Jonas Dieterich on a high as he nets a second title
Wolverhampton basketball star Jonas Dieterich could do little to hide his immense happiness after leading Loughborough University to a second BUCS Championship title on the trot.
Taking place at the University of Bath, BUCS Big Wednesday saw hundreds of students from 14 sports descend on the West Country for an action-packed day of sport.
It proved to be a memorable one for 22-year-old Dieterich, a former pupil at Wolgarston High School in Penkridge, as Loughborough recorded a 73-62 victory over rivals Durham to ensure they retained the gold medal.
And while their northern opponents put up quite the fight on court, Dieterich insists he had no doubt his side could get the job done.
"It's an incredible feeling to have won, if anything it is even better than last year as we have done it twice in a row," said the fourth year maths student.
"It's what you want to do! I think there was probably more of an expectation this year because we were champions last time out but I think everyone who was involved stepped up, everyone knew what was expected of them and we all delivered.
"I love being part of this team. Every guy there played selflessly, we play for each other, no one is out there trying to get something for themselves and that's what has pulled us through for the win at the moment."
BUCS Big Wednesday saw the culmination of this season's team sport competitions, with teams from more than 800 leagues having battled it out for a berth in the season finale.
And for Dieterich, nothing fills him with greater pride than pulling on the purple Loughborough jersey before stepping onto court.
"Representing Loughborough, for me, it means everything. That is what we play for," he added.
"That's why I came here, I knew it was the best sporting university and you have got to make sure you represent that when you step out on court.
"I have played two full seasons with the first team, and we won it last year and now this year too. I have got another year left now so hopefully we'll be coming back here again, aiming for a third title in a row.
"BUCS Big Wednesday has been great. It is just a great representation of what sports should be like."
n British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for Higher Education (HE) sport in the UK, organising leagues and competitions for more than 150 institutions across 52 different sports. BUCS has over 800 leagues across the country, with BUCS Big Wednesday the culmination for premier divisions each year.
