Tristan Iwanczuk

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks men’s volleyball team is excited to announce the commitment of six-foot-seven Catholic Central High School (CCH) co-captain and middle blocker Tristan Iwanczuk. 

Iwanczuk has been a key member of the CCH Cougars, contributing to their success as a zone championship-winning team. He was named a league all-star in both his Grade 11 and 12 seasons. In 2024, Catholic Central captured both the city championship and the zone banner, with Iwanczuk playing a crucial role as an elite blocker and on-court leader. He is also a member of the U18 Junior Kodiaks with the Lethbridge Volleyball Club, one of the top teams in the province.

Iwanczuk credits his time at Catholic Central for helping him develop a deep love for volleyball, and he thanks his coaches, Matthew Hammel and Malcolm Fisher, CCH principal Joanne Polec, and the school community for their support and belief in him.

“The atmosphere at CCH made me fall in love with the sport,” he says. “My teammates and peers at CCH made volleyball a place where I felt welcomed, and I looked forward to playing in front of them every game day. This is something I hope to keep with me as I embark on this journey toward becoming a Kodiak.”

“Tristan is certainly a one-of-one type of athlete for us here at Lethbridge Polytechnic,” says head coach Greg Gibos. “His size, athleticism and ability to read the play are top in the province, however, what really separates Tristan is who he is as a person. We added someone who can be a future captain of this program. His passion for his teammates, his community and his school are second to none. Tristan is going to have an impact on our program in so many ways, and we are thrilled he’s chosen to be a Kodiak.” 

Iwanczuk credits his family for his development on and off the court. 

“My older siblings have encouraged me to reach my potential, while my younger brother has challenged me to be the best role model I can be,” says Iwanczuk. “My parents are my biggest support, and my grandma has always been one of my driving forces in wanting to excel in everything I do. I also owe the majority of what I have been able to achieve on the court, to my teammates, who I feel have pushed me beyond my previous boundaries.”  

Iwanczuk says he is excited to be at home with a passionate volleyball community. “I chose to become a Kodiak after I had spent some time getting to know the coaches and the team,” he says. “I realized it was a positive environment that challenged me to get better, and this was something I wanted to be a part of. Ever since I started playing volleyball, it has been a dream of mine to play at the post-secondary level, and I am blessed to do this where I grew up.”

“Rarely do athletes come in as well rounded and prepared for the next level as Tristan,” says Gibos. “I cannot wait to see how he develops and helps his teammates here as a Kodiak. We truly got a good one here.”

Iwanczuk will be taking the Business program at Lethbridge Polytechnic.