8 Langara Falcon set to fly Coach says the 6’3” player is more than capable of playing professionally By GAVIN FISHER ra Falcons’ six-foot-three point guard is leading the PacWest divi- sion in assists per game, is second in rebounds per game and has attracted the attention of over 20 schools across the country. Paul Eberhardt, coach of the Langa- ra men’s basketball team said his star player has the ability to play in the CIS university league, and even become a professional athlete. “He really is a one-of-a-kind player,” said Eberhardt. Greig however, is happy playing for the Falcons. “m very comfortable where I am,” said Greig, who turned down an oppor- tunity to join the University of Ottawa team this season. In the 2012-13 season, Greig led the Falcons to first place in the PacWest provincial championships and was named the CCAA All-Canadian player. Greig nearly didn’t even join the Fal- cons for the 2012-13 season when Eber- hardt took over the team, but the talk- ative coach managed to convince him. “He’s just such a good talker, and he totally convinced me right there on the spot,” Greig said, laughing. Eberhardt said Greig definitely has the ability to make it professionally. “He’s more than capable of playing at a pro league in Europe or overseas somewhere,” said Eberardt. “T know lots of players who play in Europe, and Brody would fit right in at the right place. “He’s got that sort of intangible qual- ity that you can’t really teach. He knows where people are on the floor at the right time. “He sees the play developing two, three passes ahead of time.” Greig, who works in the family-run company Island Glass, is not sure if a career in basketball is his final goal. “Obviously getting paid to do some- thing you love is ideal,” said Greig. “Right now I’m focused on this [sea- son]. But ’m definitely open to it.” Whatever Greig decides to do, the sport will remain a big part of his life, he said. “TI always keep playing.” B:: Greig is on a roll. The Langa- By TYLER HOOPER arco lannuzzi, wide receiver for the BC Lions and Grey Cup champion, didn’t watch the Grey Cup championship on Sunday because he was too busy training for next season. “T didn’t watch the game live, I felt I didn’t deserve to be there,” said Ian- nuzzi. “T should do something to earn my spot there for next year.” The Lions ended their 2013 season with a record of 11 wins and seven loss- es. They lost 25-29 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the first round of the playoffs. “We didn’t accomplish our goals,” said Iannuzzi. “We set out to win a championship and we didn’t do that. In my books, that’s a failure.” Tannuzzi attended Harvard Univer- sity, where he studied engineering and environmental studies, before the Li- ons drafted him as their first pick (sixth overall) in 2011. He grew up in Calgary cheering for the Calgary Stampeders, but told the Voice he didn’t have a favourite in Sun- day’s Grey Cup match between the Sas- katchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which the Roughriders won 45-23. “T get paid by the BC Lions so I don’t cheer for anyone,” he said, laughing. “When I watch those games I look for individual efforts.” Iannuzzi added after watching the highlights he thought the Roughriders Photo courtesy of the BC Lions BC Lions wide receiver Carlo Iannuzzi didn’t watch Sunday’s Grey Cup:_ “We set out to win a championship and we didn’t do that.” BC Lion hungry for Grey Cup Lions wide receiver goes from the line of scrimmage to lines of credit looked like the better team overall. In the off-season, Iannuzzi is an in- vestment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities. He said he’s already back in the of- fice, often working from seven in the morning until seven at night at which point he heads to the gym to train. Iannuzzi is also active in his commu- nity, supporting various charities such as the BC Children’s Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has also agreed to donate his brain - after he no longer needs it - to medical science as part of a large com- prehensive concussion brain-trauma study in hopes of helping athletes in the future. Iannuzzi completed the 2013 season with 244 receiving yards and two touch- downs. IANNUZZI stats 2013 244 Receiving yards 31 Rushing yards 92 Kick return yards 6 Punt return yards BRENDEN NAEF photo Victoria Gilbert in Arizona before the Pheonix triathalon lron woman ready to compete Vancouver triathlete finishes second in her age group to qualify for the world championship By BILL EVERITT Championship in Kona, Hawaii has been Victoria Gilbert’s long- time dream, and that dream is coming true next year. Gilbert, 25, qualified for Kona 2014 when she completed Ironman Arizona on Nov. 19, finishing second in the women’s 25 to 29 age group. She placed 29" overall among women and 189th of 2707 total racers, with a time of 10 hours and 138 minutes. She was born and raised in North Saanich on Vancouver Island. She re- ceived a bachelor of science in food nu- trition and health, majoring in food sci- ence from UBC. Ironman is a triathlon consisting of a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre bike Cer in the Ironman World and 42-kilometre run. Gilbert is still an amateur athlete, meaning sponsors do not pay her to race, nor does she collect prize money. “T pay for coaching, for travel to and from races, entry fees, accommodation, all out of my own pocket,” she said. Gilbert’s typical pre-lronman train- ing consists of 19 to 21 hours per week, for eight weeks, dividing the time among running, biking and swimming, she said. “Running is definitely my favourite of the three,” said Gilbert. “My run is the strongest, I enjoy it the most. I get off the bike and have no problems run- ning or pushing the pace.” There are four grades of triathlon distances: sprint, Olympic, half-Iron- man and Ironman. The Olympic triathlon consists of a 1,500-metre swim, 40-kilometre bike ride and a 10-kilometre run. “T don’t think racing at the Olympics is a goal on the horizon for me,” she said. “I prefer longer-distance races.” Different people choose to focus on different distances based on what they enjoy or what they’re good at, said Gil- bert. “T train with people who do those races and they have no interest in do- ing a 10-hour race,” said Gilbert. “I have no interest in doing a three-hour race, I find it really hard to be at amuch higher intensity for a shorter period of time.” Right now, however, she is taking a much-deserved break. “Last week, I barely did anything,” she said. “This week Ill start to do a little bit again.”