News Archives: Q&A: GPRC Wolves Men's Basketball Alumni
Friday, July 17th, 2020
GPRC Wolves Men's Basketball Alumni, Jeremy Pynn.
We tracked down seven GPRC Wolves Men’s Basketball Alumni, Jeremy Pynn, Dwayne Head, Kenny Johnson, Liam O’Hallahan, Logan Rempel, Troy Sandboe and Vaughn Mueller, to reflect on their time at GPRC, their journey to the College and their biggest accomplishment as a Wolf.
When did you attend GPRC and how many years did you play for the Wolves?
Pynn: I played three seasons with the GPRC Wolves from 2017 to 2020.
Head: I played for the Wolves from 1982 to1984 and then again from 1986 to1988.
Johnson: I attended GPRC from 2015 to 2018 and played for the Wolves for all three years.
O’Hallahan: I played two seasons with the Wolves from 2018 to 2020.
Rempel: I attended GPRC for three years from 2016 to 2019. I was a red shirt my first year and played the next two seasons for the Men’s Basketball team. I have been a Wolf since I was nine years old having started playing for the U10 Club Soccer. I have been a Wolves basketball player since 2013 when I played U15 Club.
Sandboe: I played for the whole for two seasons from 1987 to 1989.
Mueller: I attended GPRC from 1987 to 1990 and played three seasons for the Wolves.
When did you start playing basketball? Where did you play?
Pynn: I started playing for the Wolves minor basketball club program when I was 12 years old. I went to high school at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School where I played on the senior basketball team for three seasons.
Head: I started playing basketball in 1977 at Harry Balfour School.
Johnson: I started playing basketball when I was pup and I started playing in Philadelphia, PA.
O’Hallahan: I first started playing basketball around five years old in Ngatea, New Zealand
Rempel: I started playing basketball in the Grade 7 for Alexander Forbes School.
Sandboe: I started playing when I was in Grade 8 at Montrose Junior High School, then three years at Grande Prairie Composite High School and finally, two years at GPRC.
Mueller: I started playing basketball in Grade 8. I am a third generation basketballer. My Grandpa and Mother also played.
What influenced you to start playing basketball?
Pynn: I was pretty bad at every other sport I tried as a kid and basketball just happened to be the sport that I stuck with. I was a pretty large child, so my coach would just ask me to set screens for all the other players on the court. I was great at setting screens. I would go to the Eastlink Center with all my friends after school and we would just play pick up for countless hours, that’s where my passion really started to grow for the game.
Head: My mother was a Brown Owl (Brownie leader) and I was always hanging around the school while she was volunteering. Our Vice Principal at the time was also the senior Boys Basketball coach at the school and would give me access to the gym to keep me busy. He would show me different drills to do and being about 6 feet at the age of 14, I just kind of caught on.
Johnson: Allen Iverson, watching him play motivated me as he was my childhood hero. Also, knowing that basketball would be my way to college motivated me.
O’Hallahan: My mum and sister influenced me to start playing basketball.
Rempel: I wanted to try out and play every sport in Grade 7. I grew up playing soccer, but something about basketball's pace and precision just drew me in. I have been hooked ever since.
Sandboe: Being too small for hockey influenced me to play basketball!
Mueller: My Uncle Forrest and Mom were big influences in my discovery of basketball. They were 100% supportive to my four brothers and I.
Who was your biggest role model growing up that influenced you in sport and why?
Pynn: One of my favourite players to watch growing up was Chris Paul. I would watch his highlights and games to try to mimic all of his dribble moves, his shooting form and everything. But my biggest role models will always be my Mom and Dad. They are two of the hardest working people I know and they always pushed me to be a better athlete and student during my time at GPRC.
Head: I don’t know if I had one particular role model, but coming from a family with an extensive athletic background it just seemed natural.
Johnson: My biggest role model was my dad because he played. Also, my best friends were all good in basketball, especially my brother Jabril trawick who went to Georgetown and played in the NBA G League. He gave me that extra push and motivation.
O’Hallahan: Keegan Aislabie, a mate of mine that should be in NBA if he hadn’t severely shattered his toe playing for the North Blue Bulls.
Rempel: My brother. He is four years older than me and no longer plays sports, but growing up as the younger brother I would always try to keep up with the older kids. Whether that was being the ball boy at soccer practice or him telling me to play goalie while he kicked it at me as hard as he could. I believe that inspired a lot of my competitive spirit I have.
Sandboe: My high school basketball coach because he taught me about integrity, character, work ethic, self-discipline and instilled confidence in myself.
Mueller: Honestly, I didn’t really have a role model. being the oldest of five boys, I just sort of fell in love with the game when I entered high school.
What motivated you to become a college athlete?
Pynn: I knew when I was in Grade 10 that I wanted to play college basketball, I loved to compete everyday in practice and in workouts. I had a passion for the sport and I wanted to play it competitively for as long as I could.
Head: I was interested in post-secondary education and wanted to continue playing basketball. Being from Grande Prairie, it only made sense to attend GPRC. I did have other offers to go elsewhere, but choose to stay home due to convenience and costs.
Johnson: Knowing that I could get a free college education. Knowing that my parents wouldn’t have to pay and getting a chance to build as a man. Basketball wise, when I got to go to GPRC, I knew I could build a legacy for myself and leave my foot prints on the city.
