The Kentucky Lexington Herald-Leader comments on Western's Season

Click the link below to see Jerry Tipton's article in today's Lexington Herald-Leader
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/04/24/1717457_p3/uk-basketball-notes-knight-in.html

Western Recruit Greg Morrow Leads His Ramblers Club Team To Tournament Victory

Greg Morrow during his high school season at London Banting 

Future Mustang Greg Morrow (6'3 G, London On) scored 20 points and led the London Ramblers to victory at their host tournament Friday night with a 62-60 victory over the K/W Vipers.  The U19 Ramblers are coached by Mustangs assistant coach Matt Tweedie.  The Ramblers defeated both the Cambridge Centaurs Thursday 64-38 and the Hamilton Wilcats 63-47 Friday afternoon before meeting the Vipers in the championship game. "To beat the K/W vipers in the final is a great accomplishment for our players and the Ramblers club. A solid combination of execution and relentless effort allowed us to pull out a victory against a quality, well coached team. Our guys did a great job not only with their play but also running the tournament, I am very proud of our team" Coach Tweedie commented. The Ramblers season continues with several more tournaments culminating with the OBA Provincial championships in late May. 

Mustangs Basketball Summer Camps

Register for Mustangs Summer Basketball Camps 

For on-line camp registration Click Here

COLTS BASKETBALL

This Colts Basketball camp is for boys and girls of all skill levels between the ages of 7-10 & 11-13. Brad Campbell, Western men's basketball head coach, and Stephan Barrie, Western women's basketball head coach, will be running this program with the assistance of other varsity coaches and athletes from both programs. Campers will learn a variety of fundamental skills such as shooting, ball handling, passing, and defensive play. Campers will take part in daily; skill development station work, 3 on 3 games, full court games, shooting games, and basketball related development. Each camper will receive their own limited edition Western basketball and camp T-shirt. 

What to bring: t-shirt, shorts, running shoes, swimsuit, towel, water/snacks, and lunch (if staying for full-day). 
Swim Days: ♦ Morning camp (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.) will swim Mon, Wed, Fri.  ♦ Afternoon camp (1 - 4 p.m.) will swim Tue, Thu. ♦ Full-Day camp (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) will swim Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri.

WEEK	DATE	TIME	AGE	FEE
1	Jul 4 - 8	9-4	7-10	$218
1	Jul 4 - 8	9-4	11-13	$218
3	Jul 18 - 22	9-4	7-10	$218
3	Jul 18 - 22	9-4	11-13	$218
5	*Aug 2 - 5 (4-day wk)	1-4	7-10	$109
5	*Aug 2 - 5 (4-day wk)	1-4	11-13	$109
8	Aug 22 - 26	9-12	7-10	$109
8	Aug 22 - 26	1-4	11-13	$109
9	Aug 29 - Sep 2	9-4	7-10	$218
9	Aug 29 - Sep 2	9-4	11-13	$218

MUSTANG VARSITY BASKETBALL

The Mustang Varsity Basketball camp is for boys and girls who are in or are entering high school. Brad Campbell, Western men's basketball head coach, and Stephan Barrie, Western women's basketball head coach, will be running this program with the assistance of other varsity coaches and athletes from both programs. Instruction will focus on individual skill development such as shooting, ball handling, and passing. Basketball specific strength and fitness strategies will also be incorporated. This camp is a great opportunity to receive the instruction required to prepare for your high school season! Each camper will receive their own limited edition Western basketball and camp T-shirt. 

What to bring: t-shirt, shorts, running shoes, swimsuit, towel, water/snacks, and lunch (if staying for full-day). 
Swim Days: ♦ Full-Day camp (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) will swim Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri.

WEEK	DATE	TIME	AGE	FEE
8	Aug 22 - 26	9-4	13-17	$218 + HST

Recap - Mustangs Backcourt Club Awards Dinner

The 4th Annual Mustangs Backcourt Club Awards Dinner took place at the Western Fair Carousel room Saturday April 9th. The dinner celebrated the careers of graduating players Andrew Wedemire, Brett Lawrence and Marcus Barnett as well as inducted former Coach Doug Hayes and the 1990-91 National Championship Team into the Mustangs Backcourt Club Hall of Honour. Many alumni, family and friends were on hand to take in and support the event. MC John Curcio (Mustangs assistant coach) kicked off the event by introducing Mustangs Athletic Director Therese Quigley who spoke about the rich history of the program and congratulated those being honoured.

Brendan Noonan welcomed all attendees on behalf of the Backcourt Club and spoke about the support in which the Backckourt Club gives the program. Holly Gati, Mustangs Athletics Development Officer, also spoke and thanked scholarship donors as well as donors from the Mustangs Adopt a Mustang program.  Coach Campbell then presented a 2010-2011 season overview and announced the Mustangs awards winners (see list below). Emotional heart felt speeches from graduates Andy Wedemire Brett Lawrence and Marcus Barnett highlighted the first portion of the evening program.

After the dinner break, Doug Hayes was the first of two to be inducted into the Hall of Honour. After a tribute video, former player Jaime Zeigel ('82-'86) spoke about Doug's impact on his basketball playing days along with his impact on his life. Accepting the award for Doug posthumously was Doug's wife Lauretta and his son Tim.

The 1990-91 National Championship Team was then introduced with a brief highlight video which showed clips of their championship run through the playoffs culminating in their victory over Guelph in the national championship game. Representing the team where speakers Head Coach Craig Boydell and team Captain John Stiefelmeyer. Both spoke on what key factors made this team so successful. 

