[Part 1 (Evans), Part 2 (Acheampong), Part 4 (McLaughlin), Part 5 (Peterson)]

The Vikes Starting 5

Name: Reiner Theil
Eligibility: Second Year
Major: Pre-Commerce
Hometown: West Vancouver, BC
High School: West Vancouver High School and Vancouver College
Previous Team: Vancouver College Men's Basketball Team 

Second-year Reiner Theil (West Vancouver, B.C.) has become a key component of the success of the University of Victoria Vikes men's basketball team on their journey to the CIS Final 8 this coming weekend. Theil has been confident enough to step up to the challenge of taking on a starting five position very early on in his varsity career.
 
“Starting has been a pretty significant accomplishment,” says Reiner. “I wasn't expecting to be put into this role, especially this year, but [Craig] Beaucamp's reiteration about my role as a defensive stopper has encouraged me.”
 
Theil's composure when guarding the opposition's top player has been impressive and he takes pride in his role as one of the top defensive stoppers in Canada West.
 
From an early age, Theil's passion for basketball competed with his obvious skill in both soccer and football. The athletically-gifted Theil has regularly found himself in situations where he had to choose one sport over the other. Those decisions began when he transferred from West Vancouver High School to Vancouver College, primarily for the athletics but also for its academic opportunities.
 
Although he admits he was not a key player on his high school football and basketball teams during his junior year, it allowed him to work behind the scenes and lead quietly by example, preparing him to guide his teammates to the championships. Theil was awarded back-to-back AAA Provincial All-Star honours for football and basketball in 2010-11 and was a principal member of the 2010 B.C. U-17 men's basketball team that won bronze at the national championship.
 
To date, Theil's father and his brother Micha have been the most influential people in his life, they have always supported and guided him down the right path. As his brother is a football player Theil has had the opportunity to observe what his future may look like on the gridiron but the small team environment of basketball and the competitiveness of the court and one-on-one play has taken top spot for Theil.
 
Outside of basketball, Theil has excelled at his studies and in 2011-12 earned Academic All-Canadian honours. He has set the bar high for himself, striving to maintain his grade point average and his Academic All-Canadian status. In addition, he is in the process of applying for the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business.
 
With the CIS Final 8 only a few days away, Theil is excited to take in the experience. He plans to play as if this is his last appearance at the tournament and he knows that each game he will leave everything on the court. With three years of eligibility remaining, Vikes fans have a lot to look forward to with Theil on the court!

Information About the CIS Final 8

SEEDING

1. Carleton Ravens (OUA Champions)
2. Cape Breton Capers (AUS Champions)
3. Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA Finalists)
4. UBC Thunderbirds (CWUAA Champions)
5. Acadia Axemen (AUS Finalists)
6. McGill Redmen (RSEQ Champions)
7. Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA Bronze Medallists)
8. Victoria Vikes (CWUAA Finalists)
 
VIKES CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (All times EST)

Friday, March 8
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 8 Victoria vs No. 1 Carleton (www.CIS-SIC.tv)

Saturday, March 9 (Games TBD)
12:00 Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2 (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
14:15 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
17:30 Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (THE SCORE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
20:15 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (THE SCORE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) 

Sunday, March 10 (Games TBD)
11:00 5^th place (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
13:15 Bronze medal game (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
15:30 Championship final (THE SCORE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) 

Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mbkb/index

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
 
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, 11,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 54 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CIS_SIC  
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cissports
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/universitysport