Image Credit: TRU WolfPack

By Silvia Senna

Men's Soccer

WolfPack men’s soccer has a new addition for the 2024-25 season

Mar 9, 2024 | 1:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s soccer team just announced that Kamloops local Aren Christianson has committed to the ‘Pack for the 2024-25 season.

“Aren is a big, strong boy and a very good one-versus-one defender,” said head coach John Antulov. “He’s been a really solid player and a kid that I’ve been looking at for the last couple years so I’m really happy for him to come back home and play for TRU.”

The six-foot-three centre back started his soccer career with KYSA, before making the jump down to the Lower Mainland to play for Surrey United for his final two years of high school.

“Seeing how much the school values the team and the athletic department in general was great,” said Christianson. “John has been able to pull some big name players to TRU so that definitely helped my decision to come here. It will be nice to be back home close to my family and a lot of my old friends, it will be great to be back in the community that I grew up in.”

While in the Lower Mainland, Christianson claimed back-to-back provincial championships and a bronze medal finish at nationals with Surrey United – earning him the attention of both the B.C. Provincial Team and a trial with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

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Christianson plans on studying English at TRU, with an eventual goal of entering law school. Describing himself as a versatile centreback, he said other players on the roster were another factor in his decision to join the team.

“They have centre backs like Elijah Dos Santos and Harry Taylor. They’re not that much older than me, but I’m really hoping to learn from them because they have so much experience,” he explained. “I’m looking forward to playing with them.”

Lastly, Christianson is glad to be home and surrounded by his community.

“The community as a whole is really supportive of the team and from what I’ve seen, that really fuels the guys to get up for every game and play well,” said Christianson, who grew up watching WolfPack games as a fan. “It’s a combination between the community, John as a coach and then the players that I’ll get to play alongside. All three of those factors make me really excited to come back.”