It's been an action-packed semester at NAIT, with our athletes pushing limits and competing fiercely at every turn. From the cross-country trails to the ice rinks, here's how our teams soared this season.
Cross-Country
The cross-country teams made waves all season long, dominating regionals and earning their well-deserved spot at Nationals.
The men's squad kicked off strong in the regional Grand Prix, with Tyson Versteeg and Shawn Gunnink charging ahead to take the top two spots in the second race. They continued their stellar performance, finishing third as a whole in the fourth and fifth races. At the ACAC Championships, the team brought home bronze, and Versteeg earned the Men's All-Conference award and Rookie of the Year.
The women's team consistently placed in the top five across regional races, with Aelyn Switzer leading the charge and claiming several top three finishes. At the ACAC Championships, the team took home bronze.
Following their outstanding ACAC performance, the team headed to Nationals in Windsor, Ontario, where the team capped the season off proudly with a host of personal bests. Gunnink clocked in his best time of 27:17 in the men's 8k, securing 43rd place. Taylor Hudak followed closely in 83rd, clocking a PB of 30:09. Cameron Bakal and Roman Tiessen crossed the finish line just behind him in 84th and 87th, with top performance times of 30:22 and 30:33, respectively.
On the women's side, the team brought their A-game for their own best performances. Switzer broke the 25-minute barrier with a personal best of 24:58, finishing in 28th place. Pamela Rutto finished in 59th with her PB of 27:19, followed by Kamryn Aebly in 66th with her 27:46.
It was a remarkable season for both teams, with outstanding achievements each athlete should be proud of.
Golf
The golf team was on fire this season, consistently proving their skill at every tournament.
The men's team took third place at the first regional and continued to show their skill throughout the season. Mason Gorski led the way with a third-place finish, while Tanner Visser and Blake Feth followed up with strong showings. At the ACAC Championships, the men earned silver, with Gorski taking 5th and Cayden Clark, Nate Kasowski, and Blake Feth all placing in the top 15.
The women's team had a remarkable season, too, claiming second place in both regional tournaments. Ella Dolan led the charge, clinching second place in the first regional and third in the second. At the ACAC Championships, Dolan won Rookie of the Year and brought home a bronze medal, while her teammates Lexi Gedny and Anna Atcheynum contributed to the team's success with strong 8th and 9th place finishes.
The team's outstanding performances left them ranked 4th in the CCAA rankings going into Nationals. Gorski led the men's team in thirteenth place, while Nate Kasowski was awarded the CCAA Exemplary Leadership award. Dolan was named to the ACAC Women's team, where she helped the team to 4th place.
Soccer
Both NAIT soccer teams had exceptional seasons, proving they were forces to be reckoned with.
The men's soccer team took the ACAC by storm, scoring 36 goals across 12 games. They faced fierce competition, including top-tier teams like Keyano College and SAIT, but emerged victorious with the gold medal at the ACAC Championships. Their hard work earned them a spot at CCAA Nationals.
The team brought home several accolades as well in recognition of their outstanding players and coaching staff. Peter Jones earned Player of the Year for the second year in a row, while teammate Matthew Herbut was named Rookie of the Year. Head Coach Jeff Paulus received Coach of the Year.
At Nationals in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the team pushed hard, ultimately finishing just off the podium after a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in the bronze semi-finals.
The women's soccer squad also put on a stellar performance, finishing third in the ACAC standings and scoring an impressive 44 goals throughout the season. With a solid defensive line, allowing just 7 goals against, they proved tough to beat. Star player Sasha Pietremala earned an All-Conference award for her outstanding performances on the field.
Volleyball
Ranked third in the league, the men's volleyball team has had a solid season. With powerful offensive players like Josh Watson (99 kills) and Xander van Driel (101 kills), the squad has been a force to be reckoned with. Defensive powerhouse Koda Dunfield has also made an impact, sitting 4th in digs with 67 as of their last game.
The women's volleyball team has been equally as strong, sitting in fourth place with 6 wins so far. Five of those victories were straight 3-0 sets, showing their dominance. Rachel Mallett has been a standout, ranking 5th in kills with 96 total across the ACAC, while Courtney Webber leads the league in digs, with an average of 4.55 per set and 132 total.
Basketball
The men's basketball team is sitting comfortably in third place, with six wins under their belt and 826 points scored. Their most recent victories include a dominant 91-66 win against Olds College and a 92-73 win over the Red Deer Kings. Peter-Aluk Deng and Omar Farah have been standout players, scoring 135 and 122 points respectively.
The women's team, ranked fourth, have three wins this season and more on the way in the second half of the season. Their most recent victory was a solid 65-42 win over Olds College. Payton Neilson has been one of the top scorers with 127 points, while Grace Culshaw has been a defensive powerhouse, ranking 3rd in rebounds.
Curling
Both the men's and women's curling teams showed great potential this season, starting off with their first bonspiel at the Rose City Curling Club in Camrose earlier in November.
The men's curling team opened their campaign with a solid 7-4 victory over the Augustana Vikings. Currently sitting in fourth place in the ACAC standings, they've got plenty of momentum heading into the second half of the season.
The women's team also faced tough opponents but finished strong with an 8-2 win over Lakeland in their final match. They are currently ranked 5th in the ACAC heading into the second regionals in January.
Badminton
The badminton team kicked off their season with strong performances at their first tournament at SAIT.
Om Patel made his mark in men's singles, finishing in second place, while teammate Vishw Patel also had a solid performance, securing 4th place. In doubles, Greg Friske and Caelen Mah finished third. On the women's side, Ella Dolan took third place in singles, while Noel Do and Samantha Tran earned second in doubles.
With NAIT ranked 4th on the leaderboards, the badminton team is set for a strong continuation to the season.
Hockey
The men's hockey team has had a solid season, sitting in 5th place. With a 6-3 win over the Augustana Vikings to close out the first half, and 46 goals scored overall, they have plenty of room to climb ever higher in the rankings in the second half of the season. McCoy Bidewell has been key in goal, ranking second in the ACAC with 273 saves.
The women's hockey team have been dynamite on the ice, winning 12 of their 13 games and racking up 63 goals so far. After two dominant 4-1 and 4-0 wins against SAIT, they continue to lead the standings heading into the break. Kelly Stanford has been a standout player, leading the division with 21 points, with Jessica Engelbrecht and Callie Dach joining her in fourth and fifth place. Engelbrecht and Stanford are also tied for second in number of goals scored, while Hanna Paquette and Cheyenna Harden follow closely behind in fourth and fifth. Goaltender Ella Howard is second for goals-against average with an average of 1.21, with Aurora Van Wormer joining her in fourth with 1.5.
This semester has been one of incredible achievements, and the second half promises to be just as thrilling. Stay tuned for more action as our teams continue to give their all and reach for greatness!