Varsity Blues Women's Basketball

'08-'09 Pre-Season Archives

BLUES ANNOUNCE TEAM CAPTAINS

The Varsity Blues will be led in the 2008-09 season by three team captains. Fourth year OUA Allstar guard  Alaine Hutton, third year post-grad student, Aussie import Jessica Hiew and third year point guard Sherri Pierce will share the leadership role.

Alaine Hutton

Jessica Hiew

Sherri Pierce

Christine Cho, ex Blues team Captain and OUA Allstar continues her playing career in Europe. After five years at UofT, Cho is playing in Switzerland for Esperance Sportive Pully in the Swiss First Division. The town is on Lake Geneva near Lausanne with a view of the Alps.   Congrats and good luck in the season ahead!

New Additions to Coaching Staff

 Tanya Callaghan returns to the Varsity Blues as an assistant coach. After playing 3 years at Ryerson, Tanya completed her playing career as the starting point guard for the Blues as she earned her BEd degree. She has been teaching and coaching at Senator O'Connor High School in Toronto.

Tanya has been a Development Coach for the Canada Basketball Centre for Performance and Raptors Basketball Academy as well as the Director of the Girls Addicted to Basketball program for youth. She has been head coach of the Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association women's team and assistant coach with the Toronto Five O juvenile club team.

  The Blues are pleased to announce that Chris Aim will also be joining the coaching staff next season. After playing at Humber College, Chris has had a wide range of basketball coaching experiences in the Toronto area. He has been the Head Coach of the Senior Boys team at Northern Secondary School, the Senior Girls team at North Toronto CI, the Juvenile and Junior Girls teams of the North Toronto Basketball Association and the Ontario Basketball BDP Central East Regional Girls team. Chris was an assistant coach with the Seneca College Men's team. He has also been a Camp Supervisor, House League Supervisor and head Clinician for skills sessions for the NTBA Club.

 Next year Chris will be the Head Coach for the Canadian Open Women's Team at the 2009 Maccabiah Games.

Blues Announce New Strength Coach

 The Blues are pleased to introduce Dr. Thomas Lam as the new Strength and Conditioning Coach for next season. Dr. Lam is a UofT BPHE grad and Chiropractor who is the President and Athletic Development Director of FITS, Functional Innovative Therapeutics INC, in Toronto.

(for more information about FITS click here www.fitstoronto.com)

BLUES ANNOUNCE NEW PLAYERS

  After playing for two years at the University of Winnipeg, Nicki Schutz is returning home to Toronto to join the Varsity Blues. At Winnipeg, Nicki was an Academic All Canadian. During her highschool days at Etobicoke Collegiate, she led the Rams to OFSAA twice and was a two-time team MVP. Nicki was an Ontario Provincial U17 development team member and attended the Nike All Canada Camp for elite players from across the country. She also played on the Ontario Basketball Central East Regional team that won the JDP Tournament.

 Nicki is enrolled in the BPHE Undergraduate Program and she will bring some experience and leadership to a young team.

  The Varsity Blues are pleased to announce that Emma Bishop from St John's Holy Heart High School will attend UofT next year and join the Blues Roster. Emma was born in California and now lives in Newfoundland where she led the Holy Heart Highlanders to the AAAA Provincial Gold medal in '07 and Silver medal in '08. In both years the team won the prestigious Hall of Fame Cup (invitational tournament for top eight teams in Newfoundland). She has played on the Provincial Midget and Juvenile teams representing her province at National Championships and she has been selected to train for two years with the Nike Centre of Performance, Atlantic Division.

 As well as playing basketball, Emma is a member of the under 19 Provincial Rugby team. An active participant in her school, she has for three years been an elected member of the Student Council. Emma is a peer councilor and also is a member of the nationally acclaimed school band.

 Emma is very excited about attending the University of Toronto and playing for the Blues. She has been accepted into the Faculty of Arts & Science.

 Tara Kinnear, from Kemptville Ontario will join the Blues next year with just one more year of playing eligibility. Tara, a 6'2" post player, has been a starter for over 3 years at St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. She has been team MVP and coaches award winner twice for the X-Women as well as leading the AUS in rebounding. She was a two time Academic All Canadian.

 Tara graduated with a BSc Human Nutrition degree and is currently enrolled in a dietetic internship in Halifax. She has been accepted in MSc. Nutritional Sciences at UofT.

 Tara is very excited about finishing her playing career with the Varsity Blues. She looks forward to bringing her physical play to the OUA.

 From the other side of the country, UofT is pleased to announce that Tania Meunier from Edmonton's Harry Ainlay High School has committed to play for Toronto next season. Tania, Ainlay's team captain and top scorer, led the Titans to a perfect 39-0 season culminating with the 4A Provincial Championship. She was selected as the Edmonton Public Premier League MVP as well as All-Star and MVP at several major tournaments.

Previously, Tania was a starter for the Alberta Juvenile Provincial Team that won a silver medal at the '07 Nationals and she played for the Midget Provincial team in '05. She was also selected to attend the Canada Basketball Center for Performance.

 Harry Ainlay honoured Tania with the Titan Award which recognizes the student who excels in academics, leadership and athletics.

 Tania is very excited about coming to UofT next year where she has been accepted into the Commerce program.

 Another Alberta provincial champion will also join the Blues next season. Emily Larson, the captain and point guard for Springbank Community High School outside of Calgary, led her team to the Alberta 3A Championship with 6 three-pointers in the Final. Emily was 6'th in league scoring and was a leader in assists. Over her career she has been recognized with numerous tournament MVP and All Star awards. She has been a leader of the FOUNDATIONS Club Team for the past two summers as they travelled throughout the Western Provinces and US States.

 Emily has won school citizenship and Athlete of the Year awards. She has been accepted into the Faculty of Physical Education and Health.

 From closer to home the Blues welcome Ali Cherniak, a 5'10" forward from Toronto's Northern Secondary School, who led her team to the AAAA City Championship and a fourth place finish at OFSAA. She was a team Captain and leading scorer for the last four years at Northern. Ali was a multiple tournament All-Star and MVP as well as school Athlete of the Year.

  Ali played for the U18 Maccabiah Games team that won Silver in Israel in '05. She has played for the Sultans Prospects OBA Club team and has represented her Central East Region on OBA Bantam and Midget teams.

  Ali also was Captain and MVP for her school volleyball team, a medalist for the swim team and played softball while maintaining Honour Roll standings at Northern.

  She will be studying Life Sciences at Victoria College.

 Continuing the pattern of bringing in players with a background of being winners, the Blues are looking forward to the addition of Emma Currie from Hamilton Westdale. Emma was a starter and key defensive player on the OFSAA AAAA Silver medalist in '07 and Bronze medalist in '06. She also played Club basketball for Hamilton Blessed Sacrament, the OBA Division 1 Junior Finalists for '08.

  Emma was awarded the "Ultimate Warrior" award in recognition of her highschool athletic achievements. At UofT, Emma will be enroled in the Faculty of Arts & Science at New College.

The Blues reached down east again for another recruit, I'thandi Munro, who attended Sir John A MacDonald High School in Halifax. In 10 years of basketball I'thandi has played on community, rep, school and provincial teams. She was a co-captain of her school team and she led the Flames to a sixth place finish at Provincials. I'thandi was a two-time city All-Star and twice selected to attend the Basketball Nova Scotia center for performance.

  I'thandi is also an accomplished dancer who has done all kinds of dance from ballet to hip-hop since she was 3 years old. She has been an honour student and will study Social Sciences at UofT.

  I'thandi loves Toronto and is looking forward to being a part of the Varsity Blues.