7 sports teams to check out at Humber this year
by Norma Zminkowska
Humber is one of the best schools in the country for athletes because of our sports records. We have more CCAA championships than any other school. In 16 of the last 17 years, Humber managed to grab at least one national title — that's no small feat!
Whether you're a huge sports fan or just a casual observer, it's hard not to feel proud while watching a Hawks team. As Humber kicks off the season, here are just a few of the teams to look out for this year.
Women's Rugby 7s
Photo courtesy of Humber Hawks Flickr
Humber's Rugby 7s team is fairly new to the scene, but they still managed to pose as serious competition for other schools. They played to the top last season. Although they had some dips last year — losing against Conestoga twice — they finished the season with a 14-2 record. Charli Mocon led the team in scoring and medals, winning championship MVP at the provincial level. As a team, they received OCAA Gold, and were named OCAA Division Champions.
The team just started their season, playing against the Mohawk Mountaineers, Conestoga Condors, and St. Lawrence-K Vikings. They compete with the Condors and the Vikings again in October.
Photo courtesy of Shelby Cockhill via Humber Hawks Flickr
Last season, the men's soccer team got their fourth national title in just five years, along with a whole other collection of hardware. The team played undefeated and un-tied for the first time in the history of the sport at Humber, ceding only five goals in the entirety of the regular season and the OCAA and CCAA campaigns. Simply put, the Humber men's soccer team is the best in the country.
Marco Nunes, who plays forward for the team, tied only with Olivia Lei of the badminton team in number of medals won last season. They were both awarded nine each. Although they lost a game against the Niagara Knights in August, the Hawks are still having a strong season with an overall 5-1 run.
Check them out when they compete with the Conestoga Condors at home on October 4th at 6:30 p.m.
In 2016, the Hawks became OCAA silver medalists, with a team made up of college freshmen. Mauro Ongaro and Vince Pileggi were named Central Division Coaches of the Year, and guided their athletes into some of the most prestigious positions in the province.
Among the top athletes, Rebecca Spratt (who plays forward), has an impressive total of 16 points, getting 14 in the 2016-17 season, and two so far this season. Spratt also scored goals that ensured her team's victory for three games both last season and this season.
Although they lost one game against the Ahuntsic Indiens (4-1) on August 26th and tied the other (4-4) the following day, they're ready to prove they can play to the top. They swept the UTM Eagles with a remarkable 9-0 score on September 10th.
The Hawk's men's basketball team rose to the top last season as they finished with a 12-4 record. Although they didn't make it to nationals at the end of the sports year, they still grabbed a bronze medal for the team at the provincial level. The team is seeing a change as top achievers Tyrone Dickson (forward), Gibson Eduful (point guard), and Ancil Martin (forward) finished their careers last season.
They're at a 1-1 standing as of August 19th, so check them out starting late September after their tryouts, because they have a busy schedule coming up.
Women's basketball coach, Ajay Sharma, was named OCAA West Division Coach last season, and CCAA National Coach of the Year the season before. Sharma led the Hawks to the third consecutive OCAA Gold medal, and CCAA Bronze medal.
The Hawks became the first women's college basketball team to get national titles in consecutive years, and they achieved that with an all-star lineup. Ceejay Nofuente, point guard for the team, won eight medals last season, including CCAA Player of the Year, and has just over 900 points to her name.
Catch them playing big Ontario universities like Western and Ryerson as they score more.
Photo courtesy of Brandon Ferguson via Humber Hawks Flickr
The men's volleyball team was one of the final eight in provincials last season, which is an impressive feat as it was considered a rebuilding year for them. Clayton Blanchette, outside hitter, still took home titles like OCAA Athlete of the Week, and OCAA West Division First Team All-Star. He also managed an average of 4.88 kills per set last season, up from 2.33 in the 2015-16 season.
The team is moving on to great things as they finish this season at provincials and nationals.
Last season marked 130 games and the tenth consecutive OCAA title for the women's volleyball team. Another reason this Humber team is amazing is the head coach, Chris Wilkins. Wilkins is only a few games shy of being named the Humber Hawks coach with the most wins.
They have an all-star roster, made up of players like Devan O'Connor, twice-named OCAA Athlete of the Week and CCAA Athlete of the Week.
They have a packed schedule coming up with them finishing the 2017-18 season in provincials and nationals. Be sure to see them at their games before then as they take on schools like Brock and Niagara College.
There are many more Humber teams to check out this year. If you want to exert some school spirit, the Hawk's sports events are a great way to do so. So put your game face on and see what your school can do!
If sports aren't your thing, there are other ways to get involved. Check out IGNITE events, like the Club's Day on October 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the North Campus, and October 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lakeshore Campus.
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