LANGLEY, BC - Trinity Western University head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul is happy to announce that three-time CIS champion and Canadian National team member Laurelle Weigl will be suiting up for the Spartans for the 2011-12 season.
"We are excited to welcome Laurelle into our program and into the Spartan family, commented TWU head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul. “There is no doubt that any coach would love to have a basketball player of her calibre on their roster but there is so much more she offers us in terms of her desire to impact her teammates, her desire to learn and grow as a complete champion, and the experiences she has had winning national championships and playing for a great Simon Fraser program and within the national team system,”
Weigl, a 6-foot-4 post who transfers to TWU for her fifth year of eligibility, won three CIS titles with the Simon Fraser, in 2007, 2009, and 2010. During her four seasons with the Clan the native of Stony Plain, Alta. was named Canada West and CIS Rookie of the Year in 2007, CIS second team All-Canadian and Canada West first team All-Star in 2009, Canada West second team All-Star in 2010 and CIS Tournament MVP in 2007 and CIS gold medal game MVP in 2010.
In her final year with Simon Fraser Weigl averaged 14.2 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game and 1.2 steals per game in 21.2 minutes per game.
In addition to her CIS titles Weigl, who graduated from Memorial Composite High in Stony Plain, also won two Canada West gold medals, in 2009 and 2010, and two Canada West bronze medals, in 2007 and 2008.
Not only does Weigl bring CIS championship experience to the Spartans, she also brings international experience. Weigl has represented Canada on numerous occasions. In 2006 and 2007 she was a member of the Canadian Junior National team and in 2009 she was a member of both the Canadian FISU team and the Canadian National Senior team. During her international career Weigl has matched up against such teams as Australia, Brazil, Slovakia, Japan, Turkey and Hungary. In 2009 at the World University games she played in seven games and averaged just under 12 points per game and just over six rebounds per game.
“It’s an exciting time for us and for me personally as a coach when a great person of character and faith such as Laurelle is ready to make a difference on our squad and on our campus,” Jean-Paul said. “She will help develop a great recruiting class and a motivated group of returning athletes.”
Weigl, who plans to do her masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at TWU, has also been active off the court. This past November she went to Mexico with the Stony Plain Baptist Church and Operation Amigo.
“I believe coming to Trinity is the direction God is leading me in, so it’s a definite faith step for me. I am excited to grow and be challenged in my faith, experience the atmosphere of a smaller and Christian university, play with a great group of young women, and be a part of an athletic department that is aimed at developing complete champions,” Weigl said.
TWU Athletics
About Spartan Athletics
Since Trinity Western entered the CIS in 1999, Spartan student-athletes have accumulated a number of significant awards including a CIS Athlete of the Year (BLG) award, four CIS Player of the Year awards, a CIS Elite Eight Academic All-Canadian award, three CIS Rookie of the Year awards, a CIS Libero of the Year award, three CIS community service awards and numerous CIS All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star awards. In twelve years as members of the CIS, the Spartans have won six national titles (women’s soccer in 2004, 2008, 2009 and men’s volleyball in 2006, 2011), 15 CIS championship medals, an individual CIS championship in track and seven Canada West championships.
About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 14 schools, from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, the CWUAA produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter.