WolfPack men’s volleyball has first recruit from Vernon with ‘dynamic’ Charles Oduro

SPORTS — In the past, Vernon has proven to be a rich resource for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in the sports of basketball and soccer. Now, the North Okanagan city has produced the WolfPack’s first volleyball recruit.

The WolfPack men’s volleyball team and head coach Pat Hennelly are officially welcoming Charles Oduro of W.L. Seaton Secondary to the school and CIS effective this September.

Oduro is an outside player who plays both the left and right side.

“I haven’t been playing volleyball for too long, I started taking it seriously in Grade 10,” he said. “I fell in love with the sport. I have grown so much and I want to continue playing to see how far I can go. I love the fact in volleyball, every ball that goes into the air will be someone’s point and it is a mental game. You really have to focus to be successful.”

The 6 ft. 4 inch Oduro was born in Ghana. His father works with the Ministry of Forests, Mines and Resources in Vernon.   “My main strengths are that I am really focused. I am adaptable and I think I have a great vertical. My vertical helps me locate where the ball can go. It is a huge advantage.”

His Vernon club team entered last month’s provincial championships ranked in sixth spot and finished fifth.

Says Hennelly about his latest recruit: “ Charles is a solid prospect for the future. He is a dynamic player and will be a great fit for our program. I think with some technical work and time in the weight room, he will show some serious upside.

“I like the way Charles interacted with his teammates and coaches on Team B.C. last summer. He has a great attitude on and off the court along with a good work ethic. We knew we wanted to load up this year with recruits knowing we will have a significant turnover in the next two years. I think Charles will be a solid outside hitter for the WolfPack.”

“I like the campus and location,” said Oduro, who will be taking courses with an aspiration of earning a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in finance.

“I came here (Kamloops) for Team B.C. and that experience showed me how things are run here at Thompson Rivers. I thought I wanted to go into science but I changed to business because I think that is where my life is headed.”

Oduro is the fifth member of the 2013 Team B.C. Under 17 team to join the WolfPack following Denham O’Reilly (Langley), Douglas Groenendijk (Chemanus) along with the Kelowna duo of Isaac Smit and Cole Hanson.

He admits that it was a factor in him deciding to come to TRU. “It was a main factor. But I think also that because everyone at the university was so welcoming when we came to try out and compete here.”

Oduro’s coach with Team B.C. in 2013 will be his teammate in 2014-15 in Matt Krueger (Abbotsford).

“I will still consider him to be my coach,” he laughs. “I want to learn as much from him as possible because he has seniority and is a really good player. I strive to be just as good as he. It will be exciting.”

Says Krueger about his new teammate: “Charles deciding to come to TRU is great. Last summer, He was always asking for advice and looking for ways to improve his game. That’s what you want in a young player. His willingness to work hard along with his coachable personality will be an asset to the volleyball program and culture at TRU.”

Two other players Oduro will hope to use as mentors are veterans Brad Gunter (Courtenay) and Casey Knight (Salt Spring Island).   Gunter is the 2013-14 CIS Most Valuable Player. “I am striving to be as good as they are. It is going to be such a great opportunity to practice against them.”

Oduro is looking forward to being a part of the team’s community activities. “It was always great to see the WolfPack come to my school in Vernon. I dreamed of being one of them.  Being a role model to a little kids is something that is going to be very special. Both Matt and Brad were my role models when I was younger. It will be admirable tol influence others.”

Andrew White, who’s coached volleyball for 15 years after briefly playing at the University College of the Fraser Valley, coached Oduro from Grade 8 to 10 at Seaton and remembers him fondly.

“He was pretty athletic in Grade eight. He has worked so hard to improve himself. I don’t think the school even had a senior boys program in his Grade 11 year and he continued to work on his game.”

White, whom Oduro says is his biggest influence for helping him gain a love of the sport, says his ‘break through time’ as a volleyball player came at the 2010 B.C. Junior Boys volleyball championships at MEI in Abbotsford.

“Charles had just learned his mother had cancer,” he recalls. “He kept plugging away, playing hard and found his arm swing. He is definitely a very special player.”

Oduro led his team to a fifth place finish at the provincials that year.

Dwayne Remple was Oduro’s club coach with the Vernon Venom this spring. “Charles is a very offensive minded player with great reach. He sees the block well and routinely hits over top of it. He’s learning to be more responsible defensively and loves to learn the game.”

Remple says Oduro had a crucial role on the Venom. “He was a huge part of our offense from the back row. I think it will likely take Charles a year to mature and become a CIS player but I have no doubt he will.”

He has some experience as a player and coach at a high level. Remple played four years at Columbia Bible College (PACWEST) before coaching there for two years.   “Charles has a great attitude and is a character guy. I wish him great success and know he will strive to great heights. I look forward to watching him at TRU.”

As far as being the first Vernon volleyball product recruited by Coach Hennelly? Oduro states: “It is really cool. Every one in Vernon knows I am coming here. It is a great honor.”

Besides Oduro, Smit, Hanson, Groenendijk and O’Reilly, the WolfPack also have Cole Keddie (Edmonton) and Tim Edge (Langley) committing out of high school for the coming CIS campaign.

SIDE OUTS: Krueger sees a lot of similarities between the 2014-15 WolfPack recruiting class and the one that came here in his first year (2009-10). “It’s always nice to have a group of guys coming in that already know each other and played together. From personal experience, it makes the transition to university a lot easier. I knew Colin (Carson) and Spencer (Reed) (both Prince George) from high school, club and Team B.C. volleyball. Having familiar faces and longtime friends alongside me from the beginning positively added to my experiences at TRU.

He added: “ Having a group of high level athletes coming together is advantageous for the program for sure. They will grow together both on and off the court. I believe that the bond they created in their younger years will benefit them greatly when they are older.”

Hanson, who’s club team captured the U-18 Provincials in late April, is looking forward to playing alongside Oduro at TRU: “Charles will be a good addition with his offensive ability. It is also good to have another guy from the Okanagan on the team. It seems like all of the first year players at TRU are really good guys. Everyone is very easy to get along with. It is also great to have two provincial team coaches (Krueger and Nathan Bennett) at TRU. I am really looking forward to the fall.”