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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Mar 26, 2024

Celebrating Excellence on the National Stage: A Recap of ACAC's Championship Success

Celebrating Excellence on the National Stage: A Recap of ACAC's Championship Success

March 26, 2024 - The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) experienced a remarkably successful championship season at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) nationals. The ACAC remains committed to its Vision Statement: To be Canada’s premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport, and citizenship. Central to this vision is the core value of celebrating excellence, where we actively encourage, acknowledge, and honor the stories of success. And indeed, there are many inspiring achievements to celebrate from the 2023-2024 season.

GOLF

Michael Valk of the Medicine Hat Rattlers secured a silver medal at the 2023 CCAA Golf Championship held in St. Lawrence, Quebec. Valk maintained a score of -3 throughout the championship. Additionally, Valk was honored with All-Canadian recognition for his outstanding performance all season long.

Mason Gorski of the NAIT Ooks was awarded the Men’s Exemplary Leadership award and had a commendable T18 finish at the nationals, recording a score of +12 throughout the championship.Recipients of the Exemplary Leadership award are typically admired for their ability to inspire and motivate others, their dedication to teamwork, their integrity, and their commitment to serving as positive role models for their peers both on and off the course.

In the women’s division, Ella Gifford representing the Concordia Thunder secured a 10th place finish. Libby Bourassa from Medicine Hat, Jenna Currie from SAIT, Lyric Lewis from Portage, and Michaella Kibblewhite from NAIT finished closely in the 13th to 16th positions.

SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER:
Connor Brady of the SAIT Trojans earned the distinction of being named the 2023 CCAA Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year.

Senay Haile (SAIT), Peter Jones (NAIT), and Jon Ingram (SAIT) received recognition as CCAA All-Canadians.

Hafid Arellano of the Keyano Huskies earned distinction as a Championship All-Star for his stellar performance in Windsor, Ontario. Despite a strong showing at the championship, the Keyano Huskies fell short in the bronze medal match against host team St. Clair, ultimately finishing fourth in the tournament.

WOMEN’S SOCCER:
Vanessa Pietramala, representing the Concordia Thunder, earned the prestigious title of the 2023 CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

Vanessa Pietramala (Concordia), Meaghan Wiebe (SAIT), and Sofia Ovcharenko (Augustana) were honored as CCAA All-Canadians for their exceptional performances throughout their regular seasons.

Despite facing challenging weather conditions in Summerside, PEI, the SAIT Trojans put in every effort throughout the tournament. Although they narrowly missed securing any national titles, they showed their grit with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the Brandon Bobcats in their final match.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Makenna Fitzgerald of the SAIT Trojans and Leonard Chesoo of the Concordia Thunder both added to their collection of CCAA hardware this year in Truro, Nova Scotia.

Makenna Fitzgerald secured her third consecutive CCAA Gold Medal and set a new CCAA record with a remarkable 6K race time of 20:59. Additionally, Fitzgerald received recognition as a CCAA All-Canadian.

Leonard Chesoo earned his fourth CCAA medal, adding to his collection of three golds, including one from this year, along with a silver from previous years. Chesoo completed the 8K race with a time of 24:37, narrowly edging out the second-place finisher. Like Fitzgerald, Chesoo was also honored as a CCAA All-Canadian, alongside Maximus Thiessen of the SAIT Trojans.

Furthermore, the SAIT Trojans Cross-Country Team secured an impressive Bronze Team Medal this year.

BADMINTON

ACAC teams dominated this year's CCAA Badminton championships, securing 3 out of 5 banners.

The dynamic duo of Abby Ledda and Cecilia Wolski from the King’s Eagles soared to victory, clinching the 2024 CCAA Gold medal in the Women’s Doubles category.

Mahdi Ahmadi and Khushi Vaniya, partners in mixed doubles for the King’s Eagles, added to their school's success by claiming the gold medal in their division. Meanwhile, Davis Wong and Manasi Pandit of the NAIT Ooks secured the CCAA Bronze medal in mixed doubles.

In the Men’s Doubles category, Jason Chiu and Paul Ouano of the SAIT Trojans triumphed, earning the prestigious CCAA Gold Medal.

Jasleen Kaur of the Concordia Thunder showcased her talent, earning recognition as a CCAA All-Canadian and capturing the silver medal in women’s singles, while Smit Patel of the NAIT Ooks earned the Men’s Singles Bronze Medal.

Austin Liaw of the SAIT Trojans received the title of 2024 CCAA Badminton Coach of the Year.

Mahdi Ahmadi of the King’s Eagles was honored as the 2024 CCAA Men’s Badminton Player of the Year and was also named an All-Canadian.

Lastly, the ACAC 1 team received the esteemed recognition of Team Supremacy.

VOLLEYBALL

MEN'S RECAP:

The NAIT Ooks marked their inaugural National Championship appearance with a resounding victory in Victoria, BC, clinching the National Title. Adding to the triumph, Shae McIntyre was honored as the Championship Most Valuable Player, while Mason Gorski, a dual-sport athlete, earned further acclaim at the national level by securing a spot on the Championship All-Stars First Team. Additionally, Ross Bishop received recognition for his stellar performance, being named to the Championship All-Stars Second Team.

