L.V. Rogers graduate Matt Zukowski will head to the prairies this fall to play basketball with Olds College’s Broncos.
After playing four years at LVR, the 18-year-old who served as captain of the senior boys basketball team is welcoming the opportunity to take his game to the next level.
“I am looking forward to it,” says the 6’2 former Bombers guard.
“Not many people get the chance to play basketball after high school so I am excited.”
Students playing basketball in Nelson are limited to the high school season, where as in bigger city centres there are clubs to play in year round, he explains.
Zukowski was named L.V. Rogers’ Outstanding Athlete of the Year for his play this past season and in the 2013 AA Provincials played in Kamloops, he finished 7th overall in scoring. It was during this provincial-level play that a coach from Olds approached him.
“The coach watched one of my games and talked to me afterwards,” Zukowski says. “It was one of my better games at provincials. I played well. He liked my intensity and my defense.”
The pair kept in touch after that and after Zukowski visited the campus, he decided it was where he wanted to play.
Zukowski plans to study Business Administration while in college and will attend on partial scholarships. He earned a basketball scholarship from Olds College as well as the Ernie Gare Scholarship for athletic excellence, the Dogwood School District scholarship based on his academic plans and the BC High School Boys Basketball Association scholarship for his performance at provincials and general service in the basketball community.
Zukowski coached and refereed in junior-level boys basketball played at LVR.
Also a volunteer with the KidSport program and Relay for Life, the athlete has consistently given back to his community.
He feels his time in Nelson playing ball at LVR has prepared him well for a future college career.
“I’ve been lucky to have good coaches all through my high school career. Ross Naka used to play in the same league I am going to so he’s been really important in helping me prepare — knowing what I need to do to make it,” Zukowski says.
Naka played for the Langara Falcons in the Pacific Western Athletic Association in the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association. The upcoming 2013-14 season is Old’s second in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in the CCAA.
Olds is located one hour north of Calgary where Zukowski used to live so he’s comfortable leaving the mountains behind for a new prairie adventure.