Abbotsford – The UFV Cascades women’s basketball team graduated five players following their bronze medal finish at the 2014 CIS national championships, and are looking to continue their success with a promising new class of recruits for the 2014-2015 season. UFV coach Al Tuchscherer is known for having an eye for local talent, and his three recruits, Chantel Ewert, Danielle Vanbergen, and Jenika Bannerman surely have exciting futures ahead of them at UFV!
Chantel Ewert is a 6-2 guard/forward from Port Coquitlam (Terry Fox Secondary) who already has experience with both the Junior Cascades program and the BC Provincial team. She is “a very skilled basketball player with a unique skill set,” says Tuchscherer. “You typically don’t see someone with her length have the skills and mindset to be a guard. She is a fantastic shooter, a great ball handler, and has a great understanding of the game. We first met Chantel back when she was in grade six and all our coaches have been fans ever since. We are excited to have someone in our family who really understands what it means to be part a team and is driven by her team-first attitude.”
Ewert says “I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff that were a part of my development at a young age as well as reconnecting with former teammates. It is a great opportunity for me to attend school and learn and grow as a player while staying close to home.”
Danielle Vanbergen is a 5-7 guard from Courtenay, BC (Mark Isfeld Secondary). “Danielle is the type of player made to be a Cascade,” says Tuchscherer. “She loves to play, loves to get in the gym, and loves to get better. Heading into her grade 12 year we had several people contact us about this girl at Mark Isfeld who would be a perfect fit for our program. We don’t typically recruit in Courtenay, but people felt so strongly that she needed to be a Cascade that our coaches went out of their way to take a look. We quickly became fans of her game and her attitude towards the game; we knew that she would be a perfect fit for us. Her game is creative and she can score in a variety of different ways. We’re excited to get her in the gym this summer and get her immersed in our team.”
Vanbergen says “the University of the Fraser Valley and the women’s basketball team is the perfect choice for me as it is a strong team with a good work ethic and a very supportive coaching staff. I am most looking forward to being part of a team that has such amazing potential. Also, out of the many other schools, UFV was the one that stood out and felt like a family.”
Jenika Bannerman is a 5-11 guard from Chilliwack, BC (G.W. Graham), a long-time Junior Cascade, and a stellar recruit for the program. “She had a number of options coming out of GW Graham,” says Tuchscherer, “and we are thrilled to have her join the Cascades. She is a fantastic athlete who played several sports at a high level right up until her senior year. We feel that she has just begun to realize her potential as a basketball player and the sky is the limit for her when you combine that with the work ethic she has shown since joining our program. She is already an elite defender and has a potent inside/outside offensive game.”
Bannerman says “UFV welcomed me with open arms since the very beginning! I grew up playing on UFV Junior Cascades teams and fell in love with the coaches and the organization.
One thing about the UFV women’s basketball team is that they are very family orientated, and the coaches show true support and confidence in me, as if I were one of their own. Which I am now! I know I have made the right decision and I can’t wait to get started! GO CASCADES!”
With files from Al Tuchscherer
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