Brad Gunter of Courtenay is a finalist for University Athlete of the Year for Sport BC's 49th annual Athlete of the Year Awards.
The fourth-year outside hitter with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team in Kamloops is up against Coleman Allen (Vancouver-swimming) and Lisa Barclay (Vancouver-volleyball).
Sport BC announced on Jan. 20 the outstanding amateur athletes, coaches and officials named as finalists for 13 of the 18 award categories to be presented at a March 12 ceremony in Vancouver.
The additional five awards to be presented at the ceremony including College Athlete, Best of B.C., Community Champion, Harry Jerome Comeback and the Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Each finalist was nominated by their provincial or multi‐sport organization, high school, college or university. The 2014 Selection Committee, chaired by Bernie Pascall, included 15 highly regarded sportswriters, broadcasters, and amateur sport leaders in British Columbia.
Gunter, a G.P. Vanier grad, is the 2014 CIS Player of Year and Canada West MVP. He was with Canada's national B team that finished seventh in the world championships this past summer and helped the WolfPack capture the Canada West bronze medal last season.
After missing the first half of this season due to injury, Gunter leads the Canada West in kills per set at 4.65.
The Athlete of the Year Awards, founded by Sport BC, is the longest standing amateur sport recognition event in the country. The awards play a valuable role in nurturing athletic success while recognizing extraordinary accomplishments in B.C., a Sports BC spokesperson noted.