O’Hallahan: I broke both my hands playing rugby and boxing so I decided I needed something a bit safer.
Rempel: The love of the game and proving people wrong motivated me to become a college athlete. I loved basketball so much I did not want my career to end in high school. I also wanted to show the people that looked down on Grande Prairie basketball. I wanted to prove that good players could continuously be produced from this city.
Sandboe: My love of the game motivated me to become a college athlete.
Mueller: Honestly, I never really thought about playing college basketball until my Grade 12 year. I thought I had more potential as a track and cross country runner because I had a lot of success in those sports. Coach, Kelly Olhauser, opened the doors when he watched me play at our Zone tournament. After a successful high school career in basketball, I had offers from Douglass College and Caribou College but ultimately decided to play for GPRC as it had a nice small town feel for a boy growing up on the farm.
What advice would your younger self if you could go back and do it all over again.
Pynn: I would tell a young Jeremy to take better care of his body! Proper nutrition, recovery, more sleep, etc. You will preform better as an athlete and as a student. Also, a little less bench press and a lot more cardio.
Head: Enjoy the ride while it lasts, but don’t focus solely on your sport. It is just a means to an education and a life experience.
Johnson: What I would tell the young me is to take school serious. Also, just being able to adapt to different situations. Knowing what hard work is and not making excuses to why you’re not playing, you control that narrative. Also, being a leader instead of being a follower.
O’Hallahan: I would tell my younger self to hit the weight room properly in high school.
Rempel: Learn about nutrition and proper training techniques. If I could have started in the weight room while eating properly earlier, I would be a much better athlete. I also wish I could tell younger me to use the "lows" of my life to push me forward and motivate me instead of dwelling on them and feeling sorry for myself. I would also tell younger me not to attempt that 360 dunk I blew my knee up on my first year. Definitely wish I did not do that.
Sandboe: I would tell my younger self to work harder, you will never regret it.
Mueller: The advice I would tell the younger me would be, start working on my game earlier, and focus on the fundamentals of the game. I would tell myself to work on my strength and conditioning, but, most of all, I would tell him to avoid the social distractions that sometimes come with being a collegiate athlete.
What was your biggest accomplishment as a Wolf, and after basketball was over?
Pynn: My biggest accomplishment would be going from being a walk-on redshirt in my first year, to being a captain and starting in my third year. It was a very rewarding experience being able to develop as an athlete, and as a leader during my time at GPRC. I’m happy about my time playing for the Wolves, and I know that I’ll for sure miss being part of such a great athletics program.
Head: When I played, only four teams made playoffs. We had some great teams that would qualify for playoffs now, but just missed out on that fourth spot all four of my playing years. Individually I was voted as team captain by my teammates my last 2 years of playing. As a good two way player, I was awarded the co-athlete of the year my last year of playing as well. Those would be my greatest accomplishments as a college athlete. After college, I did spend three years as an Assistant Coach at GPRC. One year with the ladies team and we hosted and won the CCAA bronze medal in 1989 and then two years with the men’s team. Playing wise, I also played on teams in the local Men’s basketball league that won numerous championships as well as four Provincial Championships.
Johnson: My biggest accomplishment was becoming the all time leading scorer in school history in three years. Winning player of the year and all Canadian for the school basketball program for the first time in awhile. Scoring 40 points in front of my son and mom on senior night. My biggest thing was changing the culture of basketball and being a role model to the community. Last thing, showing people it doesn’t matter what school you go to because dreams come true. After GPRC, I was successful in becoming a head basketball trainer and starting my own brand, Stay Patient Keep Grinding. I wrote a book which will be out this summer and becoming a professional athlete. If you know me, I love GPRC because they gave me a chance when nobody else did. I wouldn’t be here without them and hopefully I did enough to be in the hall of fame for my school. To Head Coach, Evan Llyod, I was about to transfer and I’m glad I didn’t. I appreciate you Coach, love you always.
O’Hallahan: I came to GPRC as a very raw product and I think my biggest accomplishment was trusting my coach and assistant coaches to get the best out of me. Going forward, I understand the value in learning about different perspectives in whatever the matter is.
Rempel: Being a starter as a first year on a nationally ranked team at the semester break was my biggest accomplishment. Basketball isn't over yet, I am proud to have spent time as a UPEI Panther and now continue to be a player for the Holland College Hurricanes in Prince Edward Island.
Sandboe: I got into coaching, came back as an assistant coach with the women’s team for one season and then started coaching at the Grande Prairie Composite High School.
Mueller: My biggest accomplishments as a Wolf was after two years of narrowly missing the playoffs, my third year, we finally qualified. It was the first time GPRC qualified for the playoffs and that was a huge team accomplishment! A few other highlights I remember fondly are, winning the ACAC slam dunk contest and receiving the rookie of the year award as well as the team defense award. After basketball was over, I have always valued the experience it gave to me. I have coached now for 24 years, 20 years in my home town at Nechako Valley Secondary School, as well as the local Steve Nash youth league. I have really enjoyed the Nechako Lakes Hoops Academy, a summer training I founded for youth. Basketball has had a huge impact in my life and the life of my kids.
Learn more about the GPRC Wolves Men's Basketball team here.
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