Calgary Journal reporter Peter Brand sat down with three of Calgary’s most exciting up and coming athletes to discuss a little bit about themselves. Read the Q&A’s below.
Second year volleyball player Godi Jibi. Photo by Peter Brand.
Godi Jibi
Age: 19
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Year: Second, Mount Royal University
Sport: Volleyball
Major: Science
How did you get into playing volleyball?
It started out as me being bad in junior high, so I worked hard and made the team. Then in high school, at Winston Churchill, I made the team there and that’s when I wanted to go competitive.
Explain your journey to MRU?
It was kind of like a back and forth relationship almost. l wanted to come to MRU first, but head coach Shawn Sky originally said no. So, what happened a couple months later, they had their camps for volleyball prospects and I impressed him somehow. Then we started talking and after my first year of volleyball with the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference at Ambrose University he wanted me to come to MRU for my second year.
What song gets you pumped up before game time?
Win by Jay Rock.
Favourite city to play in?
Vancouver, because of that nice beach, the waves of the ocean and pretty much the nice skyline view.
Favourite sport other than volleyball?
Wrestling, I did it high school. People were terrified of me just because of my height.
Advice for anyone getting into volleyball?
Keep on persevering. It’s tough at first because you’re learning a lot of things and then things don’t go as planned and you get frustrated a lot. But, if you keep on learning from those mistakes and keep growing, that’s when you become a better volleyball player; eventually through time and patience.
Plans for after graduation?
I want to be a doctor. So I want to get my MCAT, I want to go to University of Calgary for med school or somewhere like B.C., or Saskatoon, Sask.
Favourite Canadian athlete?
Andre De Grasse. Nobody knew about him and he kept working hard to get into the Olympics and then by getting that bronze medal in sprinting he solidified that, ‘I’m here now and I’m a force to be reckoned with.’
Second year basketball player, Matt Fullerton. Photo by Adrian Shellard.
Matt Fullerton
Age: 19
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Year: Second, Mount Royal University
Sport: Basketball
Major: Health and Physical Education
How did you get into playing Basketball?
My dad coached for about 30 years at the highschool and university level, so my first memories of the game are from being with him.
Explain your journey to MRU?
I ended up contacting head coach Marc Dobell and seeing if they had a spot, but they didn’t really. So, I came to the training camp and I guess they saw some potential because they decided to keep me on the roster as a red shirt rookie.
What song gets you pumped up before game time?
Reload by Sebastian Ingrosso, Tommy Trash and John Martin.
Favourite city to play in?
I’ve played in a lot of cities with Team Alberta, but I think Victoria is the most fun because it’s on a small island and it has a ton of crazy fans.
Favourite sport other than Basketball?
Mountain biking.
Advice for anyone getting into basketball?
Be open to coaching and always be willing to learn to get better; that’s probably the biggest thing I’ve realized now.
Plans for after graduation?
I’m deciding between law and medicine. This is my undergrad and then I’ll probably write both the LSAT and MCAT.
Favourite Canadian athlete?
Oh, man, the most stereotypical answer… Steve Nash. Because he’s a short point guard that came from Canada.
Second year volleyball player, Quinn Pelland. Photo by Peter Brand.
Quinn Pelland
Age: 19
Hometown: Wanham, Alta.
Year: Second, Mount Royal University
Sport: Volleyball
Major: Business
How did you get into playing volleyball?
My sister Taylor started playing volleyball. So, when I was in grade four and five she would just make me come out and she’d hit balls at me and practice on me and I’d go in crying all the time to mom. My sister has always been a huge role model for me, so yeah, I wanted to follow her.
Explain your journey to MRU?
So my sister came to MRU and I remember just seeing the school because I came when Taylor was touring and I was like, ‘I love this school, it’s so great. I love Calgary.’ I was around head coach Sandra Lamb quite a bit because I came and watched Taylor. So Sandra and I kept talking and I think she knew I was super interested and so it was kind of like ever since my sister signed up, I kind of wanted to follow in her footsteps.
What song gets you pumped up before game time?
Young Blood by 5 Seconds of Summer.
Favourite city to play in?
Home, I like playing in Calgary. It’s nice to have your home fans and just being in your own gym. Your pre-game routine is the same, you’re in your own team room and you sleep in your own bed.
Favourite sport other than volleyball?
I like watching hockey… I have my black belt in karate and that was the only other thing that I’ve really done seriously.
Quinn Pelland admired watching her older sister Taylor Pelland play volleyball growing up and now she’s following in her footsteps. Photo by Richie Nguyen.Advice for anyone getting into volleyball?
Enjoy it, like your day to day. I find that’s so easy to look forward to the next weekend or next year and I’m already in my second year, and I’m like, ‘where did last year go?’ Also, learning as you go because you’re never going to be where you want to be, so just be happy with your growth every day because you grow every day.
Plans for after graduation?
I want to play my five years and then I can see where it goes, but as of right now I’m undecided.
Favourite Canadian athlete?
Genie Bouchard. In the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, Bouchard was the first Canadian female to reach the finale of a Grand Slam tournament where she finished runner up.
This story appears in the November-December 2018 print issue of the Calgary Journal, on stands now!
Editor: Tatianna Ducklow | tducklow@cjournal.ca