Varsity teams are beginning to wrap up their schedules for the year and a large number have muscled their way into provincial or national competitions.
The following compilation covers a number of events from the past week. Swimming
Western’s women placed fourth and the men sixth for an overall combined finish of fifth place, the best ever for finish by the Mustangs at the CIS National Swimming Championships in Toronto.
Mustang Bryn Jones finished in second place in the men’s 100m breaststroke to pick up a silver medal, while Western’s women’s 400m SC (4x100m) relay team of Ashleigh Dunnington, Hayley Nell, Amber Hutchinson and Alex Cooper also earned a silver in their heat. Skating
Mustang skaters earned OUA silver at the 2010 OUA figure skating championships this past week. Western finished eight points behind the champion Guelph Gryphons, bringing home one gold and six silver medals.
Western’s gold medal came in the Starskate Gold Creative Dance with Stephanie Buono and Katie Dortono teaming up for top honours. Silvers medals came from Sarah Burke in the Gold Free Skate; Cara Horan and Julia Horan in the senior similar dance; Kaila Morris in the women’s short program; Julianna Kuhl in the open gold solo dance, and the pairs fours team of Morris, Burke, Emmy Marinova and Kathryn Morgan. Hockey
The men’s hockey team will live to see another day as they ended the UOIT Ridgebacks’ season with a 5-1 victory OUA West Quarterfinals Sunday. The Mustangs will play the Windsor Lancers for the OUA West Semifinal series. Game two is Friday in Windsor. Game three (if necessary) is Sunday night (7:30 p.m.) at Thompson Arena.
Wrestling
With a home crowd behind them, the Mustangs took home silver as hosts of the OUA Wrestling Championships this past weekend. The Mustang women earned two gold medals (Brianne Barry, 55kg; Larissa D’Alleva, 63kg), two silver (Jennifer Nguyen, 51kg; Liz Sera, 59kg) and four bronze (Sahara Mazumber, 48kg; Jennifer Archibald, 67kg; Christine Schmidt, 72kg and Monica Varallo, 82kg) putting themselves just one point behind the leading Brock Badgers. Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team’s straight set win over the Guelph Gryphons has advanced them to the OUA Final Four this weekend.
Several Mustangs were honoured for strong play during the 2009-10 season with OUA major awards or all-star honours.
Rookie Clare Morrow was name the West Libero of the Year and was also named to the OUA all-rookie team. Others honoured include OUA West first-team all-star setter Jenna Thomson, second-team right-side Sarah Lowry and left-side Caleigh Whitaker.
Follow Western’s teams at www.mustangathletics.com