Cross-Country
The NAIT Ooks cross-country team capped off their season with a strong showing at the CCAA National Championships in Windsor, Ontario, on November 9th. Racing against nearly 200 athletes from 38 schools across Canada, both the men's and women's teams pushed through challenging competition and posted personal bests to close out their season.
On the women's side, Aelyn Switzer led the Ooks with an impressive 28th-place finish, clocking a personal best time of 24:58 in the 6k race. Pamela Rutto followed in 59th with her own personal best of 27:19, while Kamryn Aebly crossed in 66th at 27:46 for another season best. Hannah Warford, one of the team's returners from last year's Nationals, finished in 83rd place with a time of 29:08, rounding out a solid team performance.
In the men's 8k race, Tyson Versteeg, who had been a top-five finisher throughout the season, was unfortunately unable to finish due to injury. However, the rest of the men's team stepped up, with Shawn Gunnink finishing in 43rd place at 27:17, marking his best time of the season. Taylor Hudak followed closely in 83rd, clocking a personal best of 30:09. Cameron Bakal and Roman Tiessen crossed the finish line just behind him in 84th and 87th, with times of 30:22 and 30:33, respectively—each setting their own season records.
Soccer
The men's soccer team showcased their grit and determination at the CCAA Soccer Championships, held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, over a three-day marathon of games.
They started strong on Day 1 with an impressive win against Les Rouges de Saint-Boniface, setting the tone for the tournament. The next day, the team faced a tough challenge against the Humber Hawks. Despite a difficult first half, where the Hawks built a 3-0 lead, the Ooks showed their resilience. They regrouped, adjusted their strategy, and held strong defensively through the second half, proving their ability to fight back under pressure but they lost in the national semi-final sending them to the bronze semi-final.
On Day 3, the Ooks battled the Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers in a thrilling bronze semi-final match. It was a nail-biter, with the Ooks pushing hard all the way to the final whistle, but falling just short in a 4-3 loss. Jameson Kiezik was a standout, scoring two goals in the first half, while Peter Jones added another to keep the pressure on the Cavaliers. It was a narrow defeat, but the team's effort and determination were evident throughout the game.
Volleyball
The men's volleyball team started their weekend with a hard-fought match against Lethbridge Polytechnic. The Ooks came out the gate with an explosive first set, edging out the Kodiaks 29-27, but the Kodiaks pulled ahead in sets 2 and 3. Despite a fierce battle in set 4, the Ooks didn't quite close it out, losing 3-1. Josh Watson recorded 12 kills, while teammate Xander van Driel added 9 more.
However, the Ooks bounced back brilliantly in their second game, defeating the SAIT Trojans 3-1. After dropping the first set, the team regrouped and dominated the next three sets with scores of 25-12, 25-15, and 25-17. Finn Howard was a key contributor, making 5 blocks and 6 kills, helping the Ooks seal the win and show their resilience.
On the women's side, the Ooks continued their impressive run, sweeping both Lethbridge and SAIT 3-0. Against Lethbridge, Rachel Mallett led the way with 11 kills, while Makenna Doyle and Madeline Smith also made strong contributions with 7 and 8 kills, respectively. Ashley Wiesener was a defensive powerhouse with 6 crucial blocks.
In their match against SAIT, Doyle truly shone, tallying 14 kills and playing a pivotal role in the Ooks' dominant performance. The team's energy and focus were unmatched as they took each set with unrelenting intensity.
Basketball
The men's basketball team had an exciting weekend, starting with a commanding 98-63 victory over Lethbridge Polytechnic. The Ooks came out firing, building an early lead and never letting up. Kohl Wedman and Cameron Knisely both contributed 15 points each, leading the team to a dominant win. It was a performance full of momentum, with the Ooks proving their offensive firepower and depth.
In their second game against SAIT, the Ooks faced a tougher challenge and ultimately fell 63-71. Despite the loss, the team fought hard throughout, with Omar Farah earning 14 points and Peter-Aluk Deng adding 13. The team's resilience and determination were clear—they never stopped battling until the final buzzer.
On the women's side, the Ooks had a thrilling 54-53 win over the Lethbridge Kodiaks. After a tight first half, the Kodiaks came roaring back in the third quarter, but the Ooks dug deep and came back strong in the final frame, showing incredible composure under pressure. Payton Neilson led the team with 19 points, including some clutch shots to seal the victory.
Against SAIT, the Ooks had a tough outing, falling 49-76, but Mikah Reed's performance stood out. She racked up nearly half of the teams points, including 6 three-pointers, showing her scoring prowess and her ability to keep the team in the game. Despite the result, the Ooks continued to demonstrate their skill, determination, and potential.
Hockey
The women's hockey team was nothing short of spectacular, sweeping both of their games. On Friday, they took down SAIT 6-2, with Hanna Paquette scoring twice and a total of five players contributing to the scoreline. The team's offense was sharp, and their defense was rock-solid, keeping SAIT at bay throughout the game.
On Saturday, the Ooks faced Olds College and continued their streak, winning 8-3. Halle Graham and Abby Robar got the team off to a fast start, and the Ooks continued to pour on the pressure with goals from Cassidy Shandro, Kelly Stanford, Jessica Engelbrecht, Cheyenna Harden, and Callie Dach. Robar sealed the victory with a final strike.
With 8 wins so far in the season, the Ooks are sitting comfortably in second place in the ACAC standings.