Coaches' corner: A sneak peek into varsity sports this year
As the start to another school
year draws closer, the Fanshawe
Athletics department gears up for
another exciting season of sports.
With high hopes in all the varsity
teams, head coaches spoke up to let
the school know what the goals are
for the year.
WOMEN’S SOFTBALL
Last year the softball team came out strong, coming fifth in the OCAA standings. Though last year was good, head coach Catherine Arthur says this year is going to be even better.
“The team is going to be a lot stronger with some very strong recruits coming in.”
With an appealing list of recruits, Arthur has high hopes for this season, and says the team’s goal being to make the playoffs.
That goal will likely become a reality with “two strong OCAA all stars coming back this year.”
MEN’S BASEBALL
The Baseball team held strong last year finishing third in the OCAA. The difference this year is that Fanshawe is hosting the championships.
“Since we’re the host, we’d like to get into the final game and improve on last years’ standings,” said head coach Brian Harvey.
According to Harvey, sights should be set on returning catch and the team’s new captain Sean Refflinghaus.
With lots of new recruits, 13 to 15 of the 23 on the team, Harvey says it is going to be an exciting season.
“Come on out and support us, the players love the crowd,” Harvey said. “We are hosting the OCAA championships at Labatt Park and we’d love to see a crowd then and all season.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Similar to the women’s softball team, the women’s basketball team also came in fifth in the OCAA standings. Head coach Bill Carriere wants to move from fifth to second this year, but says that is a tall order, as Humber College, the provincial champions last year, will be just as strong.
Though with shining star Nicole Skimming, a 5’11” point guard, second place might just be possible.
“We’ve had workout all summer and we’re very optimistic for what is to come,” Carriere said. “We have a relentless work ethic and opponents don’t like to play against that.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team finished the same as the baseball team, third in the OCAA.
“Our goal is the same as it is every year, to win the championships,” said head coach Tony Marcotullio. “We’re going to be very exciting to watch, with high energy and a very exciting team.”
Marcotullio not only looks forward to a strong season, but also to the support of Fanshawe student who come out to watch.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Last season the women’s volleyball team finished seventh in the west in the OCAA, but according to head coach Sean Pellow, the team has high hopes for this year. “Our goal is to finish in the top four provincially,” Pellow said, attributing the hopeful results to the numerous incoming recruits. “Come out and support, it’s going to be an exciting, high energy team to watch.”
MEN’S VOLLEBALL
Men’s volleyball came out on top last year finishing fourth in the OCAA out of 20 teams, also winning the Fanshawe tournament.
This year, head coach Patrick Johnston has larger goals than last.
“We have a lot of big parts of last year’s team returning and we’ve added a few recruits, so I think we will be able to make a run at not just an OCAA Championship, but a CCAA Championship as well.”
As for the key players, Johnston ushers the focus to last year’s defensive and offensive quarterbacks, David Gundrum and Jack Daley.
“They did an incredible job as freshmen and I have a feeling they’ll have a big second year.”
Johnston also hopes to see lots of Fanshawe students out supporting the team, as he knows the players embrace the support and perform better because of it.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The women’s soccer team also had a strong finish last year, losing in the quarterfinals to Seneca, ending third in the West Division in the OCAA.
“Every year we want to end on top and this year is no different,” said head coach James Welsh. “We have a lot of good players coming, it is going to be a good mix.”
The highlighted players coming in this year, according to Welsh, are Niki McDonald and Jade Kovacevic.
Welsh believes this year is going to be a good one and wants to make sure Fanshawe students are there to support the team.
“Come out and support us; it is good soccer and lots of fun.”
MEN’S SOCCER
Head coach Rob Pereira plans to capitalize on last year’s success of making it to playoffs, where the team lost in the first round.
“Our goal is to win our division and earn a bi to the OCAA championship,” Pereira said. “We have a good crop of recruits and quality returning players.”
Pereira hopes to see Fanshawe students at the games this year.
“The more people the better … it really helps the players to perform.”
GOLF
For golf, Colin Robertson brings new goals as the new coach for the team.
“One of the biggest goals of the year is to establish a women’s team, with myself and my assistant coach Joel Johnston, we are looking to establish something we can grow year to year … we want the female athletes to continue with us through out their educational career.”
Last year, the team missed the national championship, with Fanshawe’s Spencer Dunseith finishing T7 in the PING CCAA National Championship.
“Dunseith has been an anchor on the team, has phenomenal talent when it comes to golf, and has great character … we are looking to him to lead the new players,” Robertson said.
As for the year Robertson plans to do everything in his power to bring home a championship title and wants his players to remember one key thing.
“Character of a person is more important than the ability of their game, if we can build a team of great characters and great abilities, that would be something that helps to promote Fanshawe as a college.”
