KUFSKE AND THIESSEN COMMIT TO TWU

Brad Kufske - Province Ric Ernst

Men's Volleyball (Announcement)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Recruit Signings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KUFSKE AND THIESSEN COMMIT TO TWU

-Photo courtesy Vancouver Province: Ric Ernst photographer

LANGLEY, British Columbia - Trinity Western University men's volleyball coach Ben Josephson is pleased to announce the commitment of Brad Kufske and Derek Thiessen to play for the Spartans beginning in the fall of 2009.

"It is really exciting to receive commitments from the top two hitters in the province this early. It is always exciting to recruit local talent that is such perfect fit. They both hit on all of the dials we judge our prospective Spartans with: Athleticism, Academics and Character, commented Josephson. "They both have been developed in the Fraser Valley Volleyball Club and whenever athletes can come through your local club and high school system's it is exciting. These two young men will be great players, students and ambassadors in our program for the next five years and it will be my honor to coach them."

Kufske, a 6'5" member of the Yale Secondary Lions and the Fraser Valley Volleyball Club has been a dominant player in BC for a number of teams and is expected to play a significant roll with the Spartans. He was a member of the U16 Team BC national gold medal team, the U16 FVVC Provincial and National championship team.

"We are ecstatic to have Brad as a Spartan Men's Volleyball Athlete next fall. There are very few high school athletes that have as complete a package of tools and gifts as Brad does. His athleticism is outstanding. He is big, quick, explosive and relentless," commented Josephson. "He is an honor roll student and is very dedicated to his education. He is a young man of exceptional character both in morals and work ethic. We are very excited that Brad will be representing Spartan Men's Volleyball for the next five years."

In addition Kufske has also won a number of individual awards including first team all-star at the 2008 provincials and the 2008 Fraser Valley's as well as winning the BC Provincial hitting competition in 2008.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to attend the highly respected Trinity Western University and to play with a high caliber CIS volleyball team. The coaching staff's leadership with club and provincial volleyball programs has been key to my development and I look forward to them challenging me to excel further," commented Kufske on his choice to attend TWU. "After spending a weekend with the team I found they not only work hard but also support each other off the court, which had a big influence on my decision. I anticipate Trinity is a place that will challenge me to excel academically and athletically, and to grow in my relationship with Christ and others."

Thiessen a 6'5" member of the Fraser Valley Volleyball Club will be showing his athletic prowess next season with the Spartans and is expected to be a strong contributor with the Spartans for years to come.

"We are very excited to add Derek to our roster next fall. Derek has a tremendous up-side in our sport. He is a gifted jumper and has the potential to become a great outside hitter. His strong arm and big jump will make him a great side out player in our system. He is a solid young man with a great family background and embodies the types of character traits that we value at TWU. We are really excited to have Derek for the next five years."

Thiessen has been a standout with Centennial Secondary, where he was named Male Athlete of the Year in his grade 10 and 11 years, as well as with the FVVC and Team BC. He was a named tournament MVP of the Western Elite Tournament as a member of the U16 Team BC that won the tournament's gold medal.

"Since the first time I ever watched Trinity play, I thought maybe one day I could be a part of that, and when the opportunity presented itself I couldn't turn it down," commented Thiessen on his choice to attend Trinity Western.

The Spartans are currently ranked tenth in the CIS and are in fourth place in Canada West. The TWU men's volleyball program won the CIS Championship in 2006 and has earned four CIS Championship medals since joining the CIS in the 1999-2000 season.

Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C., is an independent Christian liberal arts and sciences university enrolling approximately 4000 students. TWU offers 41undergraduate majors, ranging from biotechnology, education, nursing, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies. TWU's 17 graduate degree programs include
counseling psychology, business, theology, linguistics, and leadership, and interdisciplinary degrees in English, philosophy and history. TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Dead Sea Scroll Studies, Developmental Genetics and Disease, and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-one members,
10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 19 national championships in 11 different sports. The CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, and 27 World University Championships. For further information, visit www.universitysport.ca

-TW-

 

Last Updated: 2009-01-20
Author: Scott Stewart