Jessica Del Signore-Women's Basketball

Position: Guard

Age: 20

Hometown: Brantford

High school: St. John’s College

Major: Concurrent Education & Physical Education

Year of eligibility: 3

Why did you choose to attend Brock:

Brock has a great basketball program and they offered the teachers program, which is exactly what I wanted. Brock is a great school and a great fit for me.

How long have you played:  I started playing basketball when I was 10 years old.

What got you started in basketball:

My best friend started playing basketball a year before me and convinced me to sign up and try it out. I was really into dance at the time but decided shortly after that I would focus more on basketball and soccer.

Highlights of your basketball career:

 Winning Ontario provincials and playing in the eastern Canadian championships with my Brantford rep team. Receiving best defensive player award in my rookie year. Advancing to playoffs for the last two years. Beating Western (2^nd CIS ranking).

Who is your role model: My parents

Extracurricular activities: biking, soccer, snowboarding, weightlifting, and yoga

Favourite Food: Steak/ Sushi

Favourite Book: Health & Fitness magazines

Favourite Song: I can’t decide on a favourite song

Nickname: Jess, J, Dels, JDels, JD

Future Ambitions: Become a high school teacher, a coach and a strength and conditioning coach.

Family:

Dad- Frank, owns a plumbing company. Mom- Barb, owns a gift basket store. Sister- Ann, manager for mom’s store. Brothers- Michael & Paul both are licensed plumbers. Paul works for my dad and Michael works for a company in New Brunswick where he lives.

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere:

I would travel to Switzerland or Austria and board on the Alps.

Justin Tamane-Men's Baseball

Position: Catcher
Age: 23
Hometown: Aurora, ON
High School Attended: Dr. G. W. Williams SS
Major: Physical Education
Year of Eligibility: 4
Why did you choose to attend Brock?
I knew Brock's reputation with both their Physical Education program and their baseball programs. I didn't even apply anywhere else after I finished at Erie, I knew I wanted to be a Badger.
How long have you played baseball?
Since Grade 1
What got you started in baseball?
My buddy Brooks played Tee ball and my parents signed me up for Soccer. Let’s just say I hated soccer and thought it was lame and wanted to play baseball. So the next year my dad signed me up for Tee Ball and I never looked back.
Highlight of your baseball career?
The highlight of my baseball career on a personal level was being nominated First Team All-WNY conference while I was at Erie. But for sure on a team level nothing will top this years OUA championship and 2nd place CIBA Finish.
Who is your role model?
That is a hard question to answer but there are a few. In the sports world growing up I was a huge Tom Henke fan. But in life it would have to be my Dad and his brothers.
What do you like most about baseball?
I love how much strategy goes into every pitch. I think that is why I love catching. I am constantly involved in the crafting of every play.
Favourite food: Sushi
Favourite movie: Back to the Future
Favourite book: I like Dan Brown's books
Favourite song: According to my iTunes anything by Childish Gambino
Nickname: T, T Man, T Pain, (anything that starts with T)
What are your future ambition in both your career and life?
I would like to travel and teach abroad. I have been talking to several people and I have decided that I want to go over to Asia and teach English for a bit while I decide on what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Parents/Siblings and what they do?
I have one brother, Brandon. He is a writer and an awesome guitar player. He has a band called I, Deceiver and used to be in one called Sawmill Valley. My Mom Michele teaches Montessori in Toronto and My Dad is a Photographer. Some of the pictures on www.brockbadgersbaseball.com are his.
If you could travel any place in the world where would you go and why?
I would love to go to Japan. I have some distant relatives there and would love to go meet them while experiencing their culture.

Matt Abercrombie-Men's Hockey

Position: Center
Age: 21
Hometown: Sarnia ON
High School: Northern Collegiate
Amateur/Previous Club: Sarnia Legionnaires, Thorold Blackhawks
Major: Kinesiology
Year of Eligibility: 1
Why did you choose to attend Brock:

Took part time classes when I played in Thorold, lived in res and met great people and loved it ever since.
Highlights of your hockey career?

