Continuing to add depth and skill to her roster, UBC Okanagan head coach Claire Paterson will welcome Courtney Hemmerling as the Heat women’s soccer team’s latest recruit.
Hemmerling has been a standout in the Okanagan soccer scene for many years now, and Paterson has had an eye on the local product for quite some time. Courtney has consistently played up for her age, beginning when she was 10 playing for a Kelowna United U12 squad that won a provincial championship.
She continued her success winning a gold medal at the BC Summer Games as part of the Okanagan U12 and elected to play Super Y League instead of the Provincial Team at U12 and U13.
After a successful run that saw Courtney’s team win the Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup and the Pacific Division of the Super Y League U15 in Tampa Bay, the young forward was selected to participate in the Super Y League Olympic Development Program in Florida.
For the past two seasons, Courtney has been playing for Kelowna Secondary School and Kelowna United in the Pacific Coast Soccer League. In her first year with United at the age of 16, Courtney won the PCSL scoring title leading the Kelowna squad to the PCSL championship.
“I am really happy that Courtney has decided to join our program,” states Claire Paterson about her new 5’8” forward from Kelowna Secondary. “We have had a few veteran forwards move on this year and I believe Courtney will help us fill those gaps. As a local player, I’ve had the opportunity to see her develop into an offensive threat – she has a real talent for scoring goals.”
The Heat will certainly need her goal-scoring ability as they make the move to the CIS in 2014, and Courtney is excited for the opportunity to both play CIS-level football and play for her hometown.
“It was an easy decision for me to attend UBCO and further my education here,” explains Hemmerling. “This school has an excellent reputation, and I am excited to be playing under Claire’s leadership and this program as it enters the CIS.”
