The NAIT Ooks show that they can succeed both on and off the field of play.
EDMONTON, Alta - The NAIT Ooks have once again proven they can be both successful in the classroom as well as on the field of play. The NAIT student-athletes combined for an average 2.9 GPA. On top of a stellar GPA, 41 Ooks earned academic honours (3.7 GPA).
Badminton - The NAIT Ooks badminton team achieved an outstanding 3.5 team GPA. Jeffrey Ko, Eyota Kwan, Caitlyn New, Nicholas Roque and Kaitlyn Wilbee all finished the year with honours.
Curling - The curling team finished the academic year with an impressive 3.4 GPA. Dana Algot, Mackenzie Bertschi, Emily Clark, Judson Crowder, Trygg Jensen, Robert Kitagawa and Carina Sartor-Pielak all achieved academic honours.
Women's Soccer - women's soccer combined for an overall 3.3 GPA. Kennedy Ballam, Ryleigh Bridges, Ashley Chaput, Sidney Doblanko, Rayna Hamieh, Sarah Moorji and Kayleigh Pepper all finished the academic year with honours.
Women's Volleyball - The NAIT Ooks women's volleyball team also finished the with a team GPA of 3.3. Jamie Bain, Kayleigh Fisk, Karly Kupka, Sarah Melenka and Lauren Smith all achieved academic honours.
Men's Hockey - The NAIT men's hockey team has the largest roster of all of the Ooks teams, they managed to finish the year with a 3.1 GPA. Corey Chorneyko, Erik Donald, Nathan Park, Ryan Piche, Brandon Ralph and Colton Waltz all achieved academic honours.
Women's Hockey - The NAIT Ooks women's hockey team posted a 2.8 team GPA. Jenn Gaeckle, Megan Leblanc, Brittney Savard and Denni Sutherland all achieved honours. It should also be added that both Hannah Fouillard and Kaitlyn Whaley completed a very time demanding x-ray and combine lab program/practicum, while still showing the full-time commitment to their respective team.
Men's Volleyball - The men's volleyball team achieved a 2.8 team GPA. Simon Coat, Winston Voogd and Trey Weinmeier all earned academic honours.
Women's Basketball - The NAIT Ooks women's basketball team earned a 2.8 combined team GPA. Kaelyn Bryks, Allison Hunder, and Rachel Pearce all finished the academic year with honours.
Men's Soccer - The men's soccer team had a 2.1 team GPA, with Armando Garcia, their lone honours student leading the charge.
Men's Basketball - The men's basketball team finished the year with much academic success. One success story is that of Alex-Purves McCarthy, who was already enrolled at NAIT in the civil engineering technology program when he decided to try out for the team as a walk-on. Alex made the team as a red-shirt, practicing and conditioning with the team for the first semester. In the second semester, he earned playing time, through hard work and a few roster openings. Alex was able to maintain a full course load and a 3.6 GPA while training/playing 6 days a week.