From the court to the sideline, the impact one person can make on his team is immeasurable.  In this case the motivation and determination spewing from the veins of Canada native and Anteaters captain Adam Folker was unstoppable; it’s what kept them fighting hard 'til the very end.

With a strong will and remarkable resolve, the UC Irvine senior has overcome many obstacles.  He believes they are temporary, with time just another hurdle in the way.

When being told to retire from the game of basketball over a year ago, the 6’9 senior never took the advice seriously.  “Take it as a grain of salt and move on,” he said.  He used it as motivation; his love for the game was too powerful to hold him down.

At the beginning of the year the senior captains and the team sat down to discuss their goals on the season: a winning record and a Big West Conference Tournament championship. 

Just eight days prior to the Big West Tournament quarterfinal match against Hawai’i, Folker had a mishap at practice, resulting in an MCL tear and beat up ankle.  What is usually a six to eight week recovery turned into 10 days for the determined center. 

“I could see the disappointment when I went down in their eyes,” said Folker of his teammates.  “But they knew I would do everything I could to get back.”

And that he did. 

The first two games of the Big West Tournament Folker played a new role.  He put on the “Steve Nash” persona that head coach Russell Turner requested.  “Coach asked me to be a great team player and try to motivate players off the court,” said Folker.  “That is what a senior captain is supposed to do.”

At the beginning of the season Folker’s individual goal was to contribute to his team the best he could, on the court, off the court and in the classroom.  Never did he imagine taking the sideline view down the stretch of his senior season. During what could have been his final minutes, his new role was displayed better than any the team could have asked for.

“That kid (Folker) is incredible.  He brought us alive by his presence before and during the game,” said Coach Turner. “He wants to play, but he is as good a teammate when he doesn’t play as anyone in the world.”

It’s old news now, but in the semi-final game, the Anteaters came back from a seven-point deficit to beat No. 1 Long Beach State to advance to the championship.  Folker stayed sidelined for the game.

“The way we won it in the fashion that we did, was a great feeling,” Folker expressed. “ I couldn’t have been any happier for our guys and their performance.”

But the battle wasn’t over yet.  They had the evening to recover and then get back to work the next game against a tough opponent in Pacific for the tournament title. 

Following the game Folker helped teammates recover.  Having been through his own physical trials, he put it upon himself to do research and help rehab his teammates with any injuries they may have had to get their bodies ready for the next matchup.

“He will be helping everyone recover,” said Turner of Folker following the Long Beach State victory.  “He is an expert at that stuff, a true warrior that helps our team in so many ways.”

UC Irvine came out strong against higher seed Pacific in the final, but was unable to finish, falling to the Tigers 64-55.  In his 12 minutes on the floor, the senior center scored one basket while grabbing six boards. 

“I didn’t think he was going to make it on the floor,” said teammate Michael Wilder.  “Just seeing him meant a lot.  It gave me a little bit of a boost, gave us all a boost.  To have him come out and play was huge, and it’s a credit to him and a credit to our medical staff.”

Through it all, the determination that lies inside the Canadian Anteater is unbeatable.  He credits his supportive teammates, family, but most importantly his coaches.

“I have trusted every decision that he [Russell Turner] has made as a coach here.  His decisions are a direct reflection of our team’s success on the court and off.”

While basketball is what he is known for, Folker is most proud of his accomplishments as a four-year Big West Scholar-Athlete award winner and soon to be Business Economics graduate. 

The team will have another shot to advance tonight hosting High Point for the first round of the fifth annual CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.  The Anteaters will be playing in postseason play for the first time since 2002 on Crawford Court at 7:30 pm PT.

Is this it for Folker?  Of course not.  He hopes to continue his basketball career to play professionally in the near future, and continue his love for marketing the #FolkerSystem.