Abbotsford – The University of the Fraser Valley athletic department is pleased to introduce its third annual class of Cascades Hall of Fame inductees.
The 2019 class includes two inductees in the athlete category: Derek Fletcher (men’s volleyball) and Andrea Wigman (women’s soccer). The 1999-2000 national championship-winning Cascades men’s basketball team will be inducted in the team category, and former UFV president H.A. “Skip” Bassford will be recognized as a builder.
These luminaries will be officially welcomed into the Cascades Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 25 in conjunction with the UFV basketball teams’ home games vs. the Calgary Dinos at the Envision Financial Athletic Centre. The evening will begin with a private reception with UFV President Joanne MacLean, and will culminate with an on-court ceremony at halftime of the men’s basketball game.
Andrea Wigman (now Massie) had a spectacular four-year career with the Cascades women’s soccer program, competing from 2002 through 2005. The dynamic midfielder from Maple Ridge, B.C. helped the Cascades to a fifth-place finish at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national championship in 2003 as a sophomore, and broke through the following season with a five-goal campaign to earn CCAA All-Canadian honours. Her senior campaign of 2005 was truly something special – she scored seven goals in BCCAA play to lead the Cascades to a 9-1-4 record, and was named BCCAA player of the year, CCAA All-Canadian, and CCAA player of the year. Wigman’s 15 career goals in league play are tied for the most in team history during the Cascades’ CCAA era, and her accolades include three BCCAA all-star nods.
Derek Fletcher was the offensive catalyst during the most successful era in UFV men’s volleyball history, racking up a team-record 948 kills in league play between 2004 and 2009. The Langley, B.C. product led the team to a trio of BCCAA medals: silver in 2007 and 2009, and bronze in 2008. The Cascades made two trips to the CCAA national championships during Fletcher’s tenure, finishing fourth in 2007 and fifth in 2009. Fletcher earned BCCAA first team all-star and player of the year honours in 2008 and 2009, and was named a CCAA All-Canadian both years as well. He capped his career by winning the UFV male athlete of the year award across all sports for 2008-09.
Dr. Skip Bassford served two terms as president of UFV (1998 to 2009), and presided over a period of great advancement for UFV Athletics. His tenure included two gymnasium building projects – the Student Activity Centre in 2002, and its expansion to the Envision Financial Athletic Centre in 2007. He also played a key role in securing funding for athletic scholarships, and in the Cascades basketball and soccer teams’ acceptance into the Canada West conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now known as U SPORTS) in 2006. Dr. Bassford was hugely supportive of the Cascades – he was a fixture at home games, and traveled frequently to cheer on the basketball teams at national championship tournaments across the country.
The 1999-2000 men’s basketball team made school history, becoming the first Cascades squad to win a national championship. The team posted a sparkling 15-1 record in BCCAA regular-season play, with its lone loss coming against the Langara Falcons. The Cascades would avenge that loss in the conference final by a score of 79-76, advancing to the CCAA national championship in Edmonton, Alta. The UCFV squad defeated Dawson College (97-85 in overtime), St. Thomas University (90-65), and finally Humber College (63-57) to earn its first national crown. Wayne Jones was named MVP of the national tourney, and Pat McKay and Ryan Haviland were second team all-stars. The Cascades’ roster also featured Mike McLaverty, Brad Petersen, Mike Lee, Jamie Armstrong, Ryan Dyck, Dan Young, Anthony Toth, Jarami Reid, Tycson Boult, and Aaron Wells. Coaches were Pat Lee and Tom Antil, and Aiden Kelly was team manager.
About the Cascades Hall of Fame: The Cascades Hall of Fame was established in 2016, and with the 2019 class, its membership will include six athletes, five builders, and three teams. Inductees are honoured with plaques displayed in the mezzanine of the Envision Financial Athletic Centre, and a display cabinet containing Hall of Famers’ memorabilia is also maintained in the EFAC lobby. To learn more about the Cascades Hall of Fame or to submit a nomination, visit GoCascades.ca/HOF.
