The TripBookee Pirates QBL coach, Jason Chainey has secured the services of 6'5" centre Shelby Cheslek from Gonzaga University in Washington for the 2017 QBL season. Coach Chainey spotted Cheslek while working for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. Cheslek was invited to the Mercury's training camp prior to the WNBA season and was one of the last players cut. Cheslek started in 115 of her 134 appearances at Gonzaga. The graduating senior broke the program record for blocks in a career. Her 213 blocks ranks seventh in West Coast Conference history. The Pullman, Washington native is also second in program history with 932 rebounds. She was near the league leader in blocks and rebounds for all of the 2016 season. Shelby is currently finishing her commitments in Greece and will play off for the bronze medal next week after losing the semi final last week. She leads her team averaging 16ppg, 11rebs, 1.3ast and leads the league in blocked shots.
Cheslek will replace Erica Carlson whose team recently won the German division 2 championship. Carlson will return to Australia and will follow last years coach to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.
Welcome aboard Shelby Cheslek! Check out her highlights from her senior year at Gonzaga including some clips against former U18 Pirate Kalani Purcell who just graduated from BYU. (#32 blue)