Canada West Women’s Basketball Awards & All-Stars
Two UFV Cascades honored by Canada West – Klassen named All-Star, Wierks Tracy MacLeod Nominee
Canada West announced the 2012 women’s basketball all-stars today. Tessa Klassen, Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Cascades fifth year veteran team leader was named a second team all-star and Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC was named the Canada West Tracy MacLeod Award nominee.
Klassen, the Cascades floor general is finishing her excellent five year career (three with the University of Manitoba Bisons and two with UFV Cascades) The Arts major played in all 18 Canada West regular season games, as UFV broke several school records including most wins in a season at 12. Tessa averaged 34.4 minutes per night and led the Cascades with 12.6 points per game. Klassen’s 261 points, 75 assists and 47 steals were also the team leaders in each category.
Tessa led UFV in scoring five times during the regular season and was named UFV Cascades/Abbotsford Heat Athlete of the Week three different times during the 20 week regular season. During the Cascades historic first ever post season series at Envision Athletic Centre, Tessa led UFV in scoring both nights (34 points for a 17 point per game average) as UFV swept the University of Calgary Dinos two straight to advance to this weekend’s Canada West “Final Four.”
Nominated as Canada West representative for the prestigious CIS Tracy MacLeod Award that rewards determination, perseverance and unwavering spirit is the Cascades Nicole Wierks.
Nicole’s final years of high school and first two years at UFV have been riddled with numerous injuries that have severally challenged her resolve. Starting in her final high school year, she tore her ACL and had reconstructive surgery, this injury kept her out of much of her senior season. In her first semester, at UFV, she ruptured her ACL a second time and tore her meniscus. Nicole made the decision to continue her career without repairing her ACL and to have her meniscus in her knee removed. To this day, she continues to wear a brace to stabilize her knee and diligently strengthens her leg to compensate for her missing ligament.
In addition she has been plagued with chronic shoulder issues through her first two years and has had consistent issues throughout her career.
Nicole’s most recent set-back came at the end of the 2010-11 season where she suffered a stress fracture in her foot prior to the 2011 play-offs. Unfortunately she ignored the pain in her foot until the end of the season severally prolonging the recovery and rehab by months this past off season.
Now in her third season Nicole has been enjoying her first injury free year since grade 10. She has started every game for our squad this year playing close to 29 minutes a game. She is also amongst our team leaders in most statistical categories 10.6 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. On many nights commands the toughest defensive assignments.
“Nicole’s perseverance is an inspiration to our entire program. Faced with the real possibility of ending her career really before it got started, she has found ways through hard work, persistence, and consultation with many experts overcoming her knee and shoulder issues. Her attitude in overcoming challenges is an inspiration to all of us,” Said UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer.
For further information contact David Kent, Sports Information, 604-309-7658 david.kent@ufv.ca
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