He was a prized recruit and the first-ever member of the UNBC men's soccer team. During his five years with the Northern Timberwolves, Scott DeBianchi met or exceeded every expectation placed on him.
So, it was fitting that DeBianchi was recognized during a Tuesday UNBC athletics awards banquet as his club's most valuable player for the fifth consecutive year.
"It feels great," said the 25-year-old Prince George product. "I can't really explain myself. It's such an honour to be the MVP for five years in a row. It was a good team. I had a lot of fun and my experience at UNBC was awesome."
Other MVPs announced at the banquet, held on campus at The Bentley Centre, were Andrea Bertulli (women's soccer), Sam Raphael and Francis Rowe (men's basketball co-winners) and Mercedes Van Koughnett (women's basketball).
In DeBianchi's first year, the Timberwolves were a brand new team in the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association. As a hard-rock defender whose passion for the game was equalled by his knowledge, he was their unquestioned leader right away. DeBianchi was picked as a second-team BCCAA all-star in each of his first two seasons and was a first-team all-star in his remaining three. Along the way, he led the T-wolves to three provincial playoff appearances and helped them claim B.C. silver in 2010.
"We started off as what seemed like some kind of expansion team but within the five years that I was there, we watched our team grow and expand into something that was more of a family than a team," said DeBianchi, who is putting the finishing touches on a degree in finance.
As a UNBC graduate, DeBianchi will be a spectator next season when the Timberwolves move up to compete in the Canada West conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. He has mixed feelings about the fact he'll be on the sidelines instead of between them.
"I would have liked to play in the CIS but since my five years is up I'm happy to be done," he said with a chuckle.
Bertulli, a hometown midfielder and defender who is engaged to DeBianchi, also spent all five years of her playing eligibility in UNBC colours. She admitted that returning for one more year would be nice.
"It's sad I can't come back for a sixth year but I'm excited to see where the program goes because we're going into CIS," she said. "It's really exciting to know that I was a part of building the soccer program. It was a great five years playing for UNBC and I wouldn't change anything."
In men's basketball, Raphael and Rowe - both fourth-year players - see their names go alongside that of Inderbir Gill on the MVP trophy. Gill, a three-time All-Canadian and a national player of the year, had a lock on the MVP award during his time at UNBC (2008-09 to 2010-11).
"Our names are on a trophy next to Gill's, which is pretty special," said Rowe, a brilliant outside shooter who was picked as the top player at the provincial championship tournament, won by the T-wolves. "The people who have won that award did really great things so it's nice to be put in that class."
Van Koughnett, a third-year guard from Prince George, led the league in assists in 2011-12 and was the MVP at provincials.
"I had to be more of a leader this year - lead by example and step it up," she said.
Other award-winners at the banquet were: men's soccer - top scorer, Daniel Dell; best defensive player, Liam MacPhail; coach's award, Amedee Cimana; women's soccer - top scorer, Cora Kelly; best defensive player, Jordan Hall; coach's award, Tanya Grob; men's basketball - rookie of the year, Billy Cheng; best defensive player, Raphael; most inspirational player, Joel Rybachuk; most dedicated player, Dennis Stark; women's basketball - rookie of the year, Danielle Steel; best defensive player, Sarah Robin and Jennifer Knibbs (co-winners).
