February 8, 2019
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Bishop’s commits believe in team, coaches

Bishop’s adds two Quรฉbec commits and one out-of-province commit to their team.

Linebackers Sheldon Van Niekerk from the London Beefeaters (CFJL) and Karl Beaudry-Lรฉvesque from Collรจge Lionel-Groulx, along with defensive lineman Olivier Fournier Cรฉgep Limoilou, are thrilled to be able to help the Bishopโ€™s Gaiters find success.

Sheldon Van Niekerk

By Joanna Kurowski.

For Sheldon Van Niekerk, committing to Bishopโ€™s was โ€œa pretty easy one. As soon as I got there for my visit it just felt like home and I could see myself there for the next few years,โ€ he said. โ€œOn top of that they have a very talented and respectable coaching staff that I feel can help develop me into the player I want to be and become a better student athlete.โ€

Van Niekerk began his career at a young age but stopped after grade seven. He didnโ€™t begin playing again until the summer of his victory lap year in high school. He has been playing with the London Beefeaters since 2015. He also played with the London Jr. Mustangs (OPFL) in 2014 and the Forest City Thunderbirds (OFC) and the Oakridge Oaks (TVRA) in 2015. He was a captain on the 2018 Beefeaters.

The 6โ€™2, 220lbs product of London, Ontario, will be taking sports studies.

Karl Beaudry-Lรฉvesque

By Jacques Lavoie.

Karl Beaudry-Lรฉvesque is ready to get to work with the Gaiters. โ€œI chose Bishopโ€™s because there is really something to build. The coaching staff is excellent, and I think we can win our division pretty soon. There is a movement starting and I want to be a part of it,โ€ he said.

Beaudry-Lรฉvesque, who is 6โ€™0, 210lbs, added that he thinks the staff is great. Hailing from Mascouche, Quรฉbec, he is interested in taking either business or finance.

Beaudry-Lรฉvesque spent five years with Les Scorpions de Armand-Corbeil, one with Les Phรฉnix du Collรจge Andrรฉ-Grasset (RSEQ Division 1) and two with Les Nordiques du Collรจge Lionel Groulx (RSEQ Division 1).

With his commitment secure, Beaudry-Lรฉvesque has a message to other commits: โ€œJust come to Bishopโ€™s and be a part of what is coming next.โ€

Olivier Fournier

Courtesy of Olivier Fournier.

Olivier Fournier already has an idea of how the Gaiters coaches run their team. โ€œI did two summer football camps that was organized by the Bishopโ€™s football team and I was really amazed each time by the installations, the techniques, the coaches and the spirit,โ€ he said. โ€œIt naturally became a dream to play for them! Then, I really think I will fit in a beautiful purple (uniform) like this.โ€

While Fournier hasnโ€™t met the entire coaching staff, he said he is looking forward to it. He has, however, spoken with the head coach on the phone. โ€œ(Heโ€™s a) really kind man, the kind of man you know youโ€™ll fit in with,โ€ he said.

Fournier, who has applied to psychology, added that he was interested in studying at an English university. He is from the small town of Frampton, Quรฉbec, where he was raised on a farm. He was a member of Les Panthรจres de la Polyvalente Veilleux (RSEQ) for five years and a member of Les Titans du Cรฉgep Limoilou (RSEQ Division 1) for four. He won a few championships in high school and was a captain on his team in 2014.

Ready to start the season, Fournier said, โ€œIโ€™m thrilled to be able to join the teamโ€™s future success!โ€

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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