Brett Theise paid his dues, now it’s his time to shine.
Theise comes into his fifth and final season with the RDP Kings volleyball team having sat behind two of the premier setters in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference the past four years — Maddux Greves and Tom Wass.
“I’ve been waiting for it, working my butt off to get here and now it’s looking like I’m getting more playing time … I’m excited about it,” said Theise.
“Brett definitely put in his time with the program,” said Kings head coach Aaron Schulha. “It wasn’t an easy spot for him backing up quality setters, but he was a solid teammate throughout and bought his time and now it’s his opportunity.”
These use his time backing up to sit and learn.
“Sitting behind Maddux and Tom was a blessing in being able to learn from guys like that,” he said.
Now it’s his time to work with one of the top young recruits in the conference in Drew Dykstra.
“Hopefully I can teach him a bit,” Theise added. “He’s definitely more skilled than I was in my first year, but I’ll definitely try to teach him some things and I’ll learn from him as well.”
Schulha couldn’t be happier with the mix.
“I like the mix of him being a veteran guy, having put in his time and knowing the program and a good young guy in Drew. There is some competition but they get along and are good teammates.”
Theise came out Swift Current prior to the 2020-21 season knowing little about the Kings program.
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” he said with a laugh. “I wasn’t sure what Kings volleyball was all about until I showed up. As soon as I showed up I loved it, what the team was all about and I loved winning.”
Brett worked hard on his game.
“I definitely improved on controlling the offence, using matchups and seeing what is happening on the other side. I read the play much better compared to other years. The game slows down the longer you play. Slows down so you can see what’s happening on the other side and understand what they’re trying to do.”
The fact that Theise is a veteran on a veteran-laden team is a plus.
“Knowing each other and the guy's tendencies is a benefit,” he said.
Schuhla likes having Theise working with a veteran group.
“Our roster is, in general, fairly old,” he said. “Theise has been around a lot of the time with the bulk of those guys and he’s a good fit. Being older – having a setter who has worked with them a lot if a good thing.
“Brett is also taking more of a leadership role, although he’s a quiet leader.”
Schulha was quick to add that Theise is a perfect teammate.
“He’s never been an issue in the classroom, does his work in the weight room, is a tireless worker, a guy you like to coach.”
He also is a guy who doesn’t mind change, as the Kings have made some slight changes to their offence this season.
“A few things. We’re working a little tighter to the net so we can use the opponents hand a bit more,” he said.
Losing all-star Noah Carlson from the right side changes the offence as well, although former rookie of the year, Brett Lower, steps back in.
Theise sees left side Colby Nemeth as an all-star with a solid middle in Dillon Gauci and Owen Langberg.
“A lot of good, solid guys,” he said.
The Kings look to have a solid contender again this year, but will get a good test this weekend as they hosted Lakeland Friday and Keyano Saturday. Both matches go at 8 p.m., following the women.
The only blemish to the Kings preseason record was a loss to Keyano.
“It’ll be a true test for us and we’re excited,” said Theise. “Keyano is a very talented team with a lot of veterans. Lakeland also looks like a solid team.
One aspect of the team Theise likes this season is their camaraderie.
“I think we were missing a bit of that in the past years,” he said. “We’ve got that chemistry this year.”
While Theise is looking forward to the season, he knows it ends with a bit of disappointment.
“It’s exciting, but it’s also going to be a sad day once I leave here and have to go to work every day instead of playing volleyball with my best friends” he said.
Theise will receive his Bachelor of Business degree this year and likely will return home to Swift Current to work in sales or management.
“I do have a couple job opportunities. I just have to decide.”
The 2-0 Queens also have a test this weekend as both Lakeland and Keyano are 2-0.
The hockey Kings face Concordia twice this weekend — Friday at home and Saturday in Edmonton while the hockey Queens have the weekend off.
The basketball teams played in Fort McMurray (Keyano) Thursday and Lloydminster (Lakeland) Friday.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca
