University of Guelph

Gryphons Volleyball Program Welcomes Addition for 2008-2009 Season

• May 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

- Men’s Volleyball Brings Six Players into the Fold -

Guelph , Ont. – The Guelph Gryphon men’s volleyball program is pleased to announce six additions to the 2008-09 recruiting class. Guelph welcomes Gabriel deGroot (Langley, BC), Ryan Killeen (Oakville, Ont.), Riley McAllister (Whitby, Ont.), Winston Rosser (Brooklin, Ont.), James Stamler (North Bay, Ont.) and Jonathan Whitton (Edmonton, AB).

“We are very excited with the recruiting class this year. We’re bringing in some of the best high school talent in the province,” stated head coach, Calvin Wigston. “These six athletes will build on the solid foundation that the program has established over the past season.”

The first commitment of the year was Winston Rosser, a 6’6” outside hitter from Donald A. Wilson S.S and the Durham Attack Volleyball Club. Coming from a respected club program, this Brooklin, Ont. native is a three-time OVA All-Star, East National All-Star and has received the OVA Award of Excellence, Durham Attack leadership award, Durham Attack award of excellence and Durham Attack club award. At the Canadian National Club Championships, Rosser was rated as a top four hitter in the country. Rosser will major in Psychology at the University. “Winston posses skill that will make him a successful volleyball player for years to come. Expect this future OUA star to push for a lot of playing time this year,” commented Wigston.

The second commitment came from Kings College transfer Gabriel deGroot, a defensive specialist originally from Langley, BC. He played three seasons in the ACAC and tallied 3.20 digs per game last year and led the ACAC in 2006-2007 with most digs in a season recording 247 in total and in three seasons (2005-2008) became the second all-time career leader in the ACAC with 449 total digs. The libero is a four-time BC provincial all-star playing for the Fraser Valley Club team and in 2008 received an Alberta Volleyball 21& under All-Star award. DeGroot will be studying Sociology in the fall at the University. He has big shoes to fill replacing outgoing captain and CIS digs leader Mike Bancroft, but coach Wigston feels he’s more than up to the task, “Gabe will add a lot of stability to the Gryphon passing game as well as anchoring the defence.”

Another Kings University College transfer, Jonathan Whitton is the third commitment to the 2008-09 class to choose Guelph. An Edmonton native, Whitton is an outside hitter who was voted an ACAC All-Star last season. He will study Commerce in the fall at the University. “As a college transfer from Kings University College in Alberta Jonathan was a huge off season pick up for the Gryphon Squad. As an experienced left side hitter with all star credentials Jon brings passing stability, blocking and offensive skill to the young Gryphon squad,” commented Wigston.

The fourth athlete committing to the Gryphon program is setter Riley McAllister, from McLaughlin C.V.I in Oshawa and the Toronto Volleyball Club program. The Whitby, Ont. native is an Ontario Provincial Champion and Canadian National Bronze medalist. McAllister is enrolled in Honours Geography at the University. "Riley is a very dedicated athlete and his growth at the setter position is un-chartable. He amassed a 74-3 record for his team this past season, losing only one match on Canadian soil," stated Wigston.

Ryan Killeen , a 6’4” outside hitter from Oakville, Ont. is the fifth Gryphon commitment in the 2008-09 class. Killeen played for St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Mountain Athletic Club team and will be studying Management Economics in Industry and Finance at the University of Guelph in the fall. Coach Wigston commented, “Ryan comes from a respected club program where the starting line up has boasted a number of athletes being recruited to play volleyball at the CIS level. Ryan was recruited by a few teams this year however he chose Guelph as his first option. Ryan has tremendous up side and will be a future star in the OUA.”

Chippewa Secondary School graduate from North Bay, Ont, James Stamler is the sixth and final commitment to choose the Guelph Gryphons. The 6’4” outside hitter spent the last year at the University of Alberta as a red shirt freshman on the National Championship winning Golden Bears team. In highschool he was the senior volleyball MVP and Athlete of the Year. “Jamie is a very impressive athlete with tremendous physical volleyball skills including a 42" spike jump. He will be a great asset to the Gryphon squad on and off the court,” commented Wigston.

Last season the men’s volleyball team finished the year third in the OUA with a record of 14-6 and made its first playoff appearance since 2003-04. The team ended their season dropping a 3-2 match in the OUA quarter-finals to the Ryerson Rams.

{Pictured from left to right are: Stamler, Killeen, McAllister, Rosser and Whitton - missing is deGroot from the picture}