2010-11 Mustangs Award Winners 
1st Team OUA West All-Star - Andrew Wedemire
OUA West All-Rookie Team - Peter Scholtes
J.P. Metras Trophy / MVP - Andrew Wedemire
Bob Gage / Puprle Heart Trophy - Brett Lawrence
Dr. Craig Boydell Award - Marcus Barnett

2011 Mustangs Backcourt Club Hall of Honour Inductees 
Coach - Doug Hayes
Team- 1990-91 National Champions

Andy Wedemire with his 1st Team OUA West All-Star Certificate 

Peter Scholtes holds his OUA West All-Rookie Team certificate

Andy with Coach Campbell displaying his MVP Trophy

Andy display his Mustangs Basketball graduating ring

Brett Lawrence and Coach Campbell with the Bob Gage Purple Heart Trophy 

Brett Lawrence displays is Mustangs Basketball graduating ring

Tim Hayes, Jaime Zeigel and Lauretta Hayes with the Doug Hayes induction plaque

Dr. Craig Boydell and Marcus Barnett with the Boydell Trophy

Marcus Barnett displays his Mustangs Basketball graduating ring

Wedemire Reflects On His Career At Western

For the Western Gazette Article Click Here

Mustangs Moving On: Andy Wedemire

March 29, 2011
By Kaitlyn McGrath 

Being a varsity athlete has its perks — the glory after scoring the winning point, playing the sport you love everyday, line by-pass at The Ceeps. Sure, all those things are great, but it’s not what fifth-year Mustangs basketball star Andy Wedemire will miss most about his time here as a Mustang. It’s something much simpler than that.

“Just the regular day-to-day routine — come in, gym, workout, shoot and just being around everyone, who are pretty much like my family and best friends,” Wedemire said. “I’m going to miss that whole social aspect of the day-to-day routine.”

After five years of the daily grind, Wedemire’s career as a Mustang has finally come to a close, and in front of his parents, his brother and all his teammates and coaches, he walked off the court of Alumni Hall for the very last time.

“I actually had a hard time with that game,” he said about his final home game on Feb. 19, which the Mustangs won 73-59.  “I was battling emotions all before that just knowing it’s the last time I would actually play a regular season game at Alumni — it’s been a long five years.”

Before his time at Western, Wedemire was a young recruit from St. Patrick’s High School in Sarnia. When he started playing for Western, Wedemire managed to stand out enough to avoid the bench–riding most rookies have to experience. Before long, Wedemire was an integral part of the Mustangs’ starting rotation.

“At other universities you don’t play as much in your first few years so I took advantage of that and it allowed me to be one of the top rookies in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport,” he said.

In fact, Wedemire was named to the all-rookie team and took home the prize of top rookie in the Ontario University Athletics West division after his first season as a Mustang. And the awards have kept coming, as Wedemire has been named as a two-time OUA all-star, CIS All-Canadian and has scored over 1,400 points during his time as a Mustang.  Yet even with everything he’s accomplished, Wedemire is leaving with one goal unaccomplished — a national title.

That’s not to say that Wedemire never had a shot at the CIS championship. In fact his Mustangs were seconds away from a berth in the championship game in 2009. With one second left on the clock, Carleton Ravens guard Stuart Turnbull made the final shot to lift his team past the Mustangs, ending their season in a heartbreaking fashion. Even two years later, the moment still resonates with Wedemire as one of the lowest points of his career.

“The feeling went from an extreme high to an extreme low in a split second,” he recalled. “It was just like a collapse and everyone was on the floor in disbelief.”

At the time, Wedemire was in his third year with plenty of games still to play, so making the national tournament once again was never far from his mind.

“The goal for every season, what you work for all through the summer, and preseason is to get to that moment — to play for the championship.”

Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly as Wedemire had hoped and he would never get another chance to play for the championships. Of course, there is disappointment, but Wedemire leaves the school with no regrets about his time as a Mustang.

And it isn’t the end for Wedemire. Currently, he is working on signing a contract to play basketball overseas in either England or Germany.

“There is another level to continue on for me.”

Wedemire Receives Western Purple Blanket

Andy with his Purple Blanket

At the Western Mustangs Annual Intercollegiate Awards Banquet (not to be confused with the Mustangs Basketball Awards Dinner this Saturday April 9th) on Wednesday night at the London Convention Centre, 5th yr forward Andrew Wedemire capped his illustrious basketball career receiving a prestigious Western Purple Blanket. The Purple Blanket is awarded to Western Mustang student-athletes who achieved superior distinction at the provincial / national level of competition as representatives of The University of Western Ontario. Andy was also a finalist for the Western Mustangs Athlete of the year but unfortunately did not win the award. 

Wedemire's Western Accomplishments

• 2007 OUA West Rookie of the Year 
• 2007 CIS All-Rookie Team 
• 2008 OUA West Champion 
• 2008 OUA Silver Medalist 
• 2008 CIS Semi-finalist 
• 2009 OUA West Conference Champion 
• 2009 OUA West Champion 
• 2009 OUA Silver Medalist 
• 2009 CIS Semi-finalist 2
• 2010 Mustangs Team MVP
• 2010 OUA West 1st Team All-Star 
• 2010 CIS 2nd Team All-Canadian 
• 2011 OUA West 1st Team All-Star 
• 2011 Mustangs Purple Blanket recipient 
• 1417 Career pts