Brad Gunter had a breakout season in men’s volleyball in 2013-14. The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack outside hitter played for the National Junior team, was named both the Canada West and CIS player of the year.
Now, the Courtenay native has won another prestigious award. Gunter is the 2014 recipient of the Ray Lepp Memorial Scholarship.
Volleyball BC executive director Chris Densmore said Gunter’s application was selected from a pool of highly qualified candidates. "Your selection demonstrates the strength of your application, especially your commitment to performance and excellence and potential to join the Canadian National Team.”
“This is a great honoujr,” said Gunter, who has since tried out for and made Canada’s Senior B men’s team. Gunter will receive $2,000 which he will put toward his education. He is entering his second year of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program at Thompson Rivers in Kamloops.
“This has been a great year for Brad,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “He is deserving of all these accomplishments. Brad has put the time and effort on the court and in the weight room.”
Hennelly adds: “This is an award that many great players in the past have won in B.C.”
“It means a lot to me that Volleyball BC has recognized me as an outstanding athlete,” Gunter explains. “A lot of my training came from Volleyball BC and the provincial teams over the years. They have helped me get to where I am today.”
Gunter states that winning this award will also put him into a position where he will be more of a leader on and off the court with the WolfPack in the coming years. "I will definitely have to take on a larger leadership role, especially with Colin (Carson, setter, Prince George) graduating. With my experience with the national team, I believe I can lead with intensity and high-end play.”
Gunter becomes the fourth player with ties to TRU to win this award, following in the footsteps of Gord Perrin (Creston 2008), Kyle Donen (White Rock 2007) and current WolfPack women’s head coach and former men’s assistant coach Chad Grimm (Quesnel 1998). Grimm won the award while being a player with the UBC Thunderbirds.
– TRU WolfPack