Providence’s Bhangu given Bill Wedlake award
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For four seasons, Karan Bhangu has patrolled the back-line for the Providence Pilots soccer team, and the now senior was rewarded for his performances on and off the pitch this fall.
Bhangu was named one of two Bill Wedlake award winners for the 2025/2026 season. The award is given to a player who makes one of the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference’s TrueSport teams.
“It’s been a joy to coach Karan, and I look forward to his final year with us. He constantly pushes his teammates to enjoy every moment and be better on and off the pitch,” said Giovanni Benitez Friesen, Bhangu’s head coach at Providence University College.
“He takes school seriously and it shows. He is a disciplined man and is capable of doing many great things. He truly cares and is always looking for ways to serve and help his teammates whether that be through homework, rides to places, being considerate of people’s celebrations and wanting the best for them. Karan is a great example of what a true sport athlete is.”
Last year was the first time athletes at Providence were eligible to play for five seasons, as the MCAC fully integrates into the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, and Bhangu is going to join that group this season.
Providence’s quest to compete for a national championship will begin Sept. 12 against CMU, with Prince George, B.C. native Bhangu wearing the captain’s armband for the men’s team.
Assiniboine College’s Michelle Omand was the other player to receive the award this season.
Bill Wedlake was inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 as one of the province’s most significant basketball builders. He spent 32 years coaching basketball, including 16 years with the University of Winnipeg, which named their on campus fitness centre in his honour. After his coaching career ended, he served as the University’s director of Athletics, and the executive director of MCAC. Wedlake also served as the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association president.