League Championship in Sarnia and this season playing for Brock

Who is your role model?

Parents, always set a good example and have always been there for me
Extracurricular Activities: intramural indoor soccer, poker hanging out with friends and family
Favourite food: steak and shrimp/sushi
Favourite book: none
Favourite Song: I like a little bit of everything
Nickname: Aber
Future Ambitions: Pro hockey/ sports therapist
Parents/Siblings and what they do?

Dad Bill, Owner of Sports store and VP of Sarnia Sting, OHL, Mom Stephanie, teacher, Sister Lindsay, Western law school
If you could travel any place in the world where would you go and why?

Travel to Europe for the experience and see the incredible architecture or maybe Bahamas to Atlantis for a hot relaxing vacation

Kevin Anstruther-Men's Rowing

Age: 21
Hometown: Niagara Falls
High School Attended: St. Paul High School
Major: Sport Management
Year of Eligibility: 4
Why did you choose to attend Brock?

Came to Brock for the sport management program and rowing
How long have you been rowing?

8 years competitive, 10 overall
What got you started in rowing?

My cousins rowed during their high school years and they coached learn to row in St. Catharines and they told me to try it for one summer. Been doing it ever since
Highlight of your rowing career?

It’s a tie between winning Royal Canadian Henley in the Sr. B Men's 8+ and winning the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Championships in the 72kg Sr. Men's 2-. Both were the culmination of years of hard work and determination in striving to win those races
What do you like most about rowing?

I really enjoy racing and the people in the sport are all amazing and interesting people. Wouldn't still be rowing if it weren't for all the great people I've rowed with and against for the last 8 years
Extracurricular Activities: Fantasy baseball, reading comic books, and watching TV and movies
Favourite food: Pizza
Favourite movie: Star Wars
Favourite book: Lord of the Rings
What are your future ambition in both your career and life?

 I'd love to work in Major League Baseball in some capacity, but the main ambition is to have a career that I love
Parents/Siblings and what they do?

Parents are John and Kathy Anstruther (both retired now, my dad used to work for GM, mom worked for the government). My sister is Meagan and she is attending University of Guelph for Animal Sciences
If you could travel any place in the world where would you go and why?

 I'd like to go to Scotland and visit the town of Anstruther (my last name) and attempt to see/discover the Loch Ness monster

Adam Schwark-Men's Hockey

Position: Left wing
Age: 23
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
High School: Bishop James Mahoney
Amateur/Previous Club: Bonneyville Pontiacs
Major: Business Administration
Year of Eligibility: 3
Why did you choose to attend Brock:  It was either division 3 in the states or Brock. CIS was better hockey!
How long have you played hockey: Since 5 yrs old
What got you started in hockey: My parents
Highlights of your hockey career?

Pee Wee Tier 1 Provincial Champs, Brock Rookie of the Year 08-09, Brock/OUA athlete of the week 2010
Who is your role model? Dad

Extracurricular Activities: Call of Duty, Cards, Movies
Favourite Food: Steak
Favourite book: Great Upsets of Stanley Cup Hockey
Favourite Song: Sail- Awolnation
Nickname: Shark
Future Ambitions: Journeyman Electrician
Parents/Siblings and what they do?

Rick (Dad)- Retired Electrician, Laura (Mom)- Postal Clerk, Lindsay (sis)-teacher, Alex (Bro)-student, Dayna(sis)- Gr. 12, Joel(bro)-Gr.8
If you could travel any place in the world where would you go and why?

Disney World- Because I am going soon!

Jonathan Silver-Men's Basketball

Position: PF
Age: 21
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
High School Attended: St. Thomas Aquinas
Major: Economics
Year of Eligibility: 1
Why did you choose to attend Brock?

I chose to go to Brock because my brother at the time was going here as well so it would make life for the parents easier if they wanted to come see us.
How long have you played basketball? I've been playing basketball since I was around 5 years old in those YMCA leagues.
What got you started in basketball?

