A local soccer player will be playing the highest level of university soccer in Canada.
Kaitlyn Anderson of the Comox Valley will be playing with the University of Northern British Columbia’s (UNBC) Timberwolves for the upcoming Canada West and U SPORTS season.
The 17-year-old got the spot after visiting a prospect cam in November and was able to practice alongside the Timberwolves and be trained by coach Neil Sedgwick.
She says the decision is very exciting and she looks forward to the new experience.
“I am really excited. Very excited to be somewhere new, have new experiences, be with a new team, to meet new people,” said Anderson.
“Honestly, it felt very surreal until I signed the letter of intent, and then I sat down and thought wow, this is actually happening. I am really excited, and I am very happy. I am looking forward to it.”
She said the decision to move to the Timberwolves was helped by the team’s welcoming attitude and community spirit. She will look forward to improving in the new team environment.
“I’m really just hoping to grow as a player, grow as a person, and the results I come out with after the five years I want to be just better than I am today,” she said. “I feel like with the coach that I’m going in with and the team that I’m joining that’s something that will happen.”
Anderson is a product of the Upper Island Riptide program and has competed in the Vancouver Island Premier League. The Timberwolves currently have two graduates of the program, Sidney Elliot and Camryn Cline.
The Timberwolves coach says he is excited to have Anderson on the team because of her driver for improvement.
“She has a real appetite to improve every day in training, as she continues to seek out new lessons and new growth,” said Sedgwick. “I am really looking forward to adding a player and person of her calibre. Kaitlyn will be a great fit for our environment, and we are glad to have her in green and gold.”
Anderson plays multiple positions and was named athlete of the year three times throughout high school at Highland Secondary.
She plans to study science, with the goal of pursuing a career as a psychiatric doctor.
She says for younger athletes to never give up and keep on going.
“It’s just very important that you keep on trying, you keep on going because you never know where you can end up or things you could do by putting yourself out there,” she added.
She says she would like to thank her mom for her support during school and all her friends who helped her get to where she is today.
The first commitment of 2022!
An exciting day for @UNBCWSoccer, officially announcing the commitment of talented Comox product Kaitlyn Anderson for the upcoming @CanadaWest year!
Hear from the newest @UNBC TWolf in the video, and read all the details here: https://t.co/VGLVa9wXLh pic.twitter.com/XiSKAqjPUD— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 10, 2022
