Abbotsford – The University of the Fraser Valley athletic department is pleased to introduce its second annual class of Cascades Hall of Fame inductees.
Former Cascades basketball stars Denise Rehman and Peter Wauthy will be honoured in the athlete category, while longtime men’s soccer coaches Scott Fast and Ken Fernstrom will be recognized as builders. The 1995 men’s soccer team, Fast and Fernstrom’s most outstanding group, will also be inducted in the team category.
Cascades Hall of Fame festivities, highlighted by an on-court ceremony between games, will be held Jan. 5 in conjunction with UFV’s basketball home games vs. the Trinity Western Spartans (women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m.) at the Envision Financial Athletic Centre.
The Cascades Hall of Fame was established in the summer of 2016, and inducted its first class in January 2017. Nominations are evaluated by a selection committee chaired by UFV director of athletics and campus recreation Steve Tuckwood, and inductees are honoured with plaques displayed in the mezzanine of the Envision Financial Athletic Centre. A display cabinet containing memorabilia from Hall of Famers is also maintained in the EFAC lobby, and video features on the inductees can be found at ufvcascades.ca.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our second group of Cascades Hall of Fame inductees,” said Steve Tuckwood, UFV director of athletics and campus recreation. “These outstanding individuals and teams each had some tremendous accomplishments during their time at UFV, and we’re pleased to commemorate their contributions to the culture and history of Cascades Athletics.”
Peter Wauthy was one of the most outstanding players to suit up for the Cascades men’s basketball program during its years in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (1983-2006). The 6’3” forward played three seasons at UFV (2000-01 to 2002-03) and was part of a CCAA national championship-winning squad in 2002, earning MVP honours at the conference championship tourney that year. Wauthy’s best individual season was 2002-03, which saw him average 16.0 points and 11.9 rebounds en route to a raft of awards, including CCAA national player of the year and Basketball BC college player of the year. He went on to UBC where he completed his medical degree, and now practices emergency medicine in Abbotsford.
Denise Rehman (now Tuchscherer) was also a CCAA-era basketball standout, having starred for the Cascades women’s hoops program for four seasons (1992-93 to 1995-96). She helped the UFV program become a national powerhouse, and was part of three consecutive CCAA national silver medal-winning teams (1994, 1995 and 1996). Among her individual accolades were two CCAA All-Canadian nods, a BCCAA championship MVP award, a trio of CCAA national tourney all-star honours, and a Basketball BC college player of the year award. Her name is all over the Cascades’ record books – she’s the CCAA-era leader for playoff games played (15) and playoff points scored (163), and ranks fourth all-time in regular-season points (682).
Scott Fast and Ken Fernstrom played key roles in the establishment and growth of the Cascades men’s soccer program. Fast was the team’s first-ever head coach, beginning in 1987, and he continued for 17 seasons (through 2003), accruing 49 wins in conference play and earning BCCAA coach of the year honours in 1995. Fernstrom joined the coaching staff in 1988, and continued for an additional season after Fast’s departure, serving as team manager alongside new bench boss Alan Errington. Under Fast and Fernstrom, UFV men’s soccer earned two first-place finishes in the BCCAA regular season (1990 and 1995), a trio of conference medals (gold in 1995, silver in 1990, and bronze in 2001), and a CCAA national bronze medal in 1995. They epitomized the “builder” concept, laying the groundwork for the Cascades’ eventual move up to Canada West and U SPORTS. Fast and Fernstrom coached winter, indoor and summer league teams and organized the annual FVC/UCFV International Tournament. They were honoured in 1993 with a UCFV outstanding achievement award for “extraordinary contribution both to students and the community” as Cascades coaches.
The 1995 Cascades men’s soccer team was Fast and Fernstrom’s most accomplished group. They opened the campaign by winning the UCFV International Tournament, and were a dominant force in league play, rolling to first place with a 5-1-2 record. After claiming the BCCAA gold medal, the Cascades advanced to the CCAA national championship in Medicine Hat, Alta. The UFV side fell 4-2 to Mount Royal in the semifinals, but bounced back for a 2-0 win over Quebec’s Vanier College in the bronze medal game. Eight players on the ’95 squad would be named provincial and/or national all-stars over the course of their Cascades careers. Goalkeeper Cory Breure and midfielder Brad Peterson were voted to the 1995 CCAA All-Canadian team, and Mike Hofer and Kyle Williams were national championship tourney all-stars.
For more information on the Cascades Hall of Fame, including online nomination forms and criteria, visit ufvcascades.ca/hall-of-fame.
