for a battle,” Todd Warnick, TRU women’s basketball head coach says. “There’s no doubt we’re excited to open at home and get after the Canada West season.”

Warnick knows the learning curve will be steep for his squad this season. With 10 first-year players, three of whom will start for the WolfPack, this team is built for the future.

“Our youth is an exciting place to be,” Warnick says. “With 10 freshmen, and they’re excited to get after it and go up and down. We’ve had a very dynamic preseason, so we’ll see what we bring to the table.”

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One of Warnick’s prize recruits is Olivia Randall, a Regina product who played for Team Sask. at the 2022 Canada Summer Games. She’s looking forward to this group growing, learning, and maturing together.

“It’s not like we’re alone in this process of growing accustomed to this environment. I think it’s better than if it was just one of two rookies,” Randall explains. “Once we get into our third and fourth years when all of us are older, I think it’s going to be a really cool experience.”

Fourth-year guard Kelsey Cruz has been through some lean years with the WolfPack. She’s excited about the opportunity to help grow this team and get the program back on an upward trajectory.

“As a team with a lot of youthful spirit, we have to surprise teams and use that to our advantage,” Cruz tells CFJC Today. “I think what we lack in experience, we’ll find and make up for in effort in those loose ball situations. I’m excited for this team and I think it’s a great step forward in this program.”

On the men’s side, a new era begins, as Chad Jacobson takes the helm after Scott Clark moved into a new role with the WolfPack Athletics Department last spring.

“I think it just starts with who we are, you know, really trying to create that identity, trying to build that culture of a team that’s going come out and compete every single night,” Jacobson suggests, about stepping into his role with the ‘Pack.

The WolfPack will be without fourth-year standout Asher Mayan to start the season after he was injured in the preseason. However, fellow fourth-year Simon Crossfield says he and his teammates are ready to step up and fill those minutes.

“We might not be as talented as some of the top teams in our division, but we know that if we play our best game if we go out and give 40 minutes of solid effort and energy, that we can compete with anyone,” Crossfield says. “It’s going to be about doing that night in, night out and whenever you’re on the court, just giving your best effort.”

The WolfPack teams are excited to face off against the Trinity Western University Spartans this weekend at the Tournament Capital Centre. Tip-off on both Friday and Saturday goes at 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:30 p.m. for the men.

“Opening week for Canada West is always exciting,” Jacobson says. “Our guys feel that excitement, they’re ready to go.”