Men's Volleyball Adds Zacharias

BRANDON, Man. (July 19^th, 2023) — Andrew Zacharias and Bo Bootsman are joining the Cougars men’s volleyball team.

Zacharias is a 6-foot-two right side from Lasalle, Manitoba. He recently graduated from Sanford collegiate where he was a multisport athlete for the Sabres. He was captain of the volleyball team and a starter for the basketball team.

“I am excited to attend the college and take my game to the next level,” said Zacharias. “I like volleyball because when you’re on the court it’s non-stop action. It’s a true team sport where every person has to play together in order to succeed.”

“Andrew is a left handed right side that brings good skill and a work ethic that will be exemplary for this program,” said Cougars coach Dan Ashfield. “We are looking forward to seeing his development and progress over the season.”

Zacharias was an honour roll student in high school and will be taking the college’s Business Administration program in the fall.

Bootsman is a 6’0 setter from Forrest, Manitoba and graduated from Elton Collegiate before moving on to play in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) at Providence University College for the Pilots. The Pilots took home the men’s volleyball MCAC championship in 2023 and Bootsman went to Toronto with the team to represent Manitoba at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championships.

“My enjoyment around others and desire to push others to be better each day are my strongest attributes,” said Bootsman. “I’m looking forward to playing with the guys I grew up playing BVC and high school with.”

Bootsman played for the Brandon Volleyball Club (BVC) from U13 through to U18 and for the Elton Sabres in high school competing in the AA division. He was captain of the Sabres in 2022 and was selected a provincial all-star in 2019 in varsity provincials.

“Bo is another versatile player that will give us some good depth,” said Cougars coach Dan Ashfield. “He brings good experience with him having played in the league before and gone to nationals. We are excited for him to help lead this team and show what it takes to be at the top.”

Bootsman’s mom is an instructor at the college, his sister recently graduated from the college where she played a season for the Cougars and his dad is a former Cougars coach. Bootsman is familiar with the college and all it has to offer and will be taking the college’s Agribusiness program in the fall.

-30-

About Assiniboine Athletics

The Assiniboine Cougars teams compete in men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s futsal (a variation of indoor soccer) in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) with the winner competing for the Canadian College Athletics Association (CCAA) championship. The women’s hockey team play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

About Assiniboine Community College
Assiniboine Community College has been providing exceptional learning experiences for more than 60 years, offering unparalleled learning environments and responding to the demands and requirements of the Manitoba labour market. Following the philosophy of “learn by doing,” programs combine theory with hands-on learning inside classrooms, labs, kitchens, shops, fields and the college’s Sustainable Greenhouse.

Assiniboine offers more than 60 certificate, diploma and post-graduate programs across a variety of disciplines including culinary arts and hospitality, business, agriculture and environment, health and human services, and trades and technology. The college also delivers apprenticeship programming in a range of skilled trades disciplines.

The college welcomed more than 3,700 full-time and 6,000 part-time students last year. With campuses in Brandon, Dauphin, Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, Assiniboine provides comprehensive educational opportunities throughout Manitoba. The college also partners with many communities and organizations across the province to deliver customized education and training. Assiniboine’s annual provincial economic impact is $612 million. In the most recent survey of graduates, nine months after graduation, 94 per cent were employed, with 92 per cent remaining in Manitoba.

Assiniboine Community College campuses are located on the traditional territories of Treaty No. 1 and Treaty No. 2, the shared traditional lands of Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Anishinabek/Ojibwe peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge their welcome to the students who seek knowledge here.

For more information, please contact:

Dan Ashfield

Cougars Men’s Volleyball Coach

Assiniboine Community College

mvolleyball@assiniboine.net

204-721-0846

Lindsay McLaughlin

Athletics Manager

Assiniboine Community College

cougars@assiniboine.net

204-725-8700 ext 6340