KAMLOOPS – Head coach John Antulov and the reigning U SPORTS National Champion Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team have inked their first recruit for the 2023 season, announcing that Liam Freathy will join the squad.
 
Spending the past six seasons with Thompson Okanagan Football Club, Freathy is a 6-1 centreback out of Vernon who is excited to join the 'Pack.
 
"I have followed the WolfPack and their successes through my time in the BCSPL with TOFC and while living in the Kamloops region," said Freathy. "The strength of the coaching and support staff, as well as the high-level facilities and culture of TRU has made this an easy decision to continue my education and soccer career with the WolfPack."
 
Freathy and Antulov have a long-standing relationship, with the latter having coached Freathy in the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy here in Kamloops.
 
"We've seen Liam grow over the last 5-6 years from when I've coached him," said Antulov. "I've really seen him develop and I like how he's grown on the field both physically and mentally and think he'll be a really good addition to our program."
 
A stout defender with the ability to move the ball well and organize the back-line, Freathy's style of play reminds Antulov of one of the all-time WolfPack program greats.

"Liam very much reminds me of Finlay McPhie," said Antulov. "He's a big, strong defender who is very good at building the ball out of the back. I've seen a real progression in his game, and I really like how he's developed."

Captain of the TOFC 05 Boys team in the BC Soccer Premier League, the addition of Freathy bolsters the strong presence of TOFC graduates in the WolfPack lineup.
 
"We want to continue to keep working with TOFC kids from Vernon, Kamloops and Kelowna and try to get the best players that we can to play for TRU," said Antulov.

The graduate of Vernon Secondary School joins the program after the WolfPack proved themselves to be the best team in the nation last November.
 
TRU embarked on a magical run through the U SPORTS Men's Soccer Championship, defeating No. 4 McMaster and No. 1 Cape Breton in the quarter-final and semifinal respectively before taking down the UBC Thunderbirds and earn the first U SPORTS title in program history.
 
Freathy and his new teammates will aim to defend that national championship when they hit the field in 2023.

 
Liam Freathy
Position: Centre Back
Height: 6'1"
Hometown: Vernon, BC
Last Team: Thompson Okanagan Football Club