In individual achievements, Joao Cunha of the Keyano Huskies was bestowed with the prestigious 2024 CCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year award. He was also celebrated as an All-Canadian alongside teammate Athus Silva. Karym Coleman of the Briercrest Clippers rounded off the list of honorees as a CCAA All-Canadian.

WOMEN'S RECAP:

The Red Deer Queens proudly hosted the 2024 CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre this February.

The Lakeland Rustlers showcased their dominance by successfully defending their national title without dropping a single set throughout the championship. Notably, they didn't even call a timeout in any of their matches, showcasing their remarkable efficiency. Their performance solidified their status as formidable champions.

In addition to the Rustlers' achievements, Jana Laing was rightfully named the Championship Most Valuable Player, earning recognition as a CCAA All-Canadian. Jenay Varga and Lana Matthews were named to the Championship All-Stars First Team, further highlighting the Rustlers' standout performances.

Rachel Perry of the Red Deer Queens earned a spot on the Championship All-Stars Second Team, showcasing her talent and contribution to the tournament. The Queens had a good showing but fell just short in the bronze semifinal.

Willow Lewington from Ambrose University and Shae Boyes from Augustana University were both honored with CCAA All-Canadian recognition.

Notably, Shae Boyes was also named the 2024 CCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year, further cementing her outstanding contributions to the sport.

BASKETBALL

MEN'S RECAP:

For the first time in the history of the Keyano Huskies athletics program, the Keyano Huskies Men’s Basketball team secured the title of the 2024 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Champions.

Keenan Miller's exceptional performance earned him the title of Championship Most Valuable Player, while D.J. Haynes earned a spot on the Championship All-Stars First Team. Evan Meyer's contributions were also recognized with a place on the Championship All-Stars Second Team.

In addition to the team's success, Caleb Jipp of the St. Mary’s Lightning was honored as the 2024 CCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Jipp, along with Marcus Masters (SAIT) and Omeechi Williams (Keyano), was also celebrated as a CCAA All-Canadian.

WOMEN'S RECAP:

The Lakeland Rustlers hosted the 2024 CCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in Lloydminster, AB this March. Given the remarkable success of this team, their home court advantage proved to be invaluable.

Chris King of the Lakeland Rustlers was rightfully named the 2024 CCAA Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

Hineaupounamu Nuku of the Lakeland Rustlers earned the prestigious title of the 2024 CCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.

Hailey Somers of the Lakeland Rustlers shone brightly as the Championship Most Valuable Player, while Alana Olson earned recognition as a Championship All-Star First Team recipient. Additionally, Hineaupounamu Nuku's stellar performance earned her a spot on the Second Team.

The Rustlers had a flawless season, remaining undefeated right to the championship final, where they clinched the national title in front of their sold-out home crowd.

Megan Aleman of the King’s Eagles earned recognition as a Championship All-Star Second Team member.

Furthermore, Sandra Garcia-Bernal (Red Deer), Hannah Helton (Lethbridge), and Hineaupounamu Nuku (Lakeland) were all honored as CCAA All-Canadians.

Although the King’s Eagles put up a strong performance, making it to the bronze semifinal, they fell short to the Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers, who ultimately secured the bronze medal.

CURLING

The ACAC made a strong showing at the 2023 CCAA Curling National Championships held in Fredericton, NB this March.

The Concordia Thunder Women’s Curling team secured the coveted 2024 National Title.

Meanwhile, the SAIT Trojans Women’s Curling team earned the CCAA Silver medal, while the SAIT Trojans Men’s Curling team clinched the bronze, further highlighting the ACAC's talents in the sport.

On the women’s side, the First Team All-Stars comprised solely of ACAC team members, with Gabrielle Wood (Concordia) as skip, Payton Sonnenberg (Concordia) as Third, Raelyn Helston (SAIT) as second, and Rachel Jost (Concordia) as lead.

In addition, Kayleigh Shannon (SAIT) earned the award for skip on the Second Team All-Stars, with Brenna Bilassy (Concordia) named as second.

For the men’s side, David Baum (SAIT) was recognized as a Second Team All-Star in the role of skip.

Furthermore, James McCabe was honored with the Men’s Exemplary Leadership Award for his outstanding leadership qualities and contributions to the sport.

FINAL SUMMARY

Individual Accolades:

  • Men’s Golf Exemplary Leadership award
  • Men's Golf Silver Medal
  • Men's Soccer Coach of the Year
  • Women's Soccer Player of the Year
  • Women's Individual Cross-Country Gold Medal
  • Men's Individual Cross-Country Gold Medal
  • Badminton Coach of the Year
  • Men’s Badminton Player of the Year
  • Men's Singles Bronze Medal
  • Women's Singles Silver Medal
  • Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year and Championship MVP
  • Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year and Championship MVP
  • Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and Championship MVP
  • Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year and Championship MVP
  • Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and Championship MVP
  • Curling Exemplary Leadership award

Team Accolades:

  • Mixed Cross-Country Team Bronze
  • Badminton Women's Doubles Gold
  • Badminton Men's Doubles Gold
  • Badminton Mixed Doubles Gold
  • Badminton Mixed Doubles Bronze
  • Men's Volleyball Gold
  • Women's Volleyball Gold
  • Men's Basketball Gold
  • Women's Basketball Gold
  • Women's Curling Gold
  • Women's Curling Silver
  • Men's Curling Bronze