Schubach had a jump on award
Apr. 10, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
Paul Schubach gave the basketball term "opening tip" a new meaning Friday during the University of Regina's athletic awards night.
As Schubach accepted the President's Award, the point guard with the Cougars men's basketball team admitted that someone -- he wouldn't say who -- had tipped him off beforehand that he was to receive the night's highest honour.
"When I first heard it, people were just talking," Schubach admitted with a chuckle after the presentations concluded in the University Theatre. "You don't really believe it's going to happen until you hear your name called and you go onto the big stage.
"My first reaction is it's a big honour. I've worked hard and other people have worked hard to make this possible for me. It means a lot, especially when both academics and athletics are part of it. It's nice to know all the work has been recognized."
Schubach just completed his fifth and final season of CIS eligibility with the Cougars. The 22-year-old Regina product left the program ranked in the top 15 in many career statistics, including games played (tied for first), assists (second), three-point field goals (sixth) and points (11th).
He also was an academic all-Canadian three times and a team captain. In a video paying tribute to Schubach, Cougars head coach James Hillis said the guard "is what you want a university athlete to be."
"(The stint at the U of R) has shaped me into the person I'm going to be for the rest of my life," said Schubach, who has one year of classes left as he pursues an engineering degree. "The work ethic that athletics and academics involve, I'm going to take that into what I'm going to do in engineering."
Schubach said he'll continue playing sports like ultimate frisbee, beach volleyball, football and golf -- but he won't have CIS basketball anymore. As a result, he won't have to train through the summer like he has for the past five seasons and he won't have to go to training camp when September rolls around.
Asked what he's going to miss the most, Schubach replied: "Competing."
"It's really a feeling that any high-calibre athlete knows," he added. "There's that sense of wanting to win and doing what you have to do to make that happen, whether it's training in the off-season, whether it's shooting in the gym by yourself or whether it's working hard in practice. That's gone -- and that's what I'm going to miss the most."
Beth Clark of the women's volleyball team earned two awards Friday.
The fifth-year middle was named the Cougars' most valuable player and the U of R's female athlete-of-the-year. She also was among the U of R athletes honoured for being named a CIS all-Canadian during the season.
"(The athlete-of-the-year award) means everything," said the 22-year-old Clark, who was named a second-team all-Canadian. "All of my five years here, all the hard work, the losses, the wins, the excitement -- everything just comes together in this.
"It's nice to be recognized as part of a team ... Volleyball is the ultimate team sport. I wouldn't have any success without my teammates."
Justin Baker, who was named the male athlete-of-the-year, was part of a team but also did things on his own.
The 20-year-old Reginan won the gold in the men's 60-metre hurdles at both the Canada West and CIS track and field championships and also ran on the Cougars' relay teams.
"I've been around this school for years and I used to come to this awards night when my sister (Krista) was here," said Baker, a third-year athlete. "I saw these big guys get these awards back then and I literally looked up to them. Now, to get one, I'm pretty stoked."