HAMILTON, ON – Mohawk Mountaineers men's volleyball is proud to announce the addition of three recruits ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Joining the Mountaineers program - coming off an OCAA semi-final appearance - are Cole Crowder, Dean Zicari and Eric Rorke.
Crowder will be coming to Mohawk from Milton, ON where he spent his high school years at Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary and has played club for the Oakville Thunder.
"Cole adds another start-able piece that can push our core, but he can also be a good contributor right off the bat," said head coach Brad McClure.
With Bishop Reding the 6'2 setter won the Halton Catholic Athletic Association in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and at the club level Crowder won eight Ontario Volleyball Association medals. This past year, Crowder was named to the Team Ontario Black indoor roster.
Zicari follows older sister Lexie to Mohawk as the latter has been a member of the women's volleyball program for the last two seasons.
The younger Zicari joins the Mountaineers after attending Nelson High School in Burlington, ON and having played club for the Thunder. McClure explained that Zicari, a 6'1 left side hitter, is similar to his sister in that he brings athleticism, great ball control, hits the ball well and plays bigger than he actually is.
"Dean is 6'2 on the measuring tape, but probably plays a 6'4 game," McClure said. "He is going to be an impact player for us."
Lastly, Rorke comes to the Mountaineers out of Cambridge, ON where he played club for the Kitchener-Waterloo Predators 18U team. The 6'6 middle was named 2022 MVP for the Jacob Hespeler Secondary School senior boys' volleyball team.
"I think he'll play meaningful minutes right away and add some much needed compete to our middle group," McClure said. The coach added that having depth at the middle position in the OCAA is super important, and Rorke will provide that additional depth.
Starting in September, Crowder will study Civil Engineering Technology at the college, Zicari will enroll in the Health, Wellness and Fitness program and Rorke will study General Business.
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