BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Laurentian University varsity sports is embarking on another season and the Voyageurs have their sights set on provincial and national success.
Without a doubt, the gold and blue warriors will provide plenty of memories and intense action over the next several months.
?All of our coaches have had a great recruiting season,? said Peter Hellstrom, Athletics Director at Laurentian. ?We?re going to be challenging for championships in the pool, on the pitch, on the court and on the running and skiing trails. It?s going to be an exciting year.?
Women?s basketball
2002-03: 20 wins- 0 loses. Lost to Queen?s University in the OUA East Final.
Head coach Mike Clarke has his squad prepared to take a run at national glory and is confident the Lady Vees can capture yet another Ontario title.
?We have the deepest, fittest and most athletic team in Ontario,? said Clarke.
The team will play a ?run and gun? style featuring full court pressing and great three-point shooting.
Clarke is counting on veterans Tierney Hoo, Cara Dodsley and Carolyn Plummer to ignite the team.
?Hoo and Plummer are excellent scorers and Dodsley is very versatile.?
The team welcomes Cassandra Carpenter from Ottawa and Ashley MacSporran from Waterloo to the fold.
?Carpenter is a strong, versatile forward and MacSporran is a great outside shooter and hard-nosed.?
Clarke has high hopes.
?We will be disappointed if we don?t win the OUA championship and a realistic goal for us would be a medal at the nationals.?
Men?s basketball
2002-03: 10 wins and 12 losses. Lost in the first round to Ryerson.
Head coach Virgil Hill is touting a more positive and focused group this year.
?We got off to a rough start last season, but this year our chemistry is better and we have a real positive feeling.?
Because of overall lack of size, the team will play an up tempo style of play.
?We will be a fast breaking, three-point shooting team, with guys running off double screens.?
Hill is banking on veterans Jim Jefferson, Ben Palmer and Andy Greig to provide leadership and scoring.
?Jimmy has great playmaking skills, Palmer will be our low post presence and Greig is a tremendous shooter.?
Hill brought in Brody Bishop, local boy Mike Raskevicius and Jesse Adjei to bolster his club.
?Bishop is the consummate point guard, Raskevicius is a good defensive player and Adjei is extremely explosive and could be a big impact player for us.?
The team will be looking to make waves in the playoffs.
?This team is comprised of winners and they will do what it takes to win.?
Women?s soccer
2002-03: 3-4-3. Lost in the playoffs to Wilfred Laurier 1-0.
Head coach Rob Gallo is excited about the team?s potential and future.
?We have 13 rookies on this team, so we need to gel early. We have the makings of a solid team for the next four years.?
Jolene Fournier, Sally Parent, Kristy Mackenzie and Jen Carbone will be players to watch.
?Jolene possesses a powerful shot. Sally is an intelligent defender. Kristy is an ?in your face striker?. Jen is great defender and physical player.?
The team will be looking to pull off a few upsets in their third year.
?If we make the playoffs, we could be tough to beat.?
Men?s soccer
2002-03: First in the division. Lost to York in the division final playoff.
With 16 returning players, head coach Carlo Castrechino believes his club can challenge for a championship.
?I think our team could surprise. We?re in a tough conference. The last five national champions have come from
Ontario and we would like to make it six.?
The team will be lead by Ontario All-Stars Dan Falcioni and Ryan Armstrong. New comer, James Welsh will be counted on to solidify the defence.
?We?re always competitive and we hold our own. I really like our chances this year.?
Women?s cross country
2002-03: finished 11th out 14.
With a solid recruiting season, head coach Dick Moss is hoping to crack the top-eight in the province.
The team has brought in Sudbury native Leila Angrand, a bronze medalist in the 3000 metres at the Canadian junior championship, and Mary Ross, Teri Fisher and Caitlyn Tino, who all experienced great success last year at events throughout the country.
Veterans Alicia Kaye and captain Natalie Lefort will be expected to lend leadership.
?We?ve improved our talent level and we will have a solid core for years to come.?
Men?s and women?s swimming
2002-03: Several members won medals at OUA championships.
Coach Phil Parker has brought in some legendary help for the upcoming season.
Dr. Jeno Tihanyi will be back to lend his 30 years experience to the program.
The women Vees have six returning athletes. Veterans like Elisha James, Melissa Rydahl and Kat Peters will have to lead a young team by example.
The team will feature 14 rookies, including five locals, Erin O?Neill, Leila Angrand, Alison Ryan, Becky Olacke
and Sarah Mailloux.
?These girls have all spent their last year swimming under a great coach, Richard Bujaw, and should fit right into
our program.?
The men?s team is hoping a contingent of recruited experienced club swimmers will fill holes on the roster.
One of those swimmers, Marshal Bonner from Blackstock, Ont. will be expected to step in right away.
?Marshal is a very strong, experienced backstroke/ butterfly swimmer.?
Local product Michael Commito is also highly regarded.
Veterans like team captain Willie Paul, Ryan Smith and Aleksy Jones will be looked upon to provide a stable
foundation for the club.
