Vasiliki Louka is writing her university exams at UNBC this week, completing her third year of studying international business.
She’s hoping to apply her knowledge of other cultures, languages and business practices to allow her to succeed in a global marketplace.
Just like she did on the basketball court for her UNBC Timberwolves.
The 22-year-old Louka had a breakout season in her third season since coming to UNBC from her native Greece. The six-foot-three post took the T-wolves on her shoulders and into the U Sports Canada West Conference playoffs for the first time in their five-year history in the league. For her season-long accomplishments, Louka was recognized Sunday evening at the Timberwolves’ awards banquet as female athlete of the year.
“It’s a great honour but this would not happen if my coaches and teammates did not support me like they did this year,” said Louka.
Louka emerged as the T-wolves’ leading rebounder (9.3 per game, fourth in Canada West) and second-leading scorer (15.8 points per game, 10th in the conference). She towered over many of her opponents and put her physical attributes to good use dominating the net at either end while averaging more than 33 minutes per game.
“I spent more time in the gym and I worked hard during the summer so I think that was the biggest difference me,” she said. “For sure, all the awards and everything are good, but we went to playoffs and that’s the biggest award for me.”
Soccer striker Tofa Fakunle, a fourth-year player from Calgary, was chosen male athlete of the year. In 15 games he scored four goals and had five assists for nine points, which left him tied with Francesco Bartolillo for the team scoring lead (10th in Canada West). He and Bartolillo shared the team’s Golden Boot Award. In 2016, Fakunle became the T-wolves’ all-time leader in goals, assists, points, shots and games started.
“I’m blessed, and I want to thank my coaches and my teammates for always pushing me to be the best that I could possibly be,” said the 21-year-old Fakunle. “Last year (in 2015) I wasn’t the greatest leader on this team, even though I had the captain’s armband, but I wasn’t fulfilling my duties that way. My teammates gave me the opportunity to kind of grow up, and be like, “Look, if you’re going to be our leader you have to do it the right way and Steve (coach Simonson) gave me that opportunity too. Without them pushing me to grow up and push myself to do the work, this doesn’t happen.”
The T-wolves’ top rookies were soccer defender Mara McCleary and basketball guard Tyrell Laing. McCleary, 18, joined UNBC right out of high school in Victoria and became a mainstay on the back line, leading the team in tackles and blocked shots while playing every minute of the T-wolves 13 games. McCleary was also named the team’s top defensive player.
Laing, 19, a graduate of Prince George secondary school, thrived on the court as a freshman and earned the trust of the coaching staff while averaging 17.3 minutes per game and five points per game, both UNBC records for Canada West rookies. He totalled 90 points in 18 games, also a T-wolves’ record.
Bartolillo, 21,who completed his third season with the T-wolves as a forward, was chosen for a new award – the KJM Sales Timberwolf Award, presented to the UNBC athlete who best exemplifies excellence in athletics, the classroom and the community. Bartolillo set the example with his volunteer work for charities, he was a top-10 Canada West pointgetter and made the U Sports Academic All-Canadian team.
Basketball point guard Mario Mongomo and soccer defender Gordon Hall were named to the conference second all-star teams in their respective sports and both received their team’s top defensive player honours. Mongomo averaged 2.5 steals per game (seventh in the league) and also led the T-wolves in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game (tied for eighth in Canada West).
Other awards handed out Sunday were as follows:
Women’s soccer – MVP: Tianna Pius; Top offensive player: Pius; Green and Gold Award: Lianna Toopitsin.
Men’s soccer – Coach’s Award: Bartolillo.
Women’s basketball – MVP: Louka; Rookie of the year: Madison Landry; Most improved: Stacey Graham; Most inspirational: Preety Nijjar.
Men’s basketball: Top defensive player: Austin Chandler; Most outstanding player: Rhys Elliott; Zane Robison Award: Marcus MacKay; Most inspirational: Volodymyr Plushnikov.
Graduating T-wolves Graham, Nijjar, Elliott, Sam Shang, Elliot Rowe, Mitch MacFarlane and Ashley Anderson received traditional First Nations drums built by other UNBC varsity athletes. The drums were presented by Bev Isaac of UNBC’s First Nations Centre.
