NAME: Dale Iwanoczko
UNIVERSITY: Manitoba
CATEGORY: Student-Athlete
SPORT: Men’s volleyball
YEARS ACTIVE: 1986-1991
HIGHLIGHTS:
1987 CIAU Men’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year
1990 CIAU Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year
Four-time CIAU All-Canadian (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
1991 CIAU champion
BIOGRAPHY:
In a life far too short, Dale Iwanoczko is long remembered for maximizing every moment that he had.
Iwanoczko was the ultimate student-athlete at the University of Manitoba, where he excelled on the volleyball court and in the classroom.
As a setter for the Bisons from 1986 to 1991, Iwanoczko became the first male volleyball player to be named All-Canadian four straight times. He helped Manitoba capture a medal at the national championships in all five of his seasons, winning gold in 1991 after previously coming home with silver three times and bronze once. Iwanoczko was the CIAU Rookie of the year in 1987 and the 1990 CIAU Player of the Year.
Academically, Iwanoczko made the Dean’s Honour Roll when he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1989 and was the recipient of the Family of Medicine Award in 1993 when he received his doctorate in medicine.
The native of Selkirk, Man., represented Canada at the 1987 World Junior Championship in Saudi Arabia, the 1991 World University Games in England and the Pan Am Games in Cuba.
After a courageous 14-month battle with Hodgkin’s Disease. Iwanoczko passed away on Sept. 15, 1998, just two days after his 30th birthday.
His legacy lives on through the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Volleyball Scholarship, which was established in 1999 by his family and friends and is now presented annually to four Manitoba high school players. Additionally, the U SPORTS men’s volleyball award for student-athlete community service is named in his honour.
Iwanoczko is a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Manitoba Volleyball Hall of Fame.