The 2024/25 season has come to a close for the NAIT Ooks, and we want to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our student-athletes.
Cross Country had another stellar season, with both the men's and women's teams earning bronze medals at provincials and securing their spots at the CCAA Nationals. The Ooks capped off their season with a strong performance at the CCAA National Championships in Windsor, Ontario, on November 9th. Competing against nearly 200 athletes from 38 schools across Canada, eight student-athletes represented NAIT, pushing through tough competition and posting season bests to close out the season.
Golf also had a successful year. On the women's side, Ella Dolan had an outstanding performance at the ACAC Golf Championships, securing a bronze medal with a third-place finish and earning her individual spot at the CCAA Nationals. The women's team and the mixed team won silver medals. On the men's side, the team also claimed a silver medal at provincials, which granted them a spot at the CCAA Nationals for the second year in a row.
Women's Hockey entered the season as the reigning ACAC Champions and were determined to defend their title in their 25th anniversary season. They finished second in the ACAC standings with a 19-6 record, advancing to the ACAC semi-finals against the RDP Queens. The Ooks won game one but fell in games two and three, bringing their season to a tough close.
Men's Hockey celebrated its 50th anniversary this season, marking a historic milestone for the program. With a young but determined team, they fought hard throughout the season, finishing in fourth place in the ACAC. In the quarterfinals, they faced off against the CUE Thunder (5th place), winning the first game but losing the next two, resulting in an early elimination from playoffs.
Men's Basketball, under the leadership of Head Coach Adika Peter McNeilly, had an incredible season, including a nine-game winning streak in the second half. They finished second in the ACAC standings and made a deep playoff run. Unfortunately, in the semi-finals, they suffered a heartbreaking 93-88 loss to the host Briercrest Clippers after leading for most of the game. They finished fourth at provincials but have plenty to build on for next season.
The Women's Basketball team had another strong season, securing a playoff spot and finishing fifth overall in the ACAC. With playoffs hosted at the NAIT gym, the team had the opportunity to play on their home court, where they fought hard to defeat teams that had beaten them during the regular season. A standout moment came when Payton Neilson delivered an incredible 41-point game in the consolation semi-final at the ACAC Championship, helping her team advance to the 5/6 game, where they defeated RDP.
The Curling team had a solid season, with the men's team earning a third-place finish at playoffs and securing a spot at the CCAA National Championships. Although they did not medal at Nationals this year, they are eager to come back stronger next season. The women's team also gave their best effort throughout the season, demonstrating great resilience and teamwork.
The badminton team was dominant throughout the year, finishing ranked first after all three tournaments and earning the top spot in the CCAA national rankings. At Provincials, the team captured second place in the team event, along with several individual podium finishes: Davis and Khushi placed second in Mixed Doubles, Noel and Samantha took second in Women's Doubles, and Smit finished second in Men's Singles. All of these athletes earned their spots at CCAA Nationals on ACAC Team 2. Though they competed fiercely at Nationals, they were unable to bring home any national medals.
Men's Volleyball entered the season with high expectations after winning both the ACAC Championship and their first-ever CCAA National Championship last year. With significant turnover, the team faced pressure but still performed well, finishing third in the ACAC regular season. In the ACAC Championship, they fell in the quarterfinals to Lethbridge but rebounded in the consolation semi-final with a win over Briercrest, ultimately securing fifth place after defeating Augustana in the 5/6 game.
Women's Volleyball had a great season, earning their spot in the Championships. In the second-last game of the regular season, they made a statement by taking a set off the Lakeland Rustlers, who had not lost a set all year, effectively ruining their perfect season. At Championships, they entered with momentum but fell to RDP in game one. However, they bounced back in the consolation semi-finals against SAIT, winning 3-2, before losing to Briercrest in the 5/6 game.
Men's Soccer had a historic season, claiming the ACAC provincial championship gold medal. With several new recruits joining an already strong lineup, the team earned a spot at the CCAA National Championships. They fought hard at Nationals but were narrowly defeated, just missing out on a spot in the bronze medal game.
Following soccer, many of the men's team members transitioned to Futsal, where they had an impressive season. They finished first in the North with an 8-2 record, advancing to the ACAC Championships, where they secured second place.
The Women's Soccer and Futsal teams also had fantastic seasons. The women's soccer team narrowly missed a championship appearance, finishing third in the standings. With NWP hosting, they needed to place second to qualify, but ultimately lost their spot to the host team in the North. However, the women's futsal team had an outstanding 9-1 record, clinching first place and advancing to the ACAC Championships at Lakeland College. They fought hard in the final but ultimately took second place after losing to the SAIT Trojans.
This season has truly been one to remember for the Ooks, filled with remarkable performances and unforgettable moments.