Cole Hemmerling, a.k.a. 'The Bread Man', has committed to the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (Photo: Kodiaks Athletics)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s volleyball team sign Chinook High School standout

Apr 12, 2021 | 11:12 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s volleyball team has added a local product to its roster.

Cole Hemmerling has committed to the team for the 2021-2022 season. The 6-foot-7 left-handed attacker last played for the Chinook High School Coyotes.

Despite missing his grade 12 season due to the pandemic, he still managed to leave his mark on the team and the Alberta high school volleyball scene.

Hemmerling helped lead the Coyotes to a zone championship in 2019, where he was also named a Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League all-star in grade 11.

At the provincial level, he’s been a mainstay in the Alberta provincial team program. In 2019, Hemmerling represented Alberta on the U16 roster at the Canada Cup in Halifax.

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He is also a graduate of the Lethbridge Volleyball Club program.

“Cole is a fantastic addition to our program,” said Kodiaks head coach Greg Gibos.

“We want elite athletes and Cole is certainly one of the best players in our province. Cole has the ability to be a high-volume attacker and can also lock down other team’s best outsides.”

FAMILY TIES

Cole isn’t the only Hemmerling to hit the court for the Kodiaks. His cousins Andy and Matt Hemmerling played for the Kodiaks from 2009-2011 and 2011-2013, respectively.

Matt Hemmerling also spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the team.

In a release from the Kodiaks, Cole Hemmerling said, “Signing with the Kodiaks is honestly a dream come true for me. I grew up watching Andy and Matt there and I wanted to be like them. I’ve been able to watch the Kodiaks my whole life. To know I get to play in the Val in front of my friends and family is surreal.”

Hemmerling plans to study in the Business Administration program, and then begin working towards completing a trade at Lethbridge College.

A FUN, NEW NICKNAME

The southern Albertan already has a new nickname with the team.

He said that, “one day I randomly got a text from coach Greg asking me if I wanted some rye bread. Greg was shopping at Costco and accidentally texted me, instead of his wife.”

The comedic exchange led to Hemmerling receiving the nickname of ‘The Bread Man’ ahead of the 2021-2022 season.