FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WESMEN HONOUR TOP PERFORMERS

JoAnne Wells and Stephen Ens named

University of Winnipeg Athletes of the Year

Winnipeg, March 27 – The University of Winnipeg is pleased to announce Basketball star JoAnne Wells and Volleyball stand-out Stephen Ens are the University of Winnipeg Athletes of the Year for 2002-03.

JoAnne Wells was All-everything for the Silver medal winning Wesmen Women’s Basketball Team this season. The third year guard, hailing from Bedford Nova Scotia, was dominant every time she stepped on the court, averaging 19.9 points per game, good for 4th in the CIS, while placing fifth in free-throw shooting percentage at 86%. The Arts student, with an Administration Studies and Physical Activity and Sports Studies double major, was also 6th in the country in field goal percentage, and led a deep Wesmen squad in floor time, averaging 30.3 minutes per game. Wells efforts were rewarded earlier this month when she was named a First Team All-Canadian during the CIS Championships in Hamilton. She also picked up a CIS Nationals All-star, all the while playing on a wonky ankle in the Wesmen run to the final. Wells’ 2002-03 resume also includes a First Team Canada West Conference All-star, MVP of the Converse Shoot-Out Tournament and numerous nods as Wesmen Athlete of the Week.
“JoAnne is one of the best players in the country,” says Wesmen coach Tanya McKay. “And she showed that the whole season.”

Stephen Ens came into his own this year. In his first full year of starting, the fourth year opposite side hitter led the Wesmen Men’s Volleyball team in a variety of statistical categories. He was number one on the team with 316 total kills and played in 91 games during the season, second only to libero Shawn Scarcello’s 92. Ens was named a Second Team Canada West Conference All-star and was chosen twice as Wesmen Athlete of the Week. The fourth year Arts student with geography major, graduated from Winnipeg’s Westgate Collegiate where he twice led the Wings to AAA Provincial Volleyball Championships. In his senior year he was named MVP for his outstanding play. When the Wesmen showed flashes of brilliance in a competitive Canada West Conference during the 2002-03 campaign, Ens led the charge.
“Stephen is very versatile - he’s one of our top defensive players, our best server and was always a huge threat offensively,” says Wesmen coach Larry McKay. “He was also our best player in practice as well as games.”

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For more information please contact:

Colin Fraser
Wesmen Media Relations
786-9166 or 223-9912

Bill Wedlake
Athletic Director
786-9419