BADMINTON
Badminton also came out strong last year, taking a bronze medal in doubles and finishing fifth in mixed doubles at provincials.
Head coach Matt Plachta says there is a strong group of returning girls for the women’s team and that they will help place first or second in provincials this year. As for the men’s team, only three players are returning and there are two promising rookies.
Plachta wishes to highlight Riley Hogan and Jodi Grobbecker, the two females that brought home a bronze medal.
On the men’s side, Plachta wishes to highlight Valliappan Padmanabhan, an international student that has been in training all summer.
Plachta hopes to see Fanshawe students out to support this season.
“Our tournament is the weekend of November 20, that is the tournament we host, come out and support both our team and badminton in general and push us towards doing our best this year.”
CURLING
Last year was an extremely successful year for both the men’s and women’s curling team. The men won a silver medal at the national championships and the females won gold.
“We are fairly aggressive with out goals because we have had a lot of success,” said head coach Barry Westman. “Our goal is always to medal at the national championships … I see no reason for that goal to change this season.”
Westman knows there will be a shining star on both teams.
“Shannon Kee is a returning athlete on the women’s team … a lot of our success will be contingent on the type of year she has.”
As for the men’s team, Kelly Schuh is a returning athlete who led the curling team to a surprise silver medal. According to Westman, Schuh is someone to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
To the students at Fanshawe, Westman wants to thank them for all the support the curling team has received over the past couple of years.
“We have a really good run of national championships and a tremendous amount of support from the school.”
CROSS COUNTRY
Last year the cross country team had solid finishes up front, with the men coming in second at the nationals and on the women’s side, Nicole Bernardi finished second individually to capture the silver medal.
According to head coach John Loney, the team plans to keep the momentum up and take things day to day in order to bring medals home again at the end of the season.
“One of our goals is to represent the college well, I always tell my runners when you put a uniform on, it’s not just about you, it’s about the school and responsibility that comes with that.”
As for the shining stars, Loney recommends to keep eyes on Morgan Henricks and Seth Marcaccio.
But in order to keep all the runners’ motivation up Loney wants to focus on retired runner Daniel Bright who was unfortunately in a car accident in August and will be hospitalized for eight weeks.
Bright ran for four years at Fanshawe and brought home three national championships.
“This puts life into perspective,” Loney said. “Don’t take for granted the opportunity of running for the school … for being able to run at all.”
For more information about the teams or their game times visit fanshawec.ca/athletics.
WOMEN’S SOFTBALL
Last year the softball team came out strong, coming fifth in the OCAA standings. Though last year was good, head coach Catherine Arthur says this year is going to be even better.
“The team is going to be a lot stronger with some very strong recruits coming in.”
With an appealing list of recruits, Arthur has high hopes for this season, and says the team’s goal being to make the playoffs.
That goal will likely become a reality with “two strong OCAA all stars coming back this year.”
MEN’S BASEBALL
The Baseball team held strong last year finishing third in the OCAA. The difference this year is that Fanshawe is hosting the championships.
“Since we’re the host, we’d like to get into the final game and improve on last years’ standings,” said head coach Brian Harvey.
According to Harvey, sights should be set on returning catch and the team’s new captain Sean Refflinghaus.
With lots of new recruits, 13 to 15 of the 23 on the team, Harvey says it is going to be an exciting season.
“Come on out and support us, the players love the crowd,” Harvey said. “We are hosting the OCAA championships at Labatt Park and we’d love to see a crowd then and all season.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Similar to the women’s softball team, the women’s basketball team also came in fifth in the OCAA standings. Head coach Bill Carriere wants to move from fifth to second this year, but says that is a tall order, as Humber College, the provincial champions last year, will be just as strong.
Though with shining star Nicole Skimming, a 5’11” point guard, second place might just be possible.
“We’ve had workout all summer and we’re very optimistic for what is to come,” Carriere said. “We have a relentless work ethic and opponents don’t like to play against that.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team finished the same as the baseball team, third in the OCAA.
“Our goal is the same as it is every year, to win the championships,” said head coach Tony Marcotullio. “We’re going to be very exciting to watch, with high energy and a very exciting team.”
Marcotullio not only looks forward to a strong season, but also to the support of Fanshawe student who come out to watch.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Last season the women’s volleyball team finished seventh in the west in the OCAA, but according to head coach Sean Pellow, the team has high hopes for this year. “Our goal is to finish in the top four provincially,” Pellow said, attributing the hopeful results to the numerous incoming recruits. “Come out and support, it’s going to be an exciting, high energy team to watch.”
MEN’S VOLLEBALL
Men’s volleyball came out on top last year finishing fourth in the OCAA out of 20 teams, also winning the Fanshawe tournament.
This year, head coach Patrick Johnston has larger goals than last.
“We have a lot of big parts of last year’s team returning and we’ve added a few recruits, so I think we will be able to make a run at not just an OCAA Championship, but a CCAA Championship as well.”
As for the key players, Johnston ushers the focus to last year’s defensive and offensive quarterbacks, David Gundrum and Jack Daley.
“They did an incredible job as freshmen and I have a feeling they’ll have a big second year.”
Johnston also hopes to see lots of Fanshawe students out supporting the team, as he knows the players embrace the support and perform better because of it.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The women’s soccer team also had a strong finish last year, losing in the quarterfinals to Seneca, ending third in the West Division in the OCAA.
“Every year we want to end on top and this year is no different,” said head coach James Welsh. “We have a lot of good players coming, it is going to be a good mix.”
The highlighted players coming in this year, according to Welsh, are Niki McDonald and Jade Kovacevic.
Welsh believes this year is going to be a good one and wants to make sure Fanshawe students are there to support the team.
“Come out and support us; it is good soccer and lots of fun.”
MEN’S SOCCER
Head coach Rob Pereira plans to capitalize on last year’s success of making it to playoffs, where the team lost in the first round.
“Our goal is to win our division and earn a bi to the OCAA championship,” Pereira said. “We have a good crop of recruits and quality returning players.”
Pereira hopes to see Fanshawe students at the games this year.
“The more people the better … it really helps the players to perform.”
GOLF
For golf, Colin Robertson brings new goals as the new coach for the team.
“One of the biggest goals of the year is to establish a women’s team, with myself and my assistant coach Joel Johnston, we are looking to establish something we can grow year to year … we want the female athletes to continue with us through out their educational career.”
Last year, the team missed the national championship, with Fanshawe’s Spencer Dunseith finishing T7 in the PING CCAA National Championship.
“Dunseith has been an anchor on the team, has phenomenal talent when it comes to golf, and has great character … we are looking to him to lead the new players,” Robertson said.
As for the year Robertson plans to do everything in his power to bring home a championship title and wants his players to remember one key thing.
“Character of a person is more important than the ability of their game, if we can build a team of great characters and great abilities, that would be something that helps to promote Fanshawe as a college.”
BADMINTON
Badminton also came out strong last year, taking a bronze medal in doubles and finishing fifth in mixed doubles at provincials.
Head coach Matt Plachta says there is a strong group of returning girls for the women’s team and that they will help place first or second in provincials this year. As for the men’s team, only three players are returning and there are two promising rookies.
Plachta wishes to highlight Riley Hogan and Jodi Grobbecker, the two females that brought home a bronze medal.
On the men’s side, Plachta wishes to highlight Valliappan Padmanabhan, an international student that has been in training all summer.
Plachta hopes to see Fanshawe students out to support this season.
“Our tournament is the weekend of November 20, that is the tournament we host, come out and support both our team and badminton in general and push us towards doing our best this year.”
CURLING
Last year was an extremely successful year for both the men’s and women’s curling team. The men won a silver medal at the national championships and the females won gold.
“We are fairly aggressive with out goals because we have had a lot of success,” said head coach Barry Westman. “Our goal is always to medal at the national championships … I see no reason for that goal to change this season.”
Westman knows there will be a shining star on both teams.
“Shannon Kee is a returning athlete on the women’s team … a lot of our success will be contingent on the type of year she has.”
As for the men’s team, Kelly Schuh is a returning athlete who led the curling team to a surprise silver medal. According to Westman, Schuh is someone to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
To the students at Fanshawe, Westman wants to thank them for all the support the curling team has received over the past couple of years.
“We have a really good run of national championships and a tremendous amount of support from the school.”
CROSS COUNTRY
Last year the cross country team had solid finishes up front, with the men coming in second at the nationals and on the women’s side, Nicole Bernardi finished second individually to capture the silver medal.
According to head coach John Loney, the team plans to keep the momentum up and take things day to day in order to bring medals home again at the end of the season.
“One of our goals is to represent the college well, I always tell my runners when you put a uniform on, it’s not just about you, it’s about the school and responsibility that comes with that.”
As for the shining stars, Loney recommends to keep eyes on Morgan Henricks and Seth Marcaccio.
But in order to keep all the runners’ motivation up Loney wants to focus on retired runner Daniel Bright who was unfortunately in a car accident in August and will be hospitalized for eight weeks.
Bright ran for four years at Fanshawe and brought home three national championships.
“This puts life into perspective,” Loney said. “Don’t take for granted the opportunity of running for the school … for being able to run at all.”
For more information about the teams or their game times visit fanshawec.ca/athletics.