My parents got me started early in basketball and a lot of other sports as well, but my love for the game kept me playing basketball over the other sports.
Highlight of your basketball career?

The highlight of my career has to be starting 3 games this year with Brock Badgers after making the team as a walk-on. Also an OFSAA bronze in my final year of high school.
Who is your role model?

My role model has to be my dad because he's always told me that anything’s possible if you work hard enough for it.
Extracurricular Activities: Hanging with friends, bike riding and relaxing
Favorite food: Hamburgers and Nachos
Favorite movie: He Got Game and Zoolander's a classic
Favorite book: Definately the Harry Potter series

Favorite Song: Donald Trump by Mac Miller
Nickname: Silvs, Silver, Long Jon, Silver Knights
Shoe size: 13
What are your future ambition in both your career and life? I really have no idea what I plan on doing after my University career but I'd like to do something in regards to marketing, and of course still be coaching basketball
Parents/Siblings and what they do?

My father Oliver is the Director of Customer Retention at Ryder Canada, my mother Janice is a babysitter, and my brother Alex is a graduate at Brock and is going to Sheridan College
If you could travel any place in the world where would you go and why? I would go to Aruba because I've heard the beaches and resorts there are amazing

Max Christiansen-Men's Baseball

Position: First Base / Designated Hitter
Age: 21
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
High School Attended: Lorne Park Secondary School
Major: Sport Management
Year of Eligibility: 3
Why did you choose to attend Brock?
The SPMA program just had my name written all over it. Once I got accepted I knew it was what I wanted to do.
How long have you played baseball?
I started playing organized ball at age 7. When you're that young you play 'Rookieball' and a machine is the pitcher. It was a nice luxury knowing every pitch was straight as an arrow right down Broadway, things aren't so easy anymore.
What got you started in baseball?
When you're that young you really don't know what you want to do and your parents are very influential in deciding the sports you'll get involved in. My dad saw that I had a good arm for a kid my age and decided that baseball would be a good way for me to get rid of my excess energy in the summer once hockey season ended.
Highlight of your baseball career?
 In 2006 I was lucky enough to win a National Championship with my summer rep team in P.E.I. In the semi-final I had the game winning RBI in a 1-0 win over New Brunswick, and in the final against BC I had the amazing feeling of catching the final out to secure a 4-3 victory. We were a Cinderella story team who defied the odds and beat a very good BC team in the final that featured many players who were eventually drafted, most notably Brett Lawrie.
Who is your role model?
 My parents shaped me into the man I am today, and drove me to all my games. I'm also a huge fan of Phil Dunfey of the TV show Modern Family haha, he's the kind of Dad I aspire to be.
What do you like most about baseball?
I just love the complexity of the game. Someone flipping through channels on TV might think that baseball is just someone throwing a ball and the other guy trying to hit it. But baseball is so much deeper than that, situations change with every pitch and if you have knowledge of the game watching it becomes that much more enjoyable. It's almost like athletic chess. I'm also a huge fan of clowning around in the dugout and cracking jokes with teammates, something that's a little harder to do in hockey or football where the game speed doesn't really allow it.
Extracurricular Activities: I play intramural basketball in the offseason to keep the competitive juices flowing, and DJ with one of my roommates for fun.
Favourite food: Steak
Favourite movie: Dumb & Dumber
Favourite book: Closet Harry Potter fan. Moneyball because it's baseball stat junkie porn and The Bullpen Gospels because it's a fantastic take on life in the minor leagues.
Favourite song: It seems to change on a weekly basis but right now I'm a big fan of Pleasurekraft and their song Carny. It's got a really funhouse/carnival feel to it.
Nickname: Maximus
What are your future ambition in both your career and life?
I plan on getting a job in professional sports with my sport management degree and possibly combining it with an MBA. I would love to coach my kids in sports as well.
If you could travel any place in the world where would you go and why?
Bora Bora. Google some images, you'll want to go too.