For a kid who didn’t know he was going to play volleyball in Grade 8, Vernon’s Preston Tucker has sure come a long way in the sport.
The ex-Seaton Sonic setter capped off a stellar five-year collegiate career with the UBC Okanagan Heat by claiming the College Athlete of the Year at Sport B.C.’s 46th annual awards gala last month at the River Rock Show Theatre.
“Not a bad way to finish,” grinned Tucker, who graduated with a major in human kinetics and minor in psychology.
“I don’t really know what to say. B.C. College Athlete of the Year – when you take a step back and look at it, it’s a pretty big accomplishment.”
The 22-year-old garnered attention for the Sport B.C. award by earning basically every piece of individual hardware available the season before, highlighted by the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) National Player of the Year Across All Sports. He was also a CCAA All-Canadian, BCCAA Player of the Year and first team all-star, as well as UBC Okanagan’s Student-Athlete of the Year.
Asked about the secret of his success, Tucker replied: “The thing I would attribute the most success to is just hard work. Just putting in the time at practice and in the gym, and getting stronger and having that work ethic.
“I couldn’t have done it without (coaches) Doug Kozak at Seaton, as well as Greg Poirtras here at UBCO.”
Tucker’s mother, a former volleyball player, was the one who first steered him towards the sport as he entered Seaton.
“She kind of explained who this guy (Kozak) is, that he’s like a guru,” said Tucker.
Tucker plans to stay in the Okanagan this summer, playing soccer with older brother Nathan on the Turn-Key Controls in the North Okanagan Men’s League. After that, he will head to Europe to play pro volleyball.
“Everybody that I’ve talked to that has done it, they recommend I go at least a year and then I can say I’ve done it and won’t have any regrets,” he said.
Meanwhile, UBCO honoured three Vernon products at its 20th annual awards banquet Tuesday night.
Kirsten Dodds received the Rookie of the Year trophy in women’s soccer, while Emily Kanester won a similar award in women’s basketball. Maddie Kaneda won the Coach’s Choice hardware in hoops.
Dodds was an immediate force with the Heat, scoring three goals in her first three games, ending up with six on the year as the Heat went 8-1-2 in league play before losing 2-1 to the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in the PACWEST final.
“This year was an amazing start to my university career,” said Dodds. “We won the league but unfortunately suffered heartbreak in overtime of the provincial final. Although we were incredibly disappointed, we can also be proud in the fact that it was the first silver medal UBCO has won.
“I couldn’t ask for a better team to play for. The team chemistry we have is amazing, and that makes it much easier to excel because you have motivation beyond just yourself – we all play for each other. I was really excited and honored to be named Rookie of the Year.”
Dodds will play for Okanagan FC in the Pacific Coast League this summer with several Heat teammates. Training for the PACWEST 2012 season begins in late August.
“I know my whole team and I cannot wait for next season; we have a real fire in our bellies. We all want so badly to be provincial champions next year and earn a spot at nationals, we won’t be happy with anything less.”
Kanester, a 5-foot-6 guard, was third in Heat scoring at 7.9 points a game. The bachelor of science student drained a season-high 18 points in one of her first league tilts. The Heat went 2-16.
“It was such an honour to be chosen as Rookie of the Year,” said Kanester. “Even though we only won two games, I couldn’t have asked for a better first season.
“My team and coaches are absolutely amazing and so supportive. Each of them pushed me to work harder and I played as hard as I could so that we could succeed as a team.
“Even through all the adversity we faced because it was our first year in the CIS, we really stuck together and improved every time we stepped on the court. I can only look forward to next year as another chance for us to prove that our program deserves to be in the top league in Canada.”
Kanester will be working this summer at the Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club in between an offseason training program.
Kaneda, a fourth-year 5-foot-9 guard who opened her post-secondary career with one season at the University of Ottawa (CIS), was second in Heat scoring at 11.1 points a game. She was the top rebounder with 4.9 boards a game.
“It was really cool to see Emily win Rookie of the Year,” said Kaneda. “I’m not sure how to explain the Coach’s Award, but I train hard and I think she (coach Heather Semeniuk) knows I love the game and she knows what kind of player I am.”
Kaneda said she “learned a ton” with the Gee Gees after graduating from Fulton, and doesn’t regret making the move back to the Okanagan.
She is studying human kinetics and after one more season at UBCO, hopes to take marine biology courses in Australia.
