Grad Class: Camosun Chargers

As the school year closes for the student athletes of the Camosun Chargers, the PACWEST would like to recognize the fifth years that will not be returning to collegiate athletics next season.  They leave behind some enormous sneakers to fill.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Erica Bolink (pictured) will be sorely missed next season after completing her collegiate eligibility.  She is a highly decorated student athlete named a CCAA All-Canadian and PACWEST First Team All-Star in multiple seasons.  She is as dangerous from the power position as she is from the service line and leaves behind a massive hole in offensive production for the Chargers moving forward.

Karynn Hampe is another fifth year that will graduate and move to the next chapter of her story. She was outstanding on both side of the ball, giving the Chargers some secondary scoring so they didn’t need to focus on Bolink each match.  Her leadership and talents will be missed next year.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Matt Rapin is the lone fifth year for the Chargers this past season and will graduate from Camosun. He leaves the setter position open for the next student athlete, but his volleyball IQ will absolutely be missed going forward.  He was the calm, cooler presence who was able to read the opposition’s defence and utilize an offensive attack accordingly. 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Kanda Diop gave the Chargers an outstanding presence in the paint when she was in the lineup.  Defensively she was able to move quickly and alter shot attempts by a driving guard.  She collected 13 blocks and tallied 15 steals this past year on the defensive side while averaging close to 10 points a game.   She was among the Conference leaders in rebounds, averaging over eight a contest and is hoping to continue to play at the next level, wherever the game takes her.

Elli Calliau has been a mainstay with the Chargers but will graduate this season as a fifth-year senior.  She has been consistent throughout her college career showing versatility this season in both a starting role and coming off the bench.  She is a team player, doing whatever it takes to help her team succeed and will be missed next year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

This past season, they were seconds away from winning the school’s first PACWEST gold medal with a group of players who built a standard of excellence, led by David Finch.  He was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and did everything he could to help the Chargers find success, finishing his career with a CCAA bronze medal. 

Cormick Brown played five seasons at Camosun and lived from behind the arc.  When left open, particularly in the corner, Brown would make teams pay with a three-point shot, in many cases changing momentum of the game.  He was so successful that the corners of the gymnasium at PISE are know as the “Cormie’s Corner.”

Cole Belton was one of, if not the hardest working Charger on both side of the floor during his time at Camosun, sprinting up and down the court and not afraid to get his nose dirty.  The played tough, fast defence that made it difficult for the opposition to get a good look at the basket.  On the offensive side he could drain hoops from either inside or outside making it difficult on the opposing defence.  Like Finch and Brown, Cole was a pillar in the Chargers system and will be missed heading into next season.

David Featherston Jr transferred to Camosun following a successful career at Capilano and gave the Chargers toughness under the hoop and a bit of swagger that helped them enjoy success this past season.  Never one to back down from a challenge, Featherston was a beast under the hoop not allowing the opposition many second chance opportunities.  Over the course of his career, he was deemed as one of the best on the defensive side.  In a true testament of his character, after suffering a season ending injury that forced a hospital visit during the national championship tournament, Featherson found enough strength to attend his team’s bronze medal game to support his teammates, lifting them to a national medal.

The PACWEST would like to wish all the graduating Chargers best of luck in the next chapter